was undone because a man of unclean Lips Isa 6. 4 5. And the Church Isaiah 64. 6. profess they were as an unclean thing Paul an elect Vessel a man of singular Revelations yet laments that in him dwelt no good thing Rom. 7. 18. That he was carnal and sold under Sin ver 14. and when he would do good evil was present with him ver 21. Secondly Here 's Comfort that their Corruptions in them shall not break their Covenant Relation to God Psal 89. 30. to 35. There can be no Forfeiture of this Promise I will be their God and they shall be my People Thy Lye cannot make God untrue Rom. 3. 3. 4. Thy evil Eye cannot make his Eye evil too Matth. 20. 15. Thy wicked Thoughts cannot alter his gracious Thoughts Isa 55. 8. 9. Thy invincible Corruptions cannot overcome his Mercies nor the Enmity of thy Nature make God thy Enemy Thirdly Christ is employed in Heaven about this very Work of subduing thine Iniquities he intercedes ever and why That this People might be sanctified by the Truth Joh. 17. 17. That they might have more Grace and the Spirit given out to mortifie their Corruptions he reigns in Heaven on purpose to bring down his and their Enemies 1 Cor. 15. 25. He carries on the work of Redemption in Heaven and what is that but to set his People free indeed he hath an assured care now in Glory to fulfil his Promises one of which is that Iniquity shall be subdued Mic. 7. 18. Romans 6. 14. Fourthly Christ's promise to the Father is security for the Destruction of thy Sin he is engaged to present his people compleat to the Father Eph. 5. 27. and to keep them unblameable to his heavenly Kingdom 1 Thes 5. 23. Fifthly His Glory and Pleasure is concerned in the Death of thy Corruptions Isa 53. 10. The Pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand What is this Pleasure of the Lord It is the Redemption of his People from the Tyranny of Sin and the Slavery of Satan into the glorious Liberty of the first born of Glory 2 Thes 1. 11 12. Lastly Grace is of a prevailing Nature and must destroy thy Lusts at last and the Spirit of Grace is in his people Mat. 12. 20. the Interest of Sin and Sinners cannot always stand before the Interest of God and his people Esther 6. 13. Fourthly Here 's Comfort to tempted Believers such as are always dogged with filthy and frighâ—ing Temptations restlessly haunted with vile and blasphemous Thoughts and miserably buffeted with dreadful and dangerous Suggestions if Christ be interceding in Heaven then surely he will one day or other put an end to all the Temptations and in the mean time over-rule them that they shall not prevail over thee 1 Cor. 10. 13. Heb. 2. 19. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour those that are tempted Christ is a merciful High-priest and wants neither Knowledge Bowels or Abiliiy which might render him capable to relieve the tempted he hath the tempting Serpent the roaring Lion in Chains and will mercifully say to that proud one come so far and no farther Fifthly Here 's Comfort to Gods people under their Afflictions and Sufferings in the World or by the World if Christ be interceding in Heaven for them then surely he will not leave them comfortless in their Sufferings for him Joh. 14. 8. chap. 16. 32. 33. Then Tribulation nor Persecution nor any thing else can separate them from the Love of God in Christ Rom. 8. 35. He that is for them is stronger than all that are against them â—ers 31. He will be with them in the Fire and in the Water Isa 43. 2. Christ is never sweeter than when the World is most bitter to a Child of God Afflictions can but file away the Rust and scoure away the Filth it cannot diminish the Grace nor injure the State of those that are interested in Christ's Mediation Christ's Cordials are never better than when his people are most faint and languishing Christ in Heaven laughs at the vain hopes of his Enemies and will dash all their Attempts against himself and Interest in pieces Psal 2. 4 9. He will strengthen his tyred distressed Servants under Sufferings Isa 42. 10. 2 Cor. 12. 9. His Arm is made bare his Power display'd and his Strength made perfect in their Weaknesses Psal 27. 14. This may be the Trouble and dejecting Fears of some how they shall hold out-in times of Tryal I am afraid says one I shall never bare Reproaches Hatred Bonds Loss of Goods and death for Christ with a magnanimous and Gospel Spirit Why Soul It shall be given thee in that hour not only to believe but to suffer for Christ Phil. 1. 29. The Fury of the Adversary shall not terrifie you nor their rampent Rage deject your Courage Isa 35. 