desirest no more good name repute or honour than Christ will afford thee or in case of death dost thou like Stephen resign up thy soul to Christ dost thou see death conquered in the resurrection of Christ dost thou look beyond death dost thou over-eye all things betwixt thee and glory O the sweet of this life of faith on the Son of God! if thou knowest what this means then mayst thou assure thy self of thy vivification 3. True vivification is a new life acting upon a new principle of hope of glory Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.3 4. which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you By Christs resurrection we have a lively hope for our resurrection unto glory is not Christ our head and if he be risen to glory John 18.22 shall not his members follow after him certainly there is but one life one Spirit one glory of Christ and his members The glory which thou gavest me I have given unto them said Christ The soul that is vivified hath a lively hope of glory on several grounds As 1. Because of the promises of glory set down in the word now on these promises hope fastens her anchor if Christ hath promised how should I but maintain lively hope 2. Because of the first-fruits of the Spirit there are sometimes fore tasts of the glory drops of heaven poured into a soul whence it comfortably concludes if I have the earnest and first-fruits surely in his time Jesus Christ will give the harvest 3. Because of Christs resurrection unto glory now he rose as a common Person and he went up into heaven as a common Person whence hope is lively saying why should I doubt or despair seeing I am quickened together with Christ Eph. 2.5 6. and raised up together with Christ and am made to sit together with Christ in heavenly places Try O my soul by this sign Art thou lively in the hope of glory doth thy heart leap and rejoyce within at a thought of thy inheritance in heaven in a lively fountain the waters thereof will leap and sparkle so if thy hope be lively thou wilt have living joys living speeches living delights amidst all thy afflictions thou wilt say these will not endure for ever I my self shall away ere long Glory will come at last O the sweet of this life of hope if thou feelest these stirrings it is an argument of thy vivification 4. True vivification acts all its dutyes upon a new principle of love to Christ men not enlivened by Jesus Christ may do much and go far in outward service yea they may come to sufferings and yet without love to Christ all is lost all comes to nothing 1 Cor. 13.1 Though I speak with tongues of men and Angels though I have the gift of Prophesie and understand all mysteries and all knowledg though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor Ver. 2.3 and though I give my body to be burnt and have not love it profiteth me nothing All the rest may be from the flesh and for the flesh and fleshly ends but a true Gospel-love is from Christ and tends to the Glory of Christ For Love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God 1 John 4.7 But how may we know that all our actings are out of love to Jesus Christ I answer 1. If we act by the rule of Christ If ye love me keep my commandements He that hath my Commandements and keepeth them 1 John 14.15 21.23 24. he it is that loveth me If any man love me he will keep my commandements He that loves Christ he will look upon every act every service every performance whether it be according to the rule of Christ and then on he goes with it 2. If we act to the honour of Christ We may pray and hear and preach and act self more then the honour of Jesus Christ whiles Christ shewed miracles and fed his followers to the full they cryed up Jesus and none like Jesus but when Christ was plain with them ye seek me not because ye saw the miracles but because ye did eat of the loaves John 6.26 Ver. 66. and were filled when he pressed sincerity upon them and preparation for sufferings from that time many of his Disciples went back and walked no more with him It s no news for men to fall off when their ends fail only they that love Christ look not at these outward things in respect of the honour of Jesus Christ and hence it is that in all their actings they will carry on the design of the Father in advancing the honour of the Son whatever it cost them O my soul apply this to thy self if thou livest the life of love if in all thy actings duties services thou art carried on with a principle of love to Jesus Christ it is a sure sign of thy vivification For the second question whether we increase and grow in our vivification we may discover it thus 1. We grow when we are led on to the exercise of new Graces this the Apostle calls adding of one Grace unto another 1 Pet. 1.5 6 7. add to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledg and to knowledg temperance and to temperance patience and to patience Godliness and to Godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness charity At first a Christian doth not exercise all Graces though habitually all Graces may be planted in him yet the exercise of them is not all at once but by degrees Thus the Church tells Christ at our Gates are all manner of pleasant fruits new and old which I have laid up for thee O my beloved Cant. 7.13 she had all manner of fruits which she had reserved for Christ new and old she had young converts and more seetled professors or she had new and old Graces as others she added Grace to Grace she was led on from the exercise of one Grace unto another new Grace As wicked men are led on from one sin to another and so grow worse and worse so godly men are led from one Grace to another Rom. 5.3 4. and so they increase knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope 2. We grow when we find new degrees of the same Grace added as when love grows more fervent when knowledg abounds and hath a larger apprehension of spiritual things when faith goes on from mans casting himself on Christ to find sweetness in Christ and so to plerophory or full assurance of faith when Godly sorrow proceeds from mourning for sin as contrary to Gods holiness to mourn for it is as contrary to him who loves us which usually follows after assurance when obedience enlargeth its bounds Rev.
