Rom. 7.18 As Jacob did Travel towards Canaan yet he halted on one Foot as he Journied on Gen. 32.31 So though Saints do walk with God and hold on their way towards Heaven Job 17.9 yet they halt on the Unregenerate side and part With my Mind I serve the Law of God ' but with my Flesh the Law of Sin Rom. 7. last This is a wonderful Mystery of the Gospel that Believers are perfected as to the Conscience Heb. 9.14 Heb. 10.14 Though the Sacrifices of the Law could not make them that brought them perfect as touching the Conscience Heb. 9.9 they did Shadow Pardon they did Typify Reconciliation but they could not confer and bestow Pardon and Peace But this is the Excellency and Perfection of Christ's Sacrifice that it doth Purge and Perfect Conscience though the Soul and its Faculties are not perfected by a Compleat Inherent Righteousness yet Conscience is Perfected and hath no more ground to Accuse and Condemn than as if there were no Corruption remaining no Sin dwelling in us O what a Mystery of Grace is this that Conscience should be perfected and yet the Soul remain imperfect in Grace 8. Our own Inherent Righteousness is so defective and comes so short of a full Conformity to the Law that we cannot dwell at home but must fly unto and inhabit in the City of Refuge Though the Old Man be wounded in every Member in the Saints yet it is not Maimed no one of our Members on Earth is perfectly cut off 3 Cor. 5. And therefore we must not stay at home or dare to be found in our own Righteousness Phil. 3.9 As the Man-slayer was not to continue at his House Numb 35.15 22 24 25. He was in hast to leave it and fly to the City of Refuge and there to abide till the Death of the High-Priest Tho' a Man did without Enmity Hatred or Design but by meer Chance Kill his Neighbour yet he must not abide at Home Then we that have sinned knowingly and that with the bent and purpose of our Hearts have Transgressed a Righteous Law set before us do much more need Jesus Christ as a City of Refuge We are in more danger of Revenging Justice than the Man-slayer was of the Avenger of Blood O! how much Mercy is it that we have a City of Refuge to fly to tho' we have sined greatly and heinously When Jesus Christ our High-Priest died when the Temple of his Body was destroy'd John 2.19 then was this City of Refuge built up It is wholly Inhabited by Creatures that have been Guilty of Heinous and Innumerable Transgressions O what encouragement is this that there is yet Room in the City of Refuge to receive Guilty Creatures that fly to it And what great need have we of it not only for our Acts that are meer Sins but also for the best of our Duties and Performances There is Iniquity that cleaves to our Holy Things Exod. 28.36 37 38. We need an High-Priest not only for our Deformed Facts of Sin but for our Beautiful Acts of Worship by reason of the Dross that is in them our High-Priest did bear the Iniquity of our Holy Things they lay Heavy on him And can we purchase Heaven by those things that we need a Pardon and Jesus Christ endured a Heavy Punishment for If the Man-slayer did come forth and was found without the Borders of the City of Refuge the Avenger of Blood might kill him Numb 35.26 27. So if the best of Saints should go forth of Christ the City of Refuge and think to dwell at Home by trusting in their own Inherent Righteousness God's Revenging Justice might destroy them therefore it is our wisdom and safety to abide in Christ 1 John 2.28 Little children abide in him Because we are but weak little children not grown to perfect strength and full stature in Grace we are still to abide in Christ The Apostle Paul seems to me to refer to that expression of the Man-slayer's being found without the Border of the City of Refuge Numb 35.26 where he expresses it as his Great Design and Desire to be found in Christ Phil. 3.9 The Man-slayer and the Avenger of Blood might converse freely and comfortably together without fear of danger in the City of Refuge So a God of Vengeance and a Believing Sinner may have sweet Communion with each other in the Lord Jesus That Just One died for the Unjust to bring them to God not as Guilty Malefactors to be punished but as Reconciled Friends to be Embraced 1 Pet. 3.19 By the better hope we draw nigh to God Heb. 7.19 Noah though a sincere and Just Man was not to stay in his Tent or House but to leave it and enter into the Ark that he might not be Drowned by the Waters of the Flood so we must go out of our selves fly to and trust in Christ as God's Ark of Salvation that we may be deliver'd from Destruction by the Deluge of God's Wrath. 9. We do not ascend up to Heaven by a Lofty Tower or by a Proud Babel of our own Building the Top of our highest Structure cannot reach Heaven as those Foolish Builders thought theirs would do Gen. 11.3 4. Our Sins are increased and grown up to Heaven Ezra 9.6 If our Trespass be grown up to Heaven as Ezra acknowledges if our Sins affront provoke and dare God to destroy us How shall our Righteousness grow up to Heaven to enter into it and take possession of it We de serve by our Iniquities to be thrown down to Hell and do not Merit by our Righteousness to Ascend up to Heaven If Men could fly to Heaven by the Wings of their own Works or get up thither by the Ladder of their own Righteousness What need was there that God should provide and set up a Ladder to Heaven for us Gen. 28.12 13 14 15 16 17. Jacob was Travelling to Padan-Aram and in a Dream God minds him of the Great Journey up to Heaven and discovers to him a Ladder the Foot of which did stand on Earth and the top of which did reach Heaven By this Ladder was signified both the Person of Christ that was to be God-man and so at once to stand on Earth and reach to Heaven and the Office of Christ that as Mediator was to Reconcile God and Man and so joyn Earth and Heaven together The Foot of this Ladder stood in Bethel which signifies the House of God In the Church Christ the Mediator is Revealed and Preached At the top of this Ladder is the Gate of Heaven Gen. 28.16 17. Heaven is only accessible and open over this Ladder to those that climb and ascend up by it This Ladder is now Compleat in all the Rongs or Parts of it the Foot of the Ladder stood near the Head of Sleeping Jacob this might point that the Ladder is Raised from Christ's Sleeping the sleep of Death Jesus is now not only Born and hath Died but is Risen again and