4. Sixthly Here 's Comfort to such as are Mourners for Sion and grieve at the Afflictions of God's People That lament to see Christ's Interest on foot and the Wicked on horse-back Transgressors to prosper and the Godly afflicted that weep to behold Divine Providences thwarting his Promises The Lord hath promised that to Christ shall every Knee bow and every Tongue confess Men read of glorious things spoken of Sion but when they look to the Interest of God they see nothing but matter of trouble and grief They look to the Earth and behold Darkness and Confusions they look to the Church of Christ and lo Decayes and Dyings Now this breeds trouble to the Friends of Christ to see things run counter and cross to expectation and promise yet here is Comfort from the Intercession of Christ on this account For First The Lord Jesus sits at Helm he is upon the Throne and reigns as King for ever and this hath been the Faithful s Refuge and Support in the worst of Times Psal 10. 2. 4. 16. Psa 29. 10. The Lord Jesus hath the Government of Nations as well as of Sion on his shoulders Isa 9. 6. Eph. 1. 22. He rules over all Psal 103. 19. His Kingdom ruleth over all Men and Devils cannot wrest the Scepter out of his hands In spight of all he is King of Sion Psal 2. 6. and his Government is maintained in all the Confusions that are on the Earth and if so there is no cause for the People of Christ to be dejected Fear not said Caesar to his Mariners in a Storm Caesar is here Why are ye so fearful said Christ to his Disciples when trembling at their Dangers in a boysterous Storm O ye of little Faith Matth. 8. 26. That Vessel cannot miscarry that hath Christ at Helm and if it could said Luther mallem ruere cum Christo quam regnare cum Caesare I had rather perish with Christ than reign with Caesar Secondly His Paths are in the deep waters Psal 77. 19. Thy way is in the Sea thy paths are in the deep waters and thy foot-steps are not
to the Father Eph. 5. 25 26 27. Christ gave himself for his Church that he might sanctifie and cleanse it and that he might present it to himself a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle Here 's a double Effect of Christ's Mediatorship One is By vertue of this Blood the Spirit comes and cleanses away the Corruption and subdues the Iniquities of his People this is that cleansing by Sanctification Then there 's a presenting the Saints to the Father complete in him without spot or wrinkle thus the vertue of Christ's Intercession and Righteousness applied by him to the Believer doth prove such a covering for all Believers that it hides every spot from God's Judicial Eye that the Lord is said to behold no Iniquity in them i. e. so as to be angry with them they are presented lovely and comely in Christ though black and deformed in themselves As a King And so he hath Authority to erect a Kingdom of Grace in the World to make Laws for the well-being of his Church and to require Obedience of all Persons Hence the Magistrates of the World are call'd upon to stoop to Christ Psal 2. 12. Kiss the Son lest he be angry All Authority in the World is placed under Jesus Christ in order to the carrying on his Mediatorly Kingdom Hence 't is said Prov. 8. 15. By me Kings Reign and Princes decree Justice they have their Power and Authority by the Government and disposing of Jesus Christ who is said to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. He hath absolute Power over every Creature Every Knee must bow and every Tongue confess to him all must subject to him Psal 22. 28. For the Kingdom is the Lords and he is the Governour among the Nations He shall have Dominion also from Sea to Sea and from the River unto the ends of the Earth They that dwell in the Wilderness shall bow before him and his Enemies shall lick the dust Psal 72. 8 9. As a King he is invested with Right and Power to give out the Spirit of Grace for the effectual fulfilling of and compleating Obedience to all his Laws by his Church and People Obedience to the Laws of Christ cannot be yielded but by the Spirit the best of his People are no further subject to him than they are Spiritual for the Carnal mind is Enmity against God Hence he saith When I go away I will send the Comforter John 16. 7. It is an Expression that notes Authority When I go away when I mount my Throne I will send the Spirit and he shall promote Obedience He shall lead his People into all Truth ver 13. 14. Whenever he intends the flourishing of his Kingdom in the World he hath residues of the Spirit to give out the more Holiness there is in Saints and Churches the more there are of the pourings out of the Spirit I will pour out my Spirit upon thy Seed and they shall spring up as among the grass as Willows by the Water-courses Isa 44. 3 4. So Joel 2. 28 29. I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh c. In those days that is in the time of the Gospel and especially when the Jews are called Again as King the Lord Jesus Christ hath sufficient Power to protect and rule his People to govern and subdue his Enemies He is altogether compleat to enact his own Purposes and to fulfill his own Will for as God nothing is too hard for him He takes up the Isles as a very little thing Isa 40. 