in holiness and righteousness all the dayes of our life surely this is the end for which we are delivered out of the hands of our enemies sin death and hell Eph. 5.8 Ye were sometimes da â—nâ—ss during your abode in the grave of sin but now being risen ye are light in the Lord walk therefore as children of light Walk i.e. bestir your selves in the works of God Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee When God doth let the Sun of Righteousness arise Isa 60.1 it is fit we should be about the business of our souls We see that the night is dedicated to rest and therefore God that doth order all things sweetly he draws a curtain of darkness about us as which is friendly to rest like a Nurse that when she will have her little one sleep she casts a cloath over the face and hides the light every way but when this natural Sun ariseth then men go out to their work so must we though in the darkness of the night we shorted in sin yet now we must bestir our selves seeing the Sun of the spiritual world is risen over us And yet when all is done let us not think that our vivification in this life will be wholly perfect as it is with our mortification in the best it is but an imperfect work so it is with our vivification it is only gradual and never perfected till grace be swallowed up of glory Only let us ever be in the use of the means and let us endeavour a further renovation of the new man adding one grace to another To faith vertue to vertue knowledge to knowledge temperance to temperance patience 2 Pet. 1 5 6. Rom. 7.1 to patience godliness c. till we perfect holiness in the fear of God till we shine with those Saints in glory at perfect day Thus far we have Looked on Jesus as our Jesus in his resurrection and during the time of his abode on earth Our next work is to Look on Jesus carrying on the great work of our Salvation in his ascension into Heaven and in his session at God's right hand and in his mission of the holy Spirit LOOKING UNTO JESUS In his Ascension Session and Mission of his Spirit The Eight Book PART VIII CHAP. I. Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus who is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God SECT I. Of Christ's Ascension and of the manner how THUS far we have traced Jesus in his actings for us untill the day in which he was taken up Acts 1.2 That which immediately follows is his Ascension Session at God's right hand and Mission of his holy Spirit in prosecution of which as in the former I shall first lay down the object and secondly direct you how to look upon it The object is threefold 1. He ascended into Heaven 2. He sate down at Gods right hand 3. He sent down the holy Ghost 1. For the Ascension of Christ this was a glorious design and contains in it a great part of the salvation of our souls In prosecution of this I shall shew first that he ascended 2. How he ascended 3. Whither he ascended 4. Why he ascended 1. That he ascended 1. The types prefigure it Then said the Lord to me Ezek. 44.2 3. this gate shall be shut it shall not be opened it is for the Prince the Prince he shall sit in it to eat bread before the Lord he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate and shall go out by the way of the same As the gate of the Holy of Holies was shut against every man but the High Priest so was that gate of Heaven shut against all so that none could enter in by their own vertue and efficacy but only our Prince and great high Priest the Lord Jesus Christ indeed he hath opened it for us and entred into it in our place and stead Whither the fore-runner is for us entred even Jesus made an high Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech 2. The Prophets forsaw it Heb. 6.20 Dan. 7.13 14. I saw in the night visions and behold one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven and came to the ancient of dayes Mark 16.19 Luke 24.31 and they brought him near before him and there was given him dominion and glory and a Kingdom 3. The Evangelists relate it He was received up into heaven He was carried up into heaven 4. The eleven witness it For while they beheld he was taken up Acts 1.9 Acts 1.10 11. and a cloud received him out of their sight 5. The holy Angels speak it For while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white apparel which also said ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into heaven this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven Eph. 4.8 10. 