Thirsty Souls may here drink in the very Fountain of Grace the Spirit and so be enabled to send forth Spiritual Rivers to stretch and solace others Christ can cultivate and manure the Wilderness cause it to be well watered Isa 35.6 7. and so to become a pleasant Eden a delightful and fruitful Paradise to God as God had a River in the Clouds to improve and enrich Canaan Psal 65.6 Thou visitest the Earth and waterest it thou greatly enrichest it with the River of God which is full of Water So Christ hath a better River with him in Heaven and this River he sends down and lets it in and turns it over our dry and barren Land When Hannah was delivered from Barrenness she calls this God's Salvation and rejoyceth in it 1 Sam. 2.1 4. Christ saves and anoints and and perfumes his Redeemed People Ezek. 16.9 I throughly washed away this Blood from thee and I anointed thee with Oyl Here is plain allusion to those precious and sweet-smelling-Oyls that great Persons were anointed and perfumed with Ester 2.12 Psal 23.5 Christ doth not only wash away the guilt of Sin with his Blood but also anoints his People with his Spirit and its sweet smelling Graces Believers are called Christians because they partake of the Ointment of his Spirit 2 Cor. 1.21 And the Church is said to ascend as Pillars of Smoke perfumed with Myrrh and Frankincense and all the powders of the Merchant Cant. 3.6 Christ doth not only take the stink of our Sins from the Nostrils of God by his sweet smelling Sacrifice Eph. 5.2 but also perfumes us with the sweet Odours and Powders of his Graces The Ointments the Garments of Saints cast out a sweet smell Cant. 4.10 5. He saves and cloaths us Rev. 3.18 he puts white Raiment on us that the shame of our Nakedness may not appear He takes from Sinners their sordid Garments and cloaths them with change of Raiment Zech. 3.3 4. We could not provide any Wedding Cloaths for our selves if Jesus did not give them to us and bestow them on us To her was granted to be cloathed in fine Linen white and clean which is the Righteousness of Saints Rev. 19.8 Jesus Christ doth not only cover us with the Robe of his Righteousness but also adorns and beautifies us with his new Nature we are made Partakers of Christ Heb. 3.14 We have a Spiritual Understanding we have the Mind of Christ 1 John 5.20 and the Bowels or Affections of Christ Phil. 1.5 We are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 13.14 his Mind must be put upon our Mind his Will on our Will his Affections on our Affections nothing of our own should be seen or appear but all the Faculties of our Souls should be covered with the Livery of Jesus Christ This Apparel wears fresher and will last to Eternity 6. Christ saves and adopts John 4.12 To as many as received him gave he power to become the Sons of God He was so far from envying us or grudging of us this Priviledge of Adoption that he vailed his own Sonship under the form of a Servant he was made under the Law and died that we might receive the Adoption of Children Gal. 4.4 He doth not only save Criminals from Execution but also makes them Heirs of a Kingdom and an eternal Inheritance James 2.15 Heb. 9.5 2dly I shall now shew you the Properties and Adjuncts of this Salvation 1. It is for the present mostly a Spiritual Salvation our Soul 's live Isa 55.3 our Souls find rest Matth. 1.28 our Souls are saved 1 Pet. 1.9 our Souls do delight themselves in Fatness Isa 55.2 But the Bodies of Saints are often in this World exposed to Poverty Hardships Imprisonments grievous Sufferings and cruel Deaths and these Evils do cloud the Saints Adoption and vail their State of Spiritual Salvation This caused the Heathens as Lactantius tells us to say De Justitia that Virtue was an empty thing If Men had not Riches Honours exemption from Sufferings freedom from outward Evils and Victory over Enemies but Christ hath not made the Earth and Plenty of Worldly Enjoyments as a Jointure to his Spouse the Church but tells his Disciples that in the World they shall have Tribulations John 16. last that those that will live Godly must suffer Persecution 2 Tim. 3.12 there is an irrevocable Sentence passed on the Old Man on the natural Body that it shall return to the Dust and this Sentence must be executed Gen. 3.19 2. This is a Righteous Salvation this is intimated in the last part of the Verse Judah shall be saved and that by him who is the Lord our Righteousness God is just in punishing sin on Christ that he may be just in pardoning it to us Rom. 3.25 26 27. God will not tare Believers in pieces according to his Threatning Psal 50.22 Because the Vail of Christ's Humane Nature his Soul and Body was divided and rent in twain Heb. 10.19 God may in a righteous way build up Sinners out of their Ruins because the Temple of Christ's Body hath been destroyed and pull'd down to the Dust Jesus Christ though a Tree of Righteousness was cut down that many Branches of Righteousness might spring out of this precious Root he was sowed in the Dust that he might be multiplied and many might from this holy Grain spring up to Everlasting Life John 12.24 God cloathed himself with the Garments of Vengeance and loaded Christ with sorrows that he might cloath us with the Garments of Salvation c. Isa 1.10 As the living Sparrow was dipt in the Blood of the slain Sparrow and so let fly Lev. 14.5 6 7. so we have liberty in a righteous way by being dyed in Christ's Blood Jesus Christ can marry us because his Soul and Body were divorced to reconcile us to God And he can repair and restore the beautiful image of God to us because his Visage was marred more than any Man's and his Form more than the Sons of Men Isa 52.14 This is the excellency and glory of the Christian Religion above all the pretended Religions in the World that it sheweth how God may pardon sin in a condecent manner in a way becoming of himself and not reflect on his Holiness reproach his Justice or wrong his Law Heb. 2.10 It became him of whom and for whom are all things in bringing many Sons to Glory to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings Such an High-Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled and separate from sinners Heb. 7.26 God is more honoured and his Law exalted by the sufferings of Christ than if we had fell under the Curse and lain in Hell for ever 3. This is a powerful Salvation God laid the help of Sinners on one that is mighty Psal 89.19 God hath raised up for us an Horn of Salvation Luke 1.69 one that is able to pierce through and to push down all the Enemies of our Salvation The