15. It is an easie thing with him to blow off the Nations and subdue all the Powers that oppose him He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh the Lord shall have them in Derision Psal 2. 4. He makes nothing of all the Powers of his Enemies it is but to look through the Clouds and trouble their Hosts Exod. 14. 24. One Angel can suddenly destroy thousands of them he hath absolute Power over all Creatures to bring down all his Enemies where and when he will and he must reign till he hath brought them all down Heb. 2. 8. Thou shalt break them with a Rod of Iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a Potters Vessel Psal 2. 9. The Saints are ready to tremble when they consider the Potency of their Enemies but it is far easier for Christ to dash all the Powers of the World in pieces than for a man to break an earthen Pitcher He will order and establish his Kingdom with Judgment and Justice Isa 9. 7. It is not for want of Ability in Christ to order and perfect the Obedience of his Church and People that there are such Disorders found amongst them only he is pleased to leave Irregularities for a while that he may come at last with his Fan and purge them So neither men nor Devils can pluck his Sheep out of his hand Jo. 10. 28. Enemies may touch them Temptations may wound and buffet them and sometimes Captivate his People but they cannot remove them out of his hand he will still support and preserve all that the Father hath given him Fifthly In this personal Union of the Lord Jesus Christ lies his Mediatorship In these two Natures he takes upon him and undergoes the Office of Mediator And this is so great a deep that time is too short to give a full Display of the Glory of Christ's Mediatorship Heb. 8. 6. But now he hath obtained a more excellent Ministry by how much also he is the Mediator of a better Covenant But now c. That is by vertue of this Union of both Natures in the Person of Christ he is become a Mediator of a better Covenant this we may see if we look back in vers 1. The Apostle speaks of Christs divine Nature who is set on the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in Heaven and vers 2. his humane Nature is shewn called the Minister of the Sanctuary and vers 3. ordained to offer Gifts and having spoken of Christ in both his Natures he tells us that he is now become a Mediator betwixt God and Man a middle Person a days-Man he hath a Mediety or Middleness of Nature as God-Man and is a Mediator in regard of his Office in which Office the Lord Jesus stands in a double Relation first to God secondly to Man having both Natures he is interested in both parties the Son of God and the Son of Man one with God Joh. 10. 30. I and my Father are one of one Nature one Will one Delight having one Design and one Glory As man he is of the same Nature Flesh and Blood with fall'n man Heb. 2. 11. 14. 17. He hath the same Temptations the same Weaknesses and Infirmities with them Sin excepted that he might have a fellow feeling of the Infirmities of his people and put on Bowels of Compassions that he might be capable of fulfilling all Righteousness suffering for them and holding Communion with them Heb. 5.
Spirit baptized into one body This is promised by the Lord Jesus Joh. 16. 7. Seaventhly His Promises For in him are all the Promises of God yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. That is they are sure and certain in Christ 2 Pet. 1. 4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises Gal. 3. 22. Lastly His Kingdom Col. 1. 13. And hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son A blessed Change indeed from Sin to Grace from Darkness to Light from the Kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of Christ 2 Pet. 1. 11. So an Entrance shall be administred to you abundantly into the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ All Believers are invested with the glorious Priviledges of this Kingdom they all become Kings and Priests unto God Rev. 1. 6. Nay a Kingdom of Priests Exod. 19. 6. They are entitled to all the royal Endowments Investments and Favours that belong to the Children of a King they all wear his royal Robes of Glory they have noble Entertainment most delicious Food the highest Honours and Thrones to sit on Christ gives them the Inheritance purchased Possessions and Mansions of Glory Fourthly The Liberality of Christ appears in the manner of his giving now this may come under a six-fold Consideration First He gives readily and propensly many give but by Constraint as the unjust Judge Luke 18. or from fear of Shame or Reproach men usually give with Reluctancy but Christ readily as Paul speaks of the Church of Macedonia 2 Cor. 8. 3. that they were prone to Charity beyond their power and of Titus ver 17. that being more forward of his own accord he went unto them so it may be more truly said of Christ that he wants no external Motives or Perswasions to exert his Bounty For First Christ's Gifts are his peoples due they have Right to all his Fullness Christ is the Believers and all that is his John 3. 16. Cant. 6. 3. I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine 1 Cor. 3. 21. For all things are yours they are purchas'd for them and given to them Secondly Christ's Office and publick Designation to this Work shews it he is set apart for this end that he might be the Author of eternal Life the Giver of all that good that his people need Joh. 17. 2. As thou hast given him Power over all Flesh that he should give eternal Life c. Joh. 6. 27. Him hath God the Father sealed that is deputed to this Office and Trust to be the Lord keeper of his House and Dispenser of his Fathers Goods All that Christ hath as Mediator is to be distributed to his he hath nothing but must be employed for the Salvation of the Elect for such is the Agreement betwixt the Father and him Joh. 17. 10. All mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them Thirdly He hath never the less for giving and therefore never weary of giving what 's that makes men soon tyred with Acts of Bounty why because the more they give the less they have and so fail at last in their Ability but 't is not so with Christ he is Fullness still notwithstanding all the vast Distributions that go out of his Treasury every day to fill up Heaven and Earth Men and Angels I remember a notable saying of a worthy Divine Should all the World says he set themselves to drink free Grace Mercy and Pardon dry drawing Water continually from the Wells of Salvation nay if they should set themselves to draw from one single Promise an Angel standing by and crying drink O my Friends drink abundantly take so much Grace and Pardon as shall be abundantly sufficient for the world of Sins which is in every one of you they would not be able to sink the Grace of the Promise one Hairs breath When Beggers come to our doors they many times promise us upon the Reception of an Alms they will trouble us no more but this would be an improper Expression to Christ whose Heart is so propense to give and whose Treasures are inexhaustible Col. 2. 9. For in him dwells all the Fullness of the God-head bodily Col. 1. 19. Forthly He gets by giving Advantage is a sure Agreement all men seek their own every man his gain from his Quarter now if giving appears to be Christ's Advantage you may be sure he will be willing to give men lavish out their Gold for Idolatry carnal persons pour out their whole Wealth upon their Lusts the Merchant adventures all he hath for Gain and can you think that Christ only will be close handed Psal 68. 18. Here 't is said he receives Gifts Eph. 4. 8. 'T is said he gave gifts what Christ receiv'd was not for himself but to give unto Sinners and that in order to his Dwelling amongst them Christ's Gifts are to further his Service 1 Pet. 4. 10. and his Peoples Profit 1 Cor. 12. 7. Fifthly He is never more pleased than when he gives This appears in his earnest inviting Souls to ask of him Joh. 16. 24. Hitherto you have asked nothing in my Name ask that your Joy may be full Had not the Lord Jesus a great Delight to dispense freely to his People he would not have us'd such Arguments to perswade them to beg 't is said of Titus Vespasian that he never denyed any thing to those that asked him but would call upon them to ask something of him Lastly This doth wonderfully greaten his Glory Joh. 14. 13. Whatever ye ask in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son This verse shews the Reason why the Saints shall do greater works than those that Christ did because they shall have the Power of Christ to help them he will do for them what they ask and give them what they seek and the reason is because hereby the divine Glory is more manifested the Fathers Glory in the Sons Glory for the Father and he are one and the Fathers Glory is his Glory the more he gives the more the Father is glorified and the more the Father is glorified the more is the Son also Secondly He gives feeely without any respect to Merit or Compensation Rev. 21. 6. To him that is a thirst will I give to drink of the Water of Life freely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is without any antecedent Cause Worth or Merit Rom. 3. 24. Being justified freely by his Grace As Justification comes freely without any Worth or Righteousness in man so do all the gifts of God Rom. 8. 32. How can he but with him freely give us all things 1 Cor. 2. 12. Christ doth not sell but give his Favours freely according to the pleasure of his own Will Isa 55. 1. This is a Truth hard to be receiv'd because 't is beyond the reason of men how Grace should move without any Motives and Attractives besides it self but yet this bounty of Christ hath no respect of Persons 2
