through sufferings to bring those many sonnes unto glory which sonnes are called his family his house houshold spouse his city his souldiers his purchased ones which he governes orders disposes rescues and traines up to eternall life for Christ is faithfull as a sonne over all his house As they are his Children given to him so we are to consider them in a present condition of enmity to him for he reconciles them And therefore it is said Christ died for the ungodly for sinners Rom. â— even for rebels enemies and traitors to himselfe Such who bid defiance to the God of heaven for these Christ died as I shall shew more in the virtue and effect of this sacrifice which I should now speake of but that I must first remove an objection that lyes in the way The Scripture tels us that Christ by the grace of God died for every man Object Heb. 2. 9. 1 John 2. 2. and that he is the Saviour of the whole world and the propitiation for the sins of the world how is it then that you say he offered up a sacrifice onely for some chosen ones In answer to this Question I shall first shew you how the Scriptures Sol. are mistaken then shew you how it cannot be that this sacrifice was offered for every individuall son and daughter of Adam as the objectors conceive 1. Concerning the Scriptures upon which this objection is bottomed I shall onely instance the principall As first that in the Hebrewes Who by the grace of God tasted death for every Heb. 9. man From whence they inferre every particular person in the world to finde the truth of this Scripture Let us see the truth of it by comparing it with what followes this every man in the next verse is declared to be many sons yea brethren and children The word in the Originall is for all which we must take with some limitation It is said All Judea came out to be baptized of John in Jordan Now I suppose no one will imagine he meaneth every particular person every infant but a great number so here by all we may understand a great number Or if you reade the word every one we likewise reade that Jesus Christ commanded the Apostles to preach the Gospell to every Creature By every Creature I suppose we take not in the beasts of the earth fishes of the sea and fowles of heaven if without all limitation we take the word we cannot except them except we deny them to be creatures which I hope we are all better informed So that Christs dying for every man must be restrained to those onely Christ intended it namely those many sons whom God appointed unto Glory The next Scripture is that in John which saith He is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but also for the whole world From whence many inferre that Christ is a propitiation for the 1 John 2. 2. sins of every individuall person in the world strengthening their opinion from those Scriptures that affirme Christ is the Saviour of the world And God so loved the world and would have all men to be saved In answer to these we must necessarily be able to distinguish concerning this word world For I affirme it is not alwaies taken for every particular one Therefore it is said And the great Dragon was cast out that old Serpent called the Devill and Satan which deceiveth the world Which world is onely meant of the wicked or of many in the world Therefore it is said in the Verses before that there was warre in heaven Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and his and there was a remnant in the world a woman in the wildernesse that was not deceived So that by the whole world is onely meant those that were deceived in the world So it is said all the whole world wondred after the beast which is not meant of every particular person therfore is it interpreted afterward to be all those that dwell on the earth whose names are not written in the Lambs booke of Life In another place it is said God was in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe not imputing their sinnes Now we know the Lord doth impute sinne to some therefore is it not of every one that he speakes So it is said God is the Saviour of the world and yet in another place the world shall be damned So that it is very evident where he saith he is the propitiation for ours and the whole world he meanes them that did believe and hereafter should believe all them he writes to and all in all ages that shall be saved and so the rest of the Scriptures must be understood The world is sometimes taken for every individuall sometimes for many for some of all sorts for the Gentiles before it was said salvation is of the Jewes But now of the whole world that is to say of Jewes and Gentiles Therefore it is said God so loved the world that whosoever believed should not perish He so loved it that is to say after such a manner as those that is Whosoever shall believe should not perish So that his love is clearely restrained to them that should believe Therefore the Scriptures so often speake that God hath chosen a people out of world the poore of the world he hath redeemed us out of every nation kindred and tongue some of all nations So that as there are two worlds spoken of this world and that world namely the world to come so there are subjects of both worlds which subjects are called the world and they are either the world of the ungodly that cannot receive the truth or the world that shall be saved and is reconciled unto God The Gospell is declared to be glad tydings to all Luke 2. 