when a Sacrifice was offered he bid him to put up his Sword 1 Chron. 21.27 So in the times of the Law God did but as it were stay his Hand Sins were said to be passed by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the forbearance of God that Time is called a Time of Forbearance and God staid his Hand from punishing those that did look to Christ to come But now the great Sacrifice is offered up God's Sword is sheathed and he can magnify Grace through the sacrifice and satisfaction of Christ it may reign through the Righteousness of Jesus Christ Rom. 5.20.21 Jesus Christ being lifted upon the Cross will draw all to him John 12.32 All that is very many compared with the few that were drawn before a Dying Saviour 3dly Christ hath now paid a Ransom Matth. 20.28 and purchased a Church by his own Blood Acts 20.28 And therefore Christ hath now just ground to come to the Prison Door of Sinners and to call them forth Isa 49.9 That thou maist say to the Prisoners go forth and to them that are in darkness shew your selves Come with boldness into the presence of God appear and shew your selves with confidence in the Heavenly Sanctuary He that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Redeemer hath just Ground to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Deliverer Rom. 11.26 shall he Ransom and not Rescue shall he buy and not possess hath not Christ a just claim to what he hath purchased to take possession of it 4thly Christ hath now sealed confirmed and established his Testament by means of Death Heb. 9.15 He that might have given a Sanction to to the Threatning by our Blood and have executed the Curse in our Death hath ratified the Promises and confirmed his Testament by his own Death Christ hath given Vigour and Strength to the Promises by his being Crucified through weakness 2 Cor. 13.4 and hath given Life to his Testament by his own Death and he is rising again to be his own Executor Now he can fulfil the Promises of the New Covenant and bestow the Legacies of his new Testament and that especially because Christ is such a Testator as by his death doth purchase of God all the Legacies he bequeaths in his Testament which no other Testator doth All the Mercies of the Everlasting Covenant are the sure Mercies of this Spiritual David Isa 55.3 they are sure because Jesus Christ is risen from the Dead to bestow them Acts 13.34 And certainly Christ may freely and lawfully give forth his own 5hty Now Christ is saved and therefore in a full capacity to save others Zech. 1.9 Thy King cometh to thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Salvatus ipsemet ut de brevi transitu in locum Saved Christ had many Adversaries and did encounter with mighty Enemies they endeavoured totally to crush Christ and wholly to swallow him up it was of great concernment to the whole Church of God that Christ should be saved The Holy Ghost therefore dictated that Prayer to the Saints to be put up for Christ Psal 118.25 Save now we beseech thee we heseech thee now send Prosperity now was the time of War and utter Destruction there were many associated and united against Jesus Christ Acts 4.25 26 27. He is stiled Child Jesus Enemies thought easily to destroy him Herod Pontius Pilate the Jews and the Gentiles Many Dogs were hunting down this Morning Hart Psal 22. and the Title of Psal 16. And it was that which the Church desired and Christ himself also pray'd for that he might be delivered from their cruel and devouring Mouths Psal 69.29 I am Poor and Needy let thy Salvation set me up on high And Christ was heard in what he pray'd for He was taken from Prison and Judgment Isa 53.8 From Man's Prison Tribunal and Judgment and God did set him up on high even in a glorious Throne far above the reach and rage of all his Enemies that Christ that is so perfectly saved himself can fully save us He that did wrest himself out of the Hands of his Foes can also rescue us from the Power of all our Enemies the day of Christ's Weakness is past 2 Cor. 13.4 and the day of his Power is now come Psal 110.3 6thly Christ is now Perfected and being made Perfect he is fit to become the Author of Eternal Salvation to those that obey him Heb. 5.9 The Captain of our Salvation is made perfect through Sufferings and can lead to Glory Heb. 2.10 All the Rounds or Rongs of the Spiritual Ladder that reacheth from Earth to Heaven are compleat Gen. 28.12 13 14. with Rom. 5.33 34. Christ hath cloathed himself with our Flesh he hath died is risen again is ascended to Heaven is at the Right Hand of God to make Intercession for us His Priestly Garments are sprinkled with his own Blood and so he is fitted to enter into the Heavenly Sanctuary and to appear in the Presence of God the Sons of Aaron were to have their Priestly Garments sprinkled with the Blood of a Sacrifice before they could officiate in the Sanctuary Exod. 20.21 Christ's own Death did consecrate him as a Priest for ever and perfect him for the great work of Intercession Heb. 7. last 7thly Christ is now Victorious over all his and our Enemies he hath overcome the World John 16. last he hath made Reconciliation for Iniquity yea made an end of sin Dan. 9.24 he hath abolished Death 2 Tim. 1.10 by tasting it for a few Hours he hath swallowed it up for ever By Death he hath destroy'd him that hath the power of Death even the Devil Heb. 2.15 As a Goaler hath the power of the Law to keep a Malefactor in Prison and the Executioner hath the power of the Law to put him to Death so Sinners hath broken the Law and incurred the Penalty Satan hath the power of the Curse to cut off and destroy Sinners But Christ hath spoiled Principalities and Powers turned Satan out of his Office stript him of his Power as to those that believe The Curse is the Armour that this Strong Man trusts in Luke 11.22 And Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law by being made a Curse himself Gal. 3.13 And Christ hath now the Key of Hell and Death the Key of Hell to shut it that the Souls of his People may not enter into it and the Key of Death to rescue and bring forth the Bodies of his People out of the Grave He hath led Captivity Captive Psal 68.18 and triumphed over the Enemies of our Salvation the Captain of our Salvation is entred in triumph into his Royal City above as he hath overcome in his own Person so now he can overcome in us His strength is perfected in our weakness It is discovered to be most perfect when we are most weak and low when we seem as Christ's Soldiers to lye in the open Field and to be exposed to manifold Inconveniences and Sufferings from the rage and fury