your fellows He will make you Kings and Priests to God he will set you in Heavenly places he will seal your title to a Rich Joynture he will make sure your interest to all the Treasures of Heaven He will possesse you with grace and assure you of glory O sinners is not this argument enough to win your Souls and make you willing to accept of such a Majesty as Jesus Christ Eighthly Sinners think upon the greatness of that love tâ—e Lord Jesus Christ bears you He hath good-will towards Men towards sinners as sinners whiles in their blood he hath a love of pity for you 'T is true till you close with Christ he can have no love of acquiescense in you but he hath a love of good-will to your Souls he hath so much love for you as hath made him willing to shed his blood for you his love brought him down from the Fathers Glory made him willing to drink the dregs of a cup of wrath for you the love of Christ to Sinners hath set up a standing Ministery in the World sent forth multitudes to publish glad tidings O Sinners did you but believe this how attractive would it be upon your hearts to draw you to Christ But if none of these arguments will prevail let me adde one consideration more Lastly The effects of your refusing Jesus Christ will be dreadful if you will not accept of this proposal O think what a terrible answer Christ will send you Such shall not taste of his Supper Luke 14. 24. Not a crumb that fall from this Rich Table of Salvation-chear shall fall to the share of that wretched sinner If you will not have his Person you shall not have his purchase He hath sworn in his wrath these shall never enter into his Rest Heb. 3. 11. O sinner were there no other Hell but the loss of Heaven it were enough to break thy heart in pieces O think upon the sad Issue of thy final unbelief When thy sins get over thy head and thy guilt follows thee at thy heels When Death and Hell shall be at thy back and then to call and cry and knock at the door of mercy and not be heard O what a doleful thing will this be When armies of devils are round about thee ready to snatch thy Soul into everlasting burnings and none to relieve thee O fearful will the case of thy Soul be When thou shalt cry O for mercles sake Help Lord I am going to Hell for mercies sake help and then for the Ear of God to be deaf and thou not have one good word and the door be shut against thee O what a dolefull case will this be for tender mercy to cease is miserable But for mercy to become cruel to you O fearful case indeed when tender Bowels shall become Brass and Iron and there shall be no sounding at all in it towards thy Soul O sinner if thou wilt not accept of this Christ he will laugh at thy Calamity and mock when thy Fear cometh Pro. 1. 26. That 's terrible when God shall not only cease to pity but deride thy misery Be assur'd Soul as quiet as now thou art a day of Calamity will come there will come a time of Fears for thy poor Soul and then will mercy it self be turn'd into wrath and laugh at thy Calamity yet further sinner if thou wilt not accept of Christ then will incensed fury send forth its army of destroyers and ruine and cut off thy Soul for ever Mat. 22. 7. Then shalt thou be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of God and from the glory of his Power 2 Thes 1. 8 9. Then shall vengeance glut it self upon thy Soul and seize upon thee in flaming Fire O 't is a dreadful thing to lye at the mercy of vengeance O what will not enraged fury do to its adversaries when it hath them at its power But what will divine vengeance do O sinner when God shall arraign thee at the Bar of Judgment for kicking at the Bowels of mercy for Crowning the head of Christ with thorns and trampling his blood under feet what wilt thou do then O canst thou read this and not shake when thou shalt see Devils round about thee and flaming vengeance take hold of thee But thus it will be Then they that would not let Christ reign over them shall feel Devils rending of them Then they that fled from the Arms of mercy shall fall into the Jaws of fury Then they that shut their ears against the fervent wooings of Christ shall open their hearts to the fiery wrath of Christ Then they that would not get into the bosom of Christ shall lodge in the burnings of Hell Then the Furnace of Hell shall be heated seven times hotter for those whose hearts freezed under the warm beams of Christ's Love Oh dreadful will thy state be Sinner if thou refuse Christ Well sinner take the Counsel given thee kiss the Son Iest he be angry turn in turn in hither reach out thy arms come away to Christ say Lord Jesus I am willingly thine Sinners are you perswaded what answer shall we return to this Lord of Glory Will you be his Will you accept of this grace tendered to you before it breathe its last to