10. Object What I have said before is a sufficient answer to this for all is Sol. taken for some of all and therefore saith the Scripture It is the savour of life unto some and of death unto others 2 Cor. 2. 16. The Gospell is to be preached to every Creature which could not be if Christ Object died not for all Math. 28. 19. To which I answer True it is the Gospell is to be preached to Sol. all and yet Christs death is but a sacrifice for some the publication of the Gospell is universall the application particular The Sunne shines on good and bad some things it quickens others it withers Now the act of shining is a like to him that is blinde and him that sees but the virtue of it is onely to some particulars A man that is blind hath not the benefit of the light this appears more plain if we consider what the Gospell is that is to be preached What the Gospell is that is to be preached to the World It is that there is life and salvation freely in Christ for sinners which is to be told preached and declared to all men yea every man but now
understanding of the Fathers love he may as Judas fall away from his profession and goe forth and hang himselfe as he did yea he may be a Cast-away for all that t is not mans knowledge but Gods love that saves a soule Christ many times makes use of men for his owne glory whose names are not written in the Lambs booke of life But it is the portion of the chosen called and faithfull ones of God to be taught savingly knowingly and powerfully through which teaching the wisedome of the world in them and the mysterie of iniquity that before had taken the soule captive are now put to silence and to flight To these his words are as a fire going out of his mouth to the consumption of that drosse that remaines in them whereby they become a pure and refined people Chap. XVII Sheweth what the Kingly office of Christ is and the excellency thereof in ten particulars I Have already shewed you that whatever the Father hath appointed for us to enjoy he sent his Sonne by death to obtaine it and whatever he by death procured as he is a Prophet he makes it manifest according to his manifold wisedome And now I am come to declare that whatever he as a Prophet foretels or reveales for us as a King he powerfully effects for his word returnes not in vaine Which Kingly office is committed to him of the Father What the Kingly office of Christ is for the ruling governing and ordering his Kingdome after a just and glorious manner in which office these severall things are considerable 1. The King himselfe 2. His Kingdome 3. His Lawes 4. His Officers by which he rules 5. His Enemies 6. His Victories 7. His Souldiers 8. His Weapons 9. His Rewards 10. His Judgements 1. The King is the Lord Jesus Christ Emanuel the Prince of Peace Christ is King the Captaine of the Lords hoasts who enjoyeth his Kingdome 1. By inheritance it is his birthright He is the first-borne the By inheritance heire of all things t is he that was borne King of the Jewes he is the eldest Sonne the first begotten Sonne the expresse image of the Father 2. By designation or appointment of the Father the Kings of the Jewes were anointed by the Lord But all the majesty soveraignty By appointment of the Father and authority that was in them was but the shadow or figure of the excellency of our King the anointed of him that said unto him Son thy throne is for ever and ever He is the Lords anointed whom God hath made Lord of all 3. By conquest This Jesus that was borne to all must fight for it before he hath it and so he doth for by death he shew all his By conquest enemies and obtaines a glorious Kingdome Whose fitnesse for the managing of his Kingdome appeares 1. In that he was the first-borne of God the expresse image of his Fathers person A Sonne begotten in his Fathers likenesse Saul the King of the Jewes was taller by the head and shoulders then any of the people I am sure this King is fairer then the children of men who in all things hath the preheminence for beauty and personall excellency Men and Angels fall downe before him he surpasses them all 2. In that all Kingly virtues center in him the confluence of all the excellency of heaven and earth dwell in him his wisdome is matchlesse his power boundlesse his riches inestimable his love unparalled his justice unquestionable his innocency admirable some Kings have onely a name but he hath power too and a more excellent name then they all Some have power but want wisdome or love but all things desirable and virtuous are to be found in him and in him alone 2. His Kingdome bespeakes him altogether worthy and this Christ hath a Kingdome which is over this world is threefold First over this world a civill Kingdom therefore is it said He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and only Ruler of Princes in this Kingdom is his dominion from one end of the earth to the other the subjects whereof are all men as men for whose use are all the Creatures given that they have a right to them a propriety in them and may not by any be defrauded of them which Kingdome is his for He made all things in heaven and earth and in him they consist Coloss 1. Secondly Of Grace Christ hath a Kingdome in the world which Of Grace is not of the world which is called the Kingdome of heaven or the Kingdome of God Now this is a Kingdome or dominion or rule that Christ hath and exerciseth in the heart of a Saint therefore is it said The Kingdome of God is within you and this consists in righteousnesse peace and joy in the Holy Ghost the Children of which Kingdome Rom. 14. 