is Ascended to Heaven sits at the Right Hand of God to make Intercession for us that we may see and share with him in his Glory and be with him for ever John 17.24 The Apostle Paul hath as it were pointed at all the Rongs of this Spiritual Ladder and shews us it is compleat Rom. 8.33 34. Though Satan stands at our right hand to accuse us for our Sins as he did Joshua for his Filthy Garments Zech. 3.3 yet Jesus Christ is at God's Right Hand to Plead and Interceed for us Our Sins Cry and Satan Accuses but the Blood of Jesus the Mediator Speaks for us Heb. 12.24 God that is infinitely Wise Holy and Just saw our need of this Ladder else he would not have provided it by the wonderful abasement and grievous Sufferings of his Son we cannot get up to Heaven by our own Righteousness Many of the Elect continue several years in an Unconverted Estate all these years are lost and so the Ladder is too short to reach Heaven their Righteousness doth not begin soon and early enough when they are Converted there are many stops and Interruptions of their Obedience The Ladder when it is begun it is much broken many Rongs or Rounds of the Ladder are wanting Who can possibly climb or ascend up to a high place where there are many Rongs or Rounds of a Ladder broken This will put a stop to them much more are we then unable to Ascend to a Heavenly Habitation and Glory by the Ladder of a broken Righteousness and by Duties or Works so interrupted blemished and Defective 10. We do not purchase a Heavenly Kingdom or Inheritance by our Works of Righteousness but we as Heires possess it by the Testament and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ Heb. 9.15 We are Heires not by our Doing but by Christ's Dying Job complaines that God made him to possess the Iniquites of his Youth Broughton Renders the Hebrew word Thou makest me to Heir the Iniquities of my Youth Job puts this Construction on all his Afflictions and Sufferings that God made him in them to Heir the fruits of all his youthful sins If God should deal with us according to our deservings by bitter and sharp Afflictions we might Heir the Sins of Youth and riper years and not only Heir them in Temporal Evils but in Eternal Punishments How much therefore do we need to be made Heires of Glory by Christ's Testament This is very observable that Isaac the Son of the Free-woman a Type of the Children of the Covenant of Grace is declared Heir while he was but an Infant and had done no Works of Obedience or Service to oblige Abraham his Father Gen. 21.8.10 Sarah speakes of Isaac as the Heir yea the Sole Heir of Abraham while he was but an Infant and Hagar and Ismael after many years service were turned out and cast off and that with a very poor pittance a little Bread and a Bottle of Water Gen. 21.10 14. Hagar and Ismael were utterly cut off from any hope of Enjoying Abraham's Rich Estate So many that do live Civilly Morally and add some Tincture and Sprinkling of Religion will yet come short of Heaven for as many as are of the Works of the Law are under the Curse Gal. 3.10 That is those that mainly cleave to and Build on the Works of the Law for Justification are under the Curse by reason of the defects that are in their Works Rom. 9.30 31 32. Israel that followed after the Law of Righteousness hath not attained to the Law of Righteousness Wherefore Because they sought it not by Faith but as it were by the Works of the Law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is 1. They sought it by Works that had but the shadow shew and appearance of Works but were not Solid and Substantial Isa 1.13 Bring no more vain oblations or empty Sacrifices that had only bodily service but there was no Spiritual Worship in them no Faith in the Messiah to come no Mortification of the Old Man did attend them Revel 3.1.3 Thou hast a name to live but I have not found thy Works perfect before God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were not filled up with Spiritual Worship and gracious acts of the Soul they were Specious and Glorious before Men but vile and Contemptible before God they might be Pretious as to the Matter of them but were vile and base as to the Form of them as the Present and Offering that the Philistines made to the God of Israel even Golden Mice They were Pretious as to the Matter of them being of Gold but contemptible as to the Form of them for they were but Mice Sam. 1.6.4 So the acts of Natural men may be good as to the matter of them as Praying doing Justly with all yet may be vile as to the Form of them because all doth flow from a Mercenary Spirit and is designed for their own Honour and applause or 2. Men may be said as the Jews to seek Justification as it were by the Works of the Law because though they may Complement God and pretend they are beholding to God's Grace for what they are and do as the Pharisee said God I thank thee that I am not as other men Luke 18.11 yet they put the greatest weight and stress upon their own Works and Righteousness for their Justification before God So the Pharisee did make an Inventory of his Spiritual Riches and drew up a Catalogue of his Good Works I am no Extortioner not Unjust or an Adulterer or as this Publican I Fast twice a week I give Tithes of all that I Possess This was the Foundation that he did build upon for his acceptance before God this was his plea at his Bar and Tribunal so that indeed they seek Justification as it were by the Works of the Law they give little to Grace and most to Works these are the Foundation of their Confidence and carry the main stroke with them but Christ Teacheth us other things he tells us that when we have done all that is commanded us we should say we are unprofitable servants Luke 17.10 There is a double sense that may be given of this Phrase 1. We are unprofitable servants that is to our selves we have laid no obligation on God we have earned no wages no reward from him 2. We are unprofitable servants that is if God would deal with us according to the defects and Sin that cleaves to our best services he might deal with us as with unprofitable servants Math. 25.30 Cast ye the unprofitable servant into utter darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Therefore Men must not trust to their own best Works for the obtaining of the Heavenly Inheritance God doth freely give the Kingdom to his Children Fear not little Flock it is your Father's pleasure to give you the Kingdom Luke 12.32 And Jesus Christ doth freely bequeath it Luke 22.28 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I bequeath to you a