you CHAP. XXVI Objections answered Counsels how to come to Christ I shall now endeavour to answer those Objections which are made by doubting Souls against their coming to Christ 1. Objection Says a Soul But will this blessed Potentate this glorious King of Kings stoop so low as to look upon such an obscure Creature such a worthless worm as I am Alas I am too mean to unloose the latchet of his shooes I am too unworthy to be the meanest Servant in his House To be a dog to his Flock And will he cast his skirt over me O do not flatter me into such vain hopes and fond dreams that such a King of Glory will look upon me I am too low for one aspect of his Eye Answ Abundant Testimony hath this Lord given of his condescending heart to sinners Dost thou think thou art too low for such a Majesty When he left his Fathers Kingdom and came down from his Eternal Glory with the Father he gave abundant proof of the humility of his heart when he did espouse thy nature sinner to himself and took upon him the form of a Servant he shewed his humble heart that he was far from contemning sinners He was the true Jacob who served a far harder bondage for thy Soul than ever Jacob did for his Rachâ—l this shews his humility His choosing such mean persons such notorious sinners for his companions in nearest Union and Communiwith himself Matthew the Publican Paul the Blasphemer Poor Fishermen of no regard upon Earth These did Christ personally chuse for his nearest Converses this shews his condescension And 't is not thy low state sinner can discourage Christ if thy heart be really willing His
the best of you your fair and specious Duties but he sees your inside and all your secret Rottenness when you sit before him as his People sit and seem devout in your Services he at the same time knows where your Thoughts are wandring and espies every vain Motion and sinful glance of your deceitful Eye when thou prayest with greatest Zeal his Eye is upon thy close Hypocrisie thy spiritual Pride thy base ends and those conceived Lusts which will break out when thy Duties are over O how should this abase thy proud Heart and prevent thy swelling Thoughts upon conceited Excellencies in thy self or supposed Worth in thy Duties seeing he knows what is in thee and how vain man would be wise This also should advise thy Soul to Sincerity in thy Profession Purposes Promises Duties because he beholds thee and weighs thy Paths searcheth thy Heart tries thy Reins and will shortly bring thy secret things to Judgment Lastly This counsels such as want Wisdom to be looking to Jesus and waiting at the Fountain and Spring-head for their Instruction Sixthly the Omnipotency of Christ is another of those glorious Properties of the divine nature which renders him so vast and unconceivable a Treasure to all that receive him He is the mighty God the everlasting Father Isa 9. 6. who hath infinite Strength to order and establish his Kingdom and to exert his Government in Sion and over Nations his Strength must needs be infinite because his Kingdom is eternal no created humane arm can sway the Scepter of the World and maintain an everlasting Rule over the Hearts and Conversations of all his People in all Ages and therefore he must be God and the mighty God to transact the whole Work that concerns him as Mediator and to answer the Appellations given him in Scripture Things are ascribed to Christ which cannot be performed by less than an infinite Power First His creating all things in Heaven and Earth Col. 1. 16. By him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him He is the eternal Word the Exemplar and efficient Cause of all created Beings The Heavens and Earth Angels and men the Inhabitants of the upper and nether World were all form'd by Jehovah Christ who gave Being to all his Creatures as pleased him and therefore his Power must needs be Almighty who is the everlasting God the Lord the Creator of the ends of the Earth that fainteth not be that giveth Breath unto the People upon it and Spirit to them that walk therein Isa 40. 28. chap. 42. 5. What a potent Lord have Believers chosen who can supersede all their Difficulties by his Creation-help if his whole Store-house of Heaven and Earth be not full enough to supply their Wants he can soon set forth a new Edition of Mercies by his own immediate arm if their way to Glory lye through a waste howling Wilderness where no Foot-steps can be seen to guide them he can create a Cloud by day and Pillar of Fire by Night to conduct them If their Provisions fail to relieve them in their Journey he can rain a Shower of Manna from his secret Granary and open the Caverns of the Flinty Rock and put new Springs into the barren Wilderness to refresh them when they are invironed with Troops of Death he can in a Moment interpose his fiery Chariots and Horse-men and when all their Deliverers fail