17. be the Saints bodies and spirits who are called the Kingdome of heaven For the word Kingdome sometimes signifies the Subjects ruled or the rule a King hath in his Subjects Thirdly Of Glory which is called the Kingdome of God into Of Glory which onely an entrance is ministred to us here this we believe by faith and seeke by faith and shall receive at the last day when Christ shall say Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you It was prepared for them before but not actually enjoyed by them till the resurrection of their bodies This is the Kingdome in which God is all in all which is onely the portion or inheritance of those that are written in the Lambs booke of life 3. Christs lawes are very excellent his yoake is easy and his Christs lawes what burden is light Oh how hard a matter was it yea impossible to fulfill Moses his Law but Christ communicates of his fulnesse that we may fulfill the royall law of love which lawes are either First Civil lawes morall lawes lawes of justice and equity betweene man and man whereby every one enjoyes his right without oppression this is a distinct law a distinct region wherein the Lord Jesus the Lord of all administers in a distinct manner as being peculiar to his first Kingdome which is over the bodies of men as men Secondly Spirituall lawes lawes of obedience of life of joy peace and righteousnesse which are lawes that the first Kingdome are ignorant of it is of a more high divine and excellent nature whose subjects are not every particular man and woman in the world as are the subjects of the earthly Kingdome but they are a chosen people out of the world whose lawes are of another nature to be performed by another principle after another manner which the other Kingdome can take no cognisance of being lawes to the thoughts to the soule to the body to the whole man And Lastly is the law of love if I may so call it which endures for ever in the Kingdome of glory wherein Saints enflamed with the fire of divine
pointed at Secondly Of Terrour to the wicked and to them it is a sentence of eternall punishment Depart from mee yee cursed t is the terrour of the Lord to them perdition and destruction yea eternall fire t is hell kindled by the wrath of God If any one aske me what hell is I answer t is the eternall wrath What hell is of God kindled in body and soule an absence of all good a presence of all misery t is a fire that never goeth out t is a stringing worme that never dyeth t is a consuming consumption a dying death a consumption alwaies consuming and yet never ceases to consume a continuall dying that never dies t is the second death that endures for ever Lastly The time when this judgement shall be In this I shall propose these two things First That of that day and houre if Christ be worthy of beliefe The time when the judgment day is knowes no man no not the Angels in heaven no not the Son of man himselfe as he was the Son of man it comes as a theefe in the night unawares to the world Secondly T is not till the resurrection of the body therefore is it called The last day the dispensation of Christ untill the resurrection is called The last daies but the last day in respect of Christs judgement is onely appropriated to that judgement t is not till the time of sentence that shall be pronounced upon all men good and bad But say so me The day of judgement is come already for Christ judges Object now in the hearts of the Saints which is the true day of judgement To this I answer That the word Judgement admits of a various Sol. consideration it is taken either for discerning or pronouncing sentence or condemning and to speake plainly t is true Jesus Christ doth judge that is to say declare against sinne and pronounce condemnation as belonging to sinners which is while we are in the flesh but this is no where called the judgement of the last day but this judgement that I speake of is the execution of sentence of the righteous Judge for the absolving and rewarding his Saints and condemning and punishing the world Now this is not in this life in the naturall body Let me freely ask thee whether now the wicked be punished Whether they be condemned now Surely thou wilt not say they are in eternall fire and have all the torment they shall have now is the time of their jollity mirth and merriment the Saints are now in trouble and the wicked rejoyce but hearken man what the Lord saith He knoweth how to deliver the righteous to reserve the unjust to the day of condemnation They are now reserved till then the righteous who are the children of the resurrection are kept in their graves as in a sweet and quiet sleepe till the resurrection and then saith Christ to them Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world though not enjoyed till now but the wicked that sport out the time of this life must die for it is appointed for all men once to dye and they in death are kept in their graves as in a prison and are raised up not as a priviledge to them as some conceive for better were it for them never to rise againe to condemnation for after death comes judgement To whom Christ saith Goe yee cursed of my Father into everlasting fire prepared for the Devill and his Angels who are likewise kept in chaines to the destruction of that day wherein all secrets of all hearts are judged which I am sure is not in this life Thus have I finished according to the grace given me of God the three-fold office of Christ who is a Kingly Priest and a Priestly King who is a Propheticall and Kingly Priest and a Priestly and Propheticall King as I may so say What may be attributed to any one office of Christ all concurre in it for in every worke of Christ all his offices have a joint operation Now in Christ is God seene in the most lively appearances of himselfe to the Saints Gods mercy and justice both reconciled in Christ his wisedome and power dwell in him his brightnesse and glory live in him In a word whatever the Lord is to a soule he is it Christ and it is richly fully and compleatly in him who of God is made unto us wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Chap. XVIII Sheweth wherein the Worship of God consists with the true power and manner of divine Worship as it consists onely in the Inward man HAving through the goodnesse of God finished my discourse The worship of God as in the inward man consists of the true knowledge of God without which nothing is performed well unto God I am now come to shew wherein the worship of that God consists which is in the subjection of the spirit unto God to the will of the Lord which consists in five particulars As 1. Faith By believing in God is God glorified therefore is it In Faith and what true faith is Rom. 4. 20. said We give glory to God in believing which faith is either a relying or dependance upon the Lord Jesus for salvation according to the will of God or a giving credit to the words of God So is faith the evidence of things not seene and the substance of things hoped for that is to say it layes hold on the substance hoped for and brings it nigh to the soule The effects of which faith are peace with God victory over the world and life eternall The duration of the life of faith glorifying God is till Christ come the second time without sin to salvation for he that shall come will come and will not tarry Now the just shall live by faith Now that is till Christ comes 2. In Prayer This is a part of spirituall worship which prayer In Prayer what true prayer is is a powring out the soule to God in the name and power of the Lord Jesus by the spirit for the supplying of our wants which prayers acknowledge our relation to God and Gods soveraignty over us The true prayer of the spirit is not a composed forme of mans invention but the breathing of the soule by the spirit after the good things of God this is to worship God when we seeke to him 3. In feare reverence and honour If I be Master saith God where In feare and reverence and what it is is my feare If I be a Father where is my honour Therefore must we serve the Lord with feare and rejoice before him with trembling The true fear of God is the reverent high and honourable thoughts and apprehensions a soule hath of God as his Lord Father and Creator wrought in him by the spirit Therefore we are commanded to Feare the Lord and his goodnesse Which feare is no slavish posture but a Son-like temper whereby
the soule acknowledges all he hath to be from the Lord and so lyes low in his owne apprehension that God may be exalted 4. In Love This is that which God commands of us to love In Love and what true love is him to delight in him which love to God is the streaming forth of the affections unto God in which there are these severall ingredients First A true knowledge of God of which before Secondly A setting a high price of God valuing him above all things in the world Thirdly A giving up the soule to God the understanding to know God the will to desire him the affections to embrace him Fourthly The union of his spirit with God the glory of love is union love affects union and is not satisfied with any thing till he is united with it Some say love passes or emits or sends forth the spirit of the lover into the beloved I am sure t is true in divine love which sends forth the spirit into God the perfection of which love is when the soule hath nothing enjoyes nothing but what he hath and enjoyeth from God when he willeth nothing but what God willeth when he can truly say Thy will and not mine be done 5. This worship consists in praise and songs of joy when wee In Praise and what true praise in the spirit is would honour men we set forth there excellency a soule that truly honours God rejoices in him and praises him Now this praise of God is the soules spirituall acknowledging God to be praife-worthy preferring God in his thoughts in all and above all singing in his heart making melody to the Lord. I doe but touch on these things because I shall have occasion What the power of inward worship is on to speake of them as they be the principles or foundation of more visible appearances of the worship of God A word or two of the power of this worship that is spirituall likewise for t is the power of God t is not of the first creation but of the second t is not of generation but of regeneration not of mans will nor of mans activity but of God that sheweth mercy wee are all dead in sinne as void as naturally in the first Adam of power truly to serve God as a dead man is to