us till the House of the Body is pulled down How else could it be said That the Body is dead by reason of sin Rom. 9.10 If we were perfect how could we die Doth it sute the Justice of God to pull and tare a perfect Creature in pieces and to deliver it up to Corruption If there be no sin within what is that which opens the Door and lets in Death If there be no Bonds of sin on the Soul how doth the Bondage of Corruption come on the Body God hath wisely ordered it that Persons shall not come to the Mark of Perfection till they also arrive at the Prize of Glory How Foolish and False is it for Persons to say they are perfect and yet have not attained to the Prize of Glory but are in a frail and miserable Estate God designs not that Persons shall be absolutely perfect in a Natural Body 1. That the Threatning may be fulfilled Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return Gen. 3.19 2. That Christians may have an Enemy to Wrestle and Conflict with whilst they are here Ephes 6.12 1 Tim. 6.12 3. That Believers may still act Faith on Jesus Christ and repair to him for Help Healing and Salvation God will not utterly take away the Fiery Serpents Satan and our Lust that we may resort to Jesus Christ for a continual Cure and Christ may never be out of date or use with us 1. Vse If Jehovah be the Righteousness of the Church this may reprove those that do not stop in or satisfie themselves with this Righteousness The Apostle Paul in Galat. 3.1 thus addresses himself to the Galatians O foolish Galatians Who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the Truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth as Crucified The Apostle Paul and others had drawn the Picture of Christ Crucified in beautiful and lively Colours he had described the Causes the Ends the Greatness and Grievousness of Christ's Sufferings and he wonders that any should darken their Minds and as it were bewitch their Eyes that they should not see the Loveliness and Excellency of this Glorious Object and comply with the Ends and Designs of Christ's Death Would Jesus Christ stoop so low Would he endure such hard and heavy things to have only a share in our Justification Shall any put in a joynt-stock with Christ Shall they contribute to their own Redemption and Justification Will Christ be a Partner only with our Works and Righteousness Shall a Crown be put on the head of the Creature as well as one set on the Head of Christ Is this the utmost product of all Christ's bitter Sufferings to do but half in our Justification Will not a Man both deceive and indanger himself that sets one Foot on a strong Bough and another on a rotten one Will not such an one fall So he that leans on Christ in part and on his own Righteousness in part will be frustrated and disappointed will miscarry and perish The Church is thus described as leaning on her Beloved Cant. 8.5 It is this Arm only that can support us and it is Christ's Righteousness that must keep us from sinking into Destruction How ignorant are Men of their Sins if they think these Waters are not so deep but they can Wade through them and not need Christ as an Ark to carry them over How blind are they that think their Wounds are not so dangerous but they can heal them or that Judge their Transgressions are not so heavy but they can cast in Religious Duties and Good Works enough to fetch up the Scale from the Ground and make a Compensation for their Offences and to Ransom themselves from Destruction The Papists here are highly guilty of darkening this Glorious Name of Christ and of Robbing him of the Honour of it they assert that a Man may do such Good Works before Justification that render it meet that God should give him Grace and that by Good Works done after Justification he may Merit Glory They affirm that we are Justified not by Forgiveness or not imputing our Trespasses as the Scripture saith 2 Cor. 5.19 but by the infusion of Righteousness into us Alensis saith that Justificatio est rectitudo liberi arbitrii that is it is the Reforming and Rectifying of Man's Free-will the bringing of the Soul to love God But this is a proud and false Doctrine in this as well as other Senses Rome is Egypt Revel 11.8 as it asserts a River of Inherent Righteousness below and that they need not that God should Rain an Imputed Righteousness on them as the Poet said of the Ground and Herbs of Egypt Nec pluvio supplicat Herba Jovi their Ground and Herbs did not Pray to Jupiter to send Rain A part of Egypt is satisfied with the River Nilus and hath no Rain as the Scriptures teach us Zech. 14.18 They think to climb to Heaven by a proud Babel of their own Building and not to ascend thither by the Ladder of Christ's Righteousness As this is a proud so it is a false Doctrine 1. It destroys the Parallel that the Apostle Paul makes between Christ's being made Sin and our being made Righeousness 2 Cor. 5.21 as Christ was made sin though he had not Inherent sin but only our sins Imputed to him so we are made Righteousness by the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness to us though we have not a perfect Inherent Righteousness of our own 2. Nothing Justifies before God but a Perfect Obedience and Righteousness our own at best is not such therefore we need Christ's Righteousness Christ as applying himself to us is the efficient cause of our Righteousness and Christ as applied is the formal cause of it as Amesius in his Bellarminus enervatus excellently asserts 3. If we are Justified by an Inherent Righteousness of our own there would be no room pretence or colour for that Objection that the Jews and all Natural Men are ready to make against the Doctrine of Justification Shall we not sin then that Grace may abound Rom. 6.1 If God Justifies by pardoning our sins and not imputing our Trespasses then the more we offend then the more Glory Grace will have in forgiving our Iniquities and so we may let the Reins loose to our Lusts But if Paul did assert our Justification to be by infusing of Righteousness into us the more Righteousness is Infused into us the more we should be restrained from sin and the less need Mercy to Pardon our sins and there would be no colour for such an Objection as the Jews did raise from the Apostle's Doctrine 2. There are others that we own as Brethren and account as sound in the main of the Doctrine of Justification yet we may modestly enquire whether some of their notions or expressions are calculated to advance the Glory of Christ's Righteousness in the Justification of the Ungodly 1. They assert that Faith and Repentance are proper conditions of the Covenant of