send from Heaven and save them when the Visibility of Religion ceases and the Heavens pass away as a Scrole when the Glory of the Lords House is dissolv'd into a Chaos when the Gold of the Sanctuary is become Dross and the Gospel-Church metamorphoz'd into the old World he can even then create a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness Is thy Heart Believer full of filthiness Thy Redeemer can create a clean Heart and if thy Tempest-tossed Soul can find no rest thy Lord can create the Fruit of the Lips Peace for thee What is too hard for a creating Arm to do Or what can undoe that People who have a faithful Creator to commit themselves and all their Concerns unto Secondly Another Proof of the Omnipotency of Christ is the upholding all things by the Word of his Power Heb. 1. 4. Who being the Brightness of his Fathers Glory and the express Image of his Person and upholding all things by the Word of his Power Here 's another Royalty of the divine Nature of Christ a new beaming out of his Glory as God even in the bearing up maintaining and Dispose of the whole Creation in the former ver the forming of the Universe and whole World was ascribed to Christ and here the Preservation of it also is laid upon him as a further Evidence of his oneness with the Father having begun his Work in the Creation he carries it on in his providential Sustentation thereof He is before all things and by him all things consist Col. 1. 17. He is the Foundation that underprops the whole Fabrick of Heaven and Earth which would soon sink down into its first nothing if everlasting Arms were withdrawn from beneath it he that first gives Being to his Creatures must continue it Conservation is but a Continuation of the first act of Creation to preserve the World from Destruction to continue the Creatures in their peculiar Nature and Properties and to govern those Diversities in an united Subserviency to his Will and Glory and the Well-being of the whole is a work of infinite Power and needs the same Strength that first produced them And this is the work Christians of your Messiah that person who is God-Man who by his divine power and efficacious Providence animates actuates cherishes quickens and sweetly disposes of all Creatures Actions and Affairs in the World He is the great Monarch of Heaven and Earth that changes Times and Seasons whose hands are under his Wings and hath a wheel within the Wheels that turns about things as pleaseth him brings Light out of Darkness Order out of Confusion Good out of Evil who hath the Government on his Shoulders and absolute Power in his hand to dispose of all persons and things as may most further the Pleasure of his own Will the Advance of his Glory and the Good of them that fear him And is not this Security enough to those who have intrusted themselves and all their Concerns with this glorious Potentate and King of Kings who hath the Management of all things in Heaven and Earth that it shall be well at last with the righteous the momentous Affairs of the world and of Sion shall issue in the best Good of those that love his Name How should this calm the tumultuous Fears of the godly into a sweet Serenity of Spirit and still their tempestuous Thoughts in a quiet Relyance on the Arm Care and
no defrauding of his Spouse no pre-mortgage to take it away If Christ's Life could not be taken from him without his consent when he was Mediatour Joh. 10. 18. Then all the Estate he hath purchased with his blood is unremoveable the Father hath given it who is greater than all and in whose hands Believers are put and their Estates secured for them All new-Covenant promises are sure as you have heard part of which is the inheritance of the Saints This Estate is sure both by donation and purchase The Father hath given Christ and all that is his to Believers Isa 55. 4. I have given him to be a witness to the people a leader and commander to the people This shews the certainty and truth of this Covenant which is confirmed in Christ whom the Father hath given and made over to Believers to be the confirmation of his promises 'T is confirm'd by purchase he hath bought and paid for 't he went and sold all to get this pearl he parted with his Life Blood Glory his All to get this Estate for Believers The Father hath received every Farthing of the money and gives him an acquittance under his hand declares before men and Angels that Christ ows him nothing for all the whole Estate he hath purchas'd for Believers Mat 3. 17. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased O 't is a sure Estate A conveyance is made of it to Christ in the behalf of Believers Isa 49. 8. Math. 28. 