eate and drinke therefore is Christ the power of God unto us who worketh irresistibly in us What the true manner of inward worship is As the power of divine worship is spirituall so must the manner be the heart must be in a spirituall frame united to God that is to say in a way of relation unto God whereby he becomes a servant a souldier a friend and Son of God it must be performed in faith love feare and reverence all these are faithfull and inseparable companions If a man prayes or praises God he must do it in faith love and feare But to put a period to the first part of this discourse all this service must be performed to God as in Christ he that prayes to God must seeke him as he is to be found in Christ For t is in him in whom onely the Father is well pleased God in Christ is a Saints rest delight fulnesse and glory a Saint by Christ goes to God fals downe before him rejoyces in him and lives sweetly and contentedly in meeknesse and humility yet triumphantly in the presence of the Lord for evermore Here a soule lives with God by faith crying out Holy Holy Holy How long shall it be Come Lord Jesus come quickly Longing for the appearance of the day of God who will render tribulation to every soule that obeyes not the Gospell of God but eternall life to them that are faithfull to the death Thus much concerning the true worship of God as it consists onely in the spirit in the inward man hid from all men or Saints having a sweet entercourse with God after an invisible manner in the spirit THE VISIBLE WORSHIP OF GOD. Chap. I. Sheweth what the Visible Worship of Christ is and a discovery of what the true Gospell to be preached to the world is with the true Messengers or Ministers of the Gospell IN the former part of this Discourse I have held forth the worship that is due unto the Lord as it consists onely in the inward man and am now come to speake of the worship of God as it is visible Now the visible worship of God is the subjection What Visible Worship is 1 Cor. 6. 20. of body and soule to the Lord according to the words of the Apostle saying Glorifie God in your body and spirit which visible worship shall be handled under a two-fold consideration 1. As it consists in the visible administration of the Gospell and commands of the Lord Jesus 2. As it consists in conformity to the Gospell and commands of Christ of both which in order as the Lord shall enable me Concerning the first of these viz the administration of the Gospell and the doctrine thereof it is two-fold either to the world or to Saints but I shall first discourse of it as it is to be administred to the world and herein shall shew First What the Gospell is which is to be preached to sinners Secondly Who are those that are to administer dispence or preach this Gospell Thirdly The manner how they are to dispense this Gospell Fourthly To whom they are to administer or preach this Gosspell 1. The Gospell is glad tydings good and joyfull newes to Jewes What the Gospell is that is to be preached to the world Luke 2. 10 11. Isaiah 40 9. 61 11. and Gentiles to sinners by Jesus Christ Who was born in the City of David and is come in the flesh dead and risen againe therefore saith Paul We preach Christ crucified or fastned or nailed to the Crosse to them that are called Christ the power of God and the wisedome of God Therefore is it called the Ministry of reconciliation the grace of God revealed Salvation is onely in a crucified Jesus eternall life is in him that is the good newes that is to be divulged to poore sinners even Christ dying to make attonement for sinne to open the way to come to God and that Whosoever believes in this Christ shall be saved and be raised up at the last day This the Apostles preached which was glad tydings to the sinfull soule to Publicanes Harlots the worst of sinners good newes to a spirit enslaved in sin good newes to the body the naturall body the resurrection of which Paul preached as good newes by Christ though he was called in question for it this is the onely Gospell the everlasting Gospell promised to Adam shadowed under the law revealed now for grace and immortality are brought to light by Jesus Christ And of this Paul saith Though I Paul or an Angel from Heaven should bring any other Gospell then that I have already preached and yee have received let him
foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himselfe being the Corner stone Now the Apostles and Prophets are the foundation of the whole building as in their daies so in our daies and now what have we to doe but to build on the same foundation Againe Consider what saith the Scripture Math. 16. 18. And I say also unto thee that thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevaile against it Now the Church of Christ were a company of Disciples baptized professing the doctrine of the Gospell as I shall shew more clearly afterwards Now against this Church the gates of hell should not prevaile because it was built upon a Rock Many thinke the meaning of that Rock to be Christ others judg it to be Peter but for my part I believe it to be meant of neither excluding the other but of both for Christ is the true foundation For no other foundation can any man lay then that which is already laid even the Lord Jesus Yet I say also Christ is not called a foundation but in reference to his doctrine given to Peter and the Apostles preached by them first who are also said to be the foundation they as instruments in Christs hand Christ as the fountaine and fulnesse that fils all in all so that however behold a Church built That the gates of hell shall not prevaile against it But may some say The gates of hell did prevaile against many Object Churches It is not said the gates of hell shall not prevaile against any Sol. Church in particular but against the Church that is to say the whole body of Christ in all ages And though wee cannot see a Church successively from the Apostles yet I shall prove there hath beene a Church in all ages Ephes 3. 