destitute of the Love of God and God that is a consuming Fire to Sinners and therefore this is a fit season for the Singing of Birds Justified Souls will sing Praises to God that heals their Backslidings and to Jesus Christ that is their Righteousness and Ransom The Redeemed of the Lord shall return to Zion with Songs Isa 35. last Though the Ark was heavy laden with Noah his Family all the Birds Beasts living creatures and suitable Food for them that was laid up in the Ark yet it did not sink but was born up by the Waters so what matter of Praise is it that we that are heavy laden with Iniquity are born up by the blood of Christ and do not sink into Predition We are guilty Creatures our mouths are stopt as we are Sinners Rom. 3.19 But O! what a wonderful and amazing change is this that we should be so Justified by the Grace of God and thorugh the Redemption of Christ that the mouths of Spiritual Enemies and accusers are stopt Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect it is God that Justifieth Who shall condemn it is Jesus Christ that hath died Our Lips were sealed up with Guilt now the mouths of Accusers are stopt by Christ's Satisfaction And shall not our Lips be opened and our Tongues loosed to Sing aloud of God's Grace and of Christ's Righteousness 8. Are we willing to go out of this World to die and to be with God and Jesus Christ those that are Justified have Peace with God and rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God Rom. 5.1 2. Those that are in a Storm do dread the Shore least they should be Shipwrackt but they that have good weather do desire it Tho' Condemned Sinners shall be cast away on the Shores of a miserable Eternity yet Justified Souls shall be landed safe in the Harbour of a blessed Eternity When others pass into the Prison Justified Persons enter into the Palace of God When the Tares are reaped for the Furnace Believers are reaped for and gathered into the Garner Matth. 3.12 Will Justified Persons shun the Glorious Presenc of God or slavishly dread his Tribunal Shall Pardoned and Adopted Persons be afraid to go home to their Father and be put into the possession of their Heavenly Inheritance Are you therefore willing to be absent from the Body and to be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5 6 8. It is a great thing to be willing to part with the Body that is one half of us to leave it in the dark Chamber of the Grave to feed Worms to crumble to Dust to sleep for a long Night till the Morning of the Resurrection Yet Paul saith We are always confident and willing to be absent from the Body and to be present with the Lord. The sight of Christ's Face the enjoyment of his Glory is more to me then Union with the Body Can you therefore conquer the Fears of Death Are you willing to leave your place on Earth to enjoy the Place prepared for you in Heaven to put off the Rags of Mortality that you may be clothed with the Robes of Glory to quit your Tabernacle for a Heavenly House 4. Vse O! desire earnestly and seek diligently to partake of this Righteousness of Christ 2. If you are interested in it if Jehova be your Righteousness O be thankful for it 1. O seek that Jehovah may be your Righteousness For the prosecuting of this First Branch of the Use of Exhortation I shall do two things 1. I shall lay down some Motives to quicken and urge you to seek an Interest in Christ's Righteousness 2. I shall lay down some Directions how you may partake of and be Invested with the Righteousness of Christ 1. Consider the great want and need you have of this Righteousness 1. In your Natural State you are far from Righteousness Isa 46. Ye stout-hearted that are far from Righteousness and You are free from Righteousness Rom. 6.20 that is a Carnal Man hath nothing to do with it they are not under the Empire Dominion and Command of it Men are dead Trees and therefore can bring forth no good fruit but they are corrupt Trees and are laded with evil Fruit. As they are alienated from the Life of God they cannot act for him or please him Ephes 4.8 Rom. 8.8 but as they have a Carnal Life they cannot act against him and walk contrary to him Mens thoughts are evil from their youth Gen. 8.21 yea they are born flesh John 3.6 yea the Holy Ghost goes one step farther In sin they are conceived in iniquity they are shapen Psal 51.5 they are not only idle and do not work Matth. 20.6 but they are dead and cannot work for God 2 Col. 13. A corrupt Tree cannot bring forth good fruit Matth. 7.17 18. The carnal mind is enmity to God it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be they that are in the flesh cannot please God Rom. 8.8 A Natural Man is so far from being Sanctified by his Religious Services that he pollutes them all Hag. 2.14 15. The Sacrifice of the Wicked that is his best Actions and the way of the Wicked that is his common Actions are both an Abomination to the Lord Prov. 15.8 9. The Law will not acknowledge in or allow to an Unconverted Man one good Work Rom. 3.20 by the Law comes only the knowledge of sin The Scripture that is the Law hath concluded all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all things of an Unregenerate Man under Sin all done by him all that flows from him all the Thoughts Intentions Affections Words and Actions of such The Mind is darkness Ephes 5.8 And can a blind Archer aim right at the Mark The Heart is Whorish Ezek. 6.9 And will a Whorish Heart love God or direct any action to please him Can a corrupt Fountain send forth sweet waters Men till Regenerate do nothing else but sin the Plague of the Heart infects all the Leprosie of the Soul defiles all that a Man doth 1 Kings 8.38 as a Fountain casts forth its water so they cast forth their wickedness Jer. 6.7 The whole Life of Men is cursed barrenness or wicked fruitfulness Christ is said to be the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the World 1 John 29. it is expressed in the singular number the sin of the World to Note and signifie to us that the whole Life of an Unregenerate Man is one continued sin wholly a course of Enmity Provocations and Rebellions against God Zech. 3.3 4 We have that expression Take away the filthy garments This Notes that all the acts of an Unregenerate Man are filthy and only filthy Garments They are all over defiled and therefore wholly to be taken away But the expression is otherwise concerning the Saints that they washed their Garments white in the blood of the Lamb Revel 7.14 the Garments were not wholy cast off or put away but washed There