1 Pet. 3.22 6. The blessed Apostles in their several Epistles ratifie and confirm it When he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men he that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens Who is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God Angels and Authorities and Powers being made subject unto him 2. How he ascended The manner of his Ascension is discovered in these particulars 1. Luke 24.51 He ascended blessing his Apostles While he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into heaven It is some comfort to Christ's Ministers that though the world hate them Christ doth bless them yea he parted with them in a way of blessing as Jacob leaving the world blessed his Sons so Christ leaving the world blessed his Apostles and all the faithful Ministers of Christ unto the end of the world Some add that in these Apostles not only Ministers but all the elect to the end of the world are blessed The Apostles were then considered as common persons receiving this blessing for all us and so those words uttered at the same time are usually interpreted Mat. 28.20 Lo I am with you alway even to the end of the world This was the last thing that Christ did on earth to shew that by his death he had redâ—emed us from the curse of the Law Eph. 1.3 and that now going to heaven he is able to bless us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places Acts 1.19 2. He ascended visibly in the view of the Apostles while they beheld he was taken up he was not suddenly snatched from them as Elija was nor secretly and privily taken away as Enoch was but in the presence of them all both his Apostles and Disciples he ascended up into Heaven but why not in the view of all the Jews that so they might know that he was risen again and
At one act he foreknew whom he would choose and set apart of his own free love to life and salvation And here you have the cause of Gods predestinating his Saints to glory it was only the foreknowledge and free love of God the Lord from everlasting and before the foundation of the world fore-ordained or fore-appointed some to salvation nothing moving him thereunto but his own good pleasure and his own free love This is it that in order of nature and strictly goes before and is the cause of our Predestination Rom. 8.27 for whom he did foreknow he also did Predestinate first he foreknew and then he did Predestinate first he loved and then he Elected first he embraced them as his own in the Arms of his eternal love and then of his free love he set them apart to life and to salvation hence the Apostle calls it the Election of Grace Rom. 11.5 signifying that our Election springs out of the womb of love free love free grace is the cause of our Election Some Object that we are Predestinated and Elected according to fore-knowledge i.e. say they according to the fore-knowledge of our Faith and Repentance and Perseverance Rom. 8.29 but if that were Pauls fore-knowledge why then would he say that those whom he did fore-know he also did Predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son if God did fore-know them first conformed why did he then Predestinate them to be conformed And if that were Peters foreknowledg why then would he say that they were Elect according to the fore-knowledg of God the Father unto Obedience 2 Pet. 1 2 if God did fore-know them first Obedient how then did he fore-know them unto Obedience I know it is a question whether God in fore-sight of belief and perseverance in Faith and Holiness do choose us to Salvation For my part I am for the Negative upon these well-known grounds 1. Because Election on Faith foreseen makes God to go but of himself looking to this or that in the Creature upon which his will may be determined to Elect now this is against the all-sufficiency of Gods knowledge as if he should get knowledge from the things we know and against the all-sufficiency of Gods Will as if he must be beholding to something in us before the business of our Election can be determined 2. Because Election on Faith or Love fore-seen it makes God to choose us when we have chosen him and to love us when we have loved him first but this is contrary to Scripture 1 John 4.19 Verse 10. We love him because he loved us first and herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins 3. Because Election on faith fore-seen stands not with the freedom of Gods Will within himself Rom. 9.15 but God tells us plainly I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion * John Goodwins exposition on Rom. 9.15 16. I know some would not have this Text understood of Election from Eternity but of Justification Adoption Salvation and yet they grant the truth of it to be alike whether in reference to Election or Justification the words I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy are one and the same with those words spoken by God to Moses Exod. 33.19 I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious Now to be gracious as is confessed properly imports a propenseness of mind and will to do some signal good without any motive or engagement thereunto from without especially from the person or persons to whom this good is done or intended which is a plain Argument that I will have mercy is not of that kind of mercy the exercise whereof is drawn out or procured by any thing whatsoever in those to whom it is shewed but because it pleaseth it self or him in whom it resideth so to do and in this respect mercy differs very litle or nothing at all from grace the Apostle exchanging Moses his words was but his Interpreter 4. Because Election on Faith fore-seen is all one as to say we are ordained to Eternal Life because we believe Acts 13.48 but the Scripture speaks contrary as many as were ordained to Eternal Life believed and not as many as believed were Ordained to Eternal Life 5. Because a prime and Eternal cause cannot depend upon the self-same temporal effects which are thereby caused Now