18. All power is put into the hands of Christ The Deeds are drawn and interchangeably sealed between the Father and the Son that the Estate is firm and sure to all Believers Nay the seisure and delivery is given and Christ hath taken possession of it and he is entered into the Heavens in the behalf of Believers and all to make this sure O sinners will you espouse Hell and let go Jesus Christ who is Heir of Life and Glory that hath such a sure Estate for you Fourthly He hath a sutable Estate Let a man have a fair free and sure Estate yet if it be not sutable to his quality necessities and desires 't is unsatisfying But Christ's Estate is every way sutable both to himself and to his Bride He hath a large inheritance sutable for his dignity and to his Spouses quality Christ having finished his work on Earth being about to drink the last draught of the Cup he comes and treats with the Father about his receiving and 't is Glory sutable to his quality O Father glorifie thou me with thy self with the glory which I had with thee before the World was Joh. 17. 1. to ver 5. O unreasonable Souls that despise Christ O sinners had you ever such a Lover stood at your doors No nor never will have the like if you refuse this Jesus Yea 't is a sutable Estate to his Spouse too 'T is a fit joynture for the Kings Daughter sufficient to maintain her Immortality and Glory Luk. 22. 29. I appoint unto you a Kingdom Now a Kingdom is a sutable state to a Kings Daughter O Souls will you fall in Love with Christ he hath Crowns Thrones a Kingdom of Glory for you Then 't is an Estate sutable to your necessities too There 's enough in Christ to spend upon and maintain you bravely richly here and for ever O sinners will you match with Christ whatever you need is in him My God shall supply all you wants Phil. 4. 19. If a Kingdom will do it you shall not want it If a Crown of Glory will make you happy and blessed you shall not want it his Estate is fullness that filleth all in all Eph. 1. 23. O Believer it may be thou wantest Bread Cloaths Money and thou goest up and down dejected sad full of fears But hast thou espoused Christ O consider thou hast a fullness O what a vast Estate hath Jesus Christ for thee Sinners your wants are many more then you know God only knows your wants Sinners yet there 's enough in Christ's Estate and Patrimony to supply them all Then 't is sutable also to their desires Sinners desires are large O what wandring things are the desires persons may desire things to the utmost ends of the Earth which they cannot get But all that the Believer rationally desires Christ's Estate can satisfie He will fulfill the desires of them that fear him Psa 145. 19. Yea 't is above their desires Desire as much as thou canst Christ's Estate is above thy desires Pro. 3. 15. O what a treasure then is Christ it fills every chink of the Believers desires with an overplus 'T is more than can be desired Fifthly 'T is a pleasant Estate Psa 16. 6. The lines are fallen to me in a pleasant place yea I have a goodly herritage The Chaldee renders it in sweetness others delightful place A great Estate if it be not well scituated and lye not in a pleasant place is not half so contentful but Christs Estate is well scituated it hath all considerations and circumstances that may make it desirable Canaan that was a type of it is call'd the pleasant Land Jer. 3. 19. 'T is in the Original the land of desires So the Believers portion that is prepared for him by Christ 't is a Land of desires an Inheritance of beauty and Glory Christs Riches are very precious and pleasant Riches Pro. 24. 4. And by knowledge shall the Chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant Riches Rare as the word imports delighting Riches The whole possessions of Christ are pleasant the way to it is pleasant Pro. 3. 17. The borders of Christs interest are made with pleasant stones Isa 54. 12. And all thy borders of pleasant stones The first fruits of Christ's harvest is all pleasure and delight much more the lump the maintenance he allows his Children here in the way is delighting much more the Estate reserved at the Journeys end The Fruits that fall from this Tree of Life is sweet to those that sit under its shaddow Cant. 2. 3. how much more to them that climb and crop the pleasant fruits thereof Their drink is pleasant Psal 36. 8. Thou shalt make them drink of the Rivers of thy pleasures And at last he brings them to his Right Hand where are pleasures for evermore Psal 16. 11. Sixthly It is a peaceful state not liable to contests and controversies as mens Estates oft-times are here A man may have a great Estate but it may be a litigious Estate It may occasion many Law Suits about it But it is not so in Christ's Estate 'T is a peaceful Estate no wars grow out of this Estate Christs Countrey is called Salem The Land of peace Psa 76. 2. And he is The King of Salem The King of peace Heb. 7. 1. His Kingdom is Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. He is their peace Eph. 2. 14. In him they shall have peace Joh. 16. 33. His