to resist and contradict the Law of God This was very strange and surprizing to Paul he was decived in this he thought the Law would have repressed beaten down and mortified Sin but it rather fortified it As a Man that doth not know the Nature of Burning Lime thinks by pouring a little water on it to quench it but when he seeth that this water makes it to burn more vehemently and fiercely How would he as amazed cry out How am I deceived that the water should increase the Fire that I thought would extinguish it So the Law doth not weaken Sin but rather strengthen it and render it more violent 4. The Law punishes every Sin with Death Every Lust is mortal every wrong step is fatal and corrupt Fruit is pernitious and destructive Though Ismael might be guilty of many other offences yet for a weighty reason Moses mentions but one and that was his mocking at Isaac and for this he was cast out and cast off Gen. 21.8 9 10 11. Ismael was Hagar's Child and so a Type of them that cleave to the Covenant of Works The Law Curses for every act of Disobedience Deut. 27. last One offence according to the Covenant of Works is enough to undo and Ruin a Man to Eternity 5. There is no access to God by the Covenant of Works When the Law was given Bounds were set about Mount Sinai to keep off the people of Israel they were charged not to break through Death was denounced as the Punishment of those that touched the Mountain Exod. 19.12.13.21 The people therefore removed and stood a-far off Exod. 20.18 None of the other Priests or Worshiping Israelites might enter into the Tabernacle till Atonement was made for their Sins by Aaron the High-Priest Levit. 16 17. But after that Sacrifices were Slain Offered and their Blood Sprinkled on the Altar and the People then Moses Aaron and Seventy of the Elders of Israel ascended Mount Sinai and saw the Glory of the God of Israel Exod. 24.4 5 6 7 8 9 10. These Sacrifices were but Types of Christ's Death he died the Just for the Unjust to bring us to God 1 Pet. 3.18 else we are shut out of the Glorious Presence of God and cut off from all Gracious and Blessed Communion with him God is not accessible by the Covenant of Works guilty Creatures are kept off from him 6. The Law genders to Bondage Galat. 4.22 a Spirit of Bondage to Fear attends it Rom. 8.15 as Hagar and Ismael had a slavish Fear of Abraham as a Master rather than a Conjugal Love to him as a Husband or a Filial Love to him as a Father Those under the Covenant of Works are still doubting of God's Favour questioning his Love dreading of his Wrath They do not know whither Death will carry them and where Judgment will fix them and therefore through the Fear of Death they are all their Life-time subject to Bondage Heb. 2.15 the fear of the evil that is future doth embitter to them all present Good The Law was given in such a Manner that it was designed to strike Fear and Terror into Sinners The Israelites were then alone with God in the Wilderness separated from all other Nations This might intimate that God and the Sinner shall be alone together and all pleasing Company and delightful Enjoyments shall be shut out The Thunder did roar in their Ears and the Lightning did flash and flame in their Eyes and the Earth did tremble under their Feet Exod. 19.16 18. Whither shall a Guilty Sinner betake himself when the Heavens do threaten Vengeance over his head and the Earth seems sinking under his feet The Mountain did burn with fire Exod. 19.16 18. with Deut. 5.23 this did represent the fiery Throne of God and his burning Wrath wherewith as a Judge he is Armed to punish and destroy those that trust in their Works and will have to do with God according to the Covenant of Works But though the Mountain did burn yet it was not consumed So guilty Creatures shall burn in the fire of God's Wrath yet never be consumed or cease to be There was Blackness Darkness and Tempest Heb. 12.18 These pointed at the perplexed state of a Sinner the horrour and consternation of the Soul when God the Judge doth shew his Justice and Wrath for the Violation of the Condition of the Covenant of Works O what black darkness will cover Sinners O what a Terrible Storm and Tempest will one day be raised in and fall upon their Souls The sound of the Trumpet that was exceeding loud Exod. 19.19 Heb. 12.19 did signifie that Sinners must be cited to and presented before the Tribunal of God neither can any decline or avoid appearing before God's Justice-Seat Yet the Apostle calls this Mount Sinai a Mountain that was in it self Tangible or might be touched that so it was an Earthly and Material Mountain because the Dispensation of the Law and Covenant of Works is but a low Dispensation A Natural Man may Touch and Reach this that God will inflict evil on those that rebel and do evil When as the Covenant of Grace is a Spiritual and Invisible Mountain far above the reach and comprehension above the sight and ken of a Natural Man And what did all this Terror in giving the Law tend to but to raise a Spirit of Bondage in sinners and by Fear to drive and force sinners to some External Obedience to the Letter of the Law which yet they perform with Regret and Reluctancy and not with Love and delight 7. There is no enjoyment of the Eternal Inheritance by the Law the Bond-woman and her Son were to be cast out Galat. 4.20 21. Gen. 21.8.10 Ismael was not admitted or allowed to be an Heir with Isaac He did not Inherit Abraham's Rich Estate Moses could not bring the Israelites into or give them possession of the Land of Canaan this Joshua the Type of Christ did Hagar and Ismael were turned out with a small pittance they had but a few Loaves and a Bottle of Water It may seem strange that Rich Abraham should provide no better for his Wife and Child but there was a Mystery in it it served to instruct us that those that are of the works of the Law cannot be Heirs of Heaven cannot possess any Spiritual Riches or an Eternal portion in Glory but are put off with Temporary Momentary Comforts and Enjoyments What are the best things that this World affords What are Earthly Riches Honours or Pleasures compared with an Eternal Happiness they are but as a few Loaves of Bread and a Bottle of Water When Hagar and Ismael were turned out they wandered in a Wilderness Gen. 21.14 O what a difference was there between the plenty and abundance of Abraham's Family and the wants of a Barren Wilderness The World it self is but a Wilderness compared with the Paradise of God Revel 2.7 A Legal state under the Covenant of Works What is it but a wretched