Election is the prime and eternal Cause whence our Faith Repentance and Perseverance were derived and therefore our Faith Repentance and Perseverance cannot be imagined antecedent Causes Conditions or Motives unto the Divine Election 6. Because Election on Faith fore-seen or Election of men believing and persevering in Faith and Holiness unto the last gasp brings with it many absurdities As 1. This is to Elect men not considered as in the State of Innocency nor of Misery but as in state of Grace contrary to their own Tenets 2. This is not to bring Faith Holiness Perseverance out of the gracious benefit of Election but to bring Election out of the foreseen Acts of believing Eâ—cles 1.4 obeying persevering quite contrary to Scriptures he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the World that we should be holy and without blame before him in Love 3. This were to say that Election or Predestination affords no man any help at all in the way unto Eternal Salvation for how can that be the cause leading infallibly in the way unto Eternal Life which comes not so much as into consideration until a man have run out his Race at least in Gods fore-knowledge in Faith and Godliness and be arrived at Heavens Gates Such a falsely named Predestination might more truly and properly have been called a Post-destination But I have too long stood on this Controversie 1 Tim. 1.4 and indeed it is against my design which is not to minister questions but rather edifying which is in Faith I remember what I have Read and indeed I begin already to feel that these Controversal Points will but discompose our spirits and wast our zeal our love our delight in Jesus this lovely subject and object we are a viewing even by the interruption and diversion of our contemplations not a word more in that Kind SECT VII The Purpose OF the Purpose of God concerning mans salvation before all worlds we read in Scriptures we know that all things work together for good to them that love God Rom. 8.28 to them who are called according to his purpose And it is said of Jacob and Esau that being not yet born neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand And in Christ we are said to obtain an inheritance Rom. 9 11 being predestinate according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the
direct and then encourage First for direction let souls be acquainted how to act their Faith on Christ in respect of his Life The manner of its proceedings I suppose is thus 1. Faith must directly go to Christ Many poor souls humbled for sin and taken off from their own bottom they run immediately to the promise of pardon and close with it and rest on it not seeking for or closing with Christ in the promise this is a common error among thousands but we should observe that the first promise that was given was not a bare word simply promising pardon peace or any other benefit which God would bestow but it was a promise of Christ's Person as overcoming Satan Gen. 3.15 and purchasing those benefits The Seed of the Woman shall bruise the Serpents head So when the Promise was renewed to Abraham it was not a bare promise of blessedness and forgivness but of that Seed that is Christ Gal. 3.6 in whom that blessedness was conveyed Gen. 22.18 In thy Seed shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed So that Abraham's Faith first closed with Christ in the Promise and therefore he is said to see Christ's day and to rejoyce in embracing him Christ in the first place and more immediately is every where made the thing which Faith embraceth to salvation and whom it looks unto and respects John 3.16 John 11.25 as it makes us righteous in the sight of God God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me Acts 13.39 Acts 16.31 Acts 10.43 though he were dead yet shall he live And by him all that believe are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses and Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved And To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins And hence it is that Faith is called the Faith of Christ Gal. 2.16 Phil. 3.9 Because Christ is it whom Faith apprehends immediately and as for the other promises they depend all on this John 3.36 John 6.47 Whosoever believeth on him shall receive remission of sins and he that believeth on the Son of God shall have life everlasting verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on me hath everlasting life O remember this in the first place Faith must go unto Christ and yet I mean not to Christ as abstractly and nakedly considered but to Christ as compass'd with all his Promises Priviledges Benefits 2. Faith must go to Christ as God in the flesh Some make this the difference of Faiths acting betwixt Believers of the New and Old Testament Under the Old Testament when Christ was but in the Promise and not as then come in the flesh their Faith had a more usual recourse unto God himself as for Christ God-man man-God they had not so distinct but only a confused knowledge of him and therefore we read not so frequently and usually of their recourse unto him but only unto God 2 Chron. 20.12 20. Psal 78.21 22 O our God wilt thou not judge them we know not what to do but our eyes