21. Vnto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end Amen Behold here a Church in all ages the Churches and so the Ordinances of the Churches were not to abide onely in the Apostles dayes but to the end of the world in all ages But yet to evince this more fully consider that the word preached by the Apostles is the onely word to be preached for faith and obedience in all generations therefore saith Christ Neither pray I for these onely but for them also which shall believe on me also through their word John 17. 20. The word of God preached by them and not their persons is expressed by Christ to be the ground of our faith that believe now to whom and to all that shall believe afterwards his prayer extends Againe saith Paul As we have said before so say I now againe If any man preach any other Gospell unto you then that we have preached and you have received though it be an Angell from heaven let him be accursed Galath 1. 8 9. Therefore is the Gospell called The everlasting Gospell Rev. 14. 6. Now the word that the Apostles preached is that which was given to them by Christ Goe preach the Gospell he that believeth and is baptized this is to be held forth as the word of God To the end of the world The time from Christ to the end of the world is The last daies wherein Christ himselfe hath spoken to us Heb. 1. 2. Who by this dispensation changed the old Priesthood and Law Heb. 7. 12. Now he did not destroy them as evill but changed them for the Priesthood of Aaron he established his own by death for the law of Ceremonies pointing out a Christ to come he established baptisme and breaking of bread to hold forth the establishment of his Priesthood in his death who is already come dead and risen againe Now as long as the Priesthood of Christ remaines so long must the Law remaine for there is no Priesthood without a Law The life of obedience is required till Christ coming therfore saith Christ Yee know not in what houre your Lord shall come therefore watchâ— But lest any should say the exhortation concernes not us Christ saith What I say unto you I say unto all Watch As Paul saith speaking of the judgments of God to Israel Now all these things hapned to them for ensamples and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come 1 Cor. 10 11. So are they for our admonition and the Apostles doctrine our rule therefore he saith to Timothy And the things that thou hast heard of mee among many witnesses the same commit thou to faithfull men who shall be able to teach others also 2 Tim. 2. 2. Let those that thinke the commands of the Apostles onely concerne that generation consider this Scripture Yea Baptisme is so farre from being ceased that it is called One of the first principles of Religion Heb. 6. 2. Now surely if you take away that you may as well take away Religion also and how you may wave that without bringing in another Religion with other Principles I understand not But if any say yet all this satisfies not then I shall demand what ground have any to prove its removall out of the way for this is certaine no dispensation given by Christ was ever removed but by the bringing in of some other And Christ hath now given out his lawes and will give out no other but it is high time to hear what is said against it which I shall willingly doe Chap. VII Answereth severall Objections SOme say John baptized with water but Christ with the Holy Ghost and Object fire So that John saith I must decrease but he must encrease from whence they conclude that water Baptisme must decrease and He viz. Christ and his Baptisme of the spirit must encrease Iohn 3. 30. This objection is grounded upon a meere mistake conceiving Sol. the Baptisme of water to be onely Johns and not Christs So that when John saith I must decrease they can understand nothing to be meant but water Baptisme when it is not Johns intention but John shewes his glory his honour and ministry must give way to and be swallowed up in Christ and decreased in this respect that he must dye and cease but Christ encreases by his death through which he gives new institutions I have already shewed the difference and agreement of Christs and Johns Baptisme wherein I have proved the Baptisme of water to be the Baptisme of Christ But Christ saith to the woman of Samaria Woman believe me the houre cometh when you shall neither in this mountaine nor yet at Jerusalem worship Object 2 the Father But the houre cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth which is an argument that Baptism of water is no part of the worship of God for that is outward and God will be worshipped in spirit Iohn 4. 22 23. In answer to this I desire you to minde that Christ doth not at Sol. all destroy the Baptisme of water but