by the Law By the Law is the Knowledge of our Sin not of our Righteousness Rom. 3.20 It discovers nothing but Sin in us shuts up all of ours under Sin Gal. 3.22 all the inward Operations of our Souls and all the Outward Acts of our Bodies it Condemns we are as it were put in Prison and shut up under Condemnation by the Law and all this is to cause us to find our need of and to make us Sigh and seek for a Redeemer to open our Prison-door and give Liberty to our Souls Isa 42.7 Isa 49.9 Isa 61.1 The Law if rightly understood drives us from it self I through the Law saith Paul am dead to the Law Gal. 2.19 As the Glorious Light that did shine in Moses his Face did Terrisie the Israelites and drive them from him discourage or deter them from coming near to him Exod. 34.30 32 33. So that Glorious Purity and Holiness that Impartial and Severe Justice that shines in the Face of the Law should drive us from Resting in or trusting on the Law for Righteousness and despair of ever being pronounced Righteous by it Shall the Law that was intended but for a School-Master to direct us unto Christ Gal. 3.24 be made a Father to give us an Inheritance of Righteousness But how many have grosly erred and grievously mistaken about this they have Enervated and Dispirited the Law of God they have pared off a great deal of its Purity cut off much of its Spirituality and made it to look like the Civil Law of Man as if it were given to check words and restrain outward acts but was not prescribed to the heart but the Law is like the Law-giver as he seeth the Motions of the Mind and Will so his Law forbids all evil Thoughts and Vile Affections and on this account it is called Spiritual Rom. 7.14 But the Jews especially the Pharisees did think the Law of God did not reach to Regulate or Condemn those Evils that were the meer Creatures of the Heart How else could the Elder Brother signifying the Pharisee say to God his Father Lo these many years have I served thee neither at any time have I transgressed thy word Luke 15.28 Paul when a Pharisee thought himself as touching the Righteousness of the Law to be blameless Phil. 3.6 These accounted themselves to be such Just Men that they needed no Repentance Luke 15.7 To these the Gospel is Foolishness 1 Cor. 2.14 Is it not folly to speak of Reconciliation Healing Liberty to those that never thought themselves to be Enemies to God to be Sick Prisoners or Captives How doth the Papists at this day pervert and corrupt the Law of God they call the most Spiritual part of it not a Command but a Counsel to Love God sincerely some of them will allow to be a Command but to Love him with all the Mind Soul Heart and Strength this they assert to be but a Counsel and not a Command And without this Wicked Opinion they cannot Maintain their other Errors that Men may be perfect in this Life and truly fulfil the whole Law of God Thus Men do at this day by their Corrupt Glosses False Distinctions Perverse Interpretations of the Law of God Undermine its Purity Spirituality and Perfection and so clap a Vail on Moses his Face that the Law may not be Terrible to them but that they may draw near to it and trust on it for their Justification Thus Men go about to establish their own Righteousness by derogating and detracting from the Extent and Obligation of the Law they Lower the Law that they may Heighten and Exalt their own Righteousness 3. Come to and descend into your selves that you may find out that evil Treasure that Root of Bitterness that Fountain of Iniquity that is in your selves Abraham as touching the Flesh did not find a Righteousness in himself to boast of and Glory in And can we find that in our selves that Abraham could not find in himself Rom. 4.1 2. If we cannot find Righteousness in our selves do we not need to be found in Christ Phil. 3.9 To stay and trust on that Righteousness which is of God by the Faith of Christ we must desire God as Luther saith not only to turn away his Eyes from our Sins but also from our Services not only to forgive our wrong steps out of the way but also our slow steps in it when we are bought with so great a price and encouraged to run with so Glorious a Prize set before us We may see enough in our selves to Condemn us We are Children of Wrath by nature and Children of Disobedience by practice Every faculty is diseased and perverted every Work of ours is corrupted and defiled God threatens the Jews to spread the dung of their Solemn Feasts on their faces Mal. 2.3 The Beasts that were brought into the Courts of the Temple on the Feast-days did dung in them God seems to compare the faults and failings in the Jews Spiritual Sacrifices to the dung of those Beasts that were Offered up in Sacrifice Perhaps Paul may allude to this expression when he accounts his own Righteousness and priviledges to be but Dung there is some of the Dung of the Old Man that is vented in and mixed with our best performances that doth stain defile and in part at least render them unsavoury before God Sin dwells in us is present with us We can never shake it off shut it out or totally leave it behind us when we draw near to God We cannot put God in mind of one perfect duty but he can put us in mind of Thousands of defective Services performed by us If we dwell at home and trust in our selves Revenging Justice will break in upon us and destroy us If we stay abroad do not fly to and House our selves in Christ a storm of Fire and Brimstone will be Rained on us Psal 11.6 We needed Christ's Death on Earth and we want his Intercession in Heaven that the Iniquity of our Holy things may not be charged on us for our Condemnation and destruction 4. We must beware of unbelief as to God's threat'nings and take heed of Carnal security Sinners are too apt to take the shield of unbelief and to quench all the Fiery Darts of God's threat'nings which he casts at them How prone are presumptuous Sinners to give God the lie He saith There is no peace to the Wicked Isa 48. last yet Sinners do promise themselves peace though they walk in the Imaginations of their own evil Hearts Deut. 29.19 God saith of an ungodly Man That his eyes shall see his Destruction and he shall drink of the Wrath of the Almighty Job 21.20 yet he flattereth himself with vain hopes as those Jer. 5.12 Evil shall not come on us neither shall we see Sword or Famin. How dreadful is it when a Spiritual Lethargy is added to other diseases and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Spirit of slumber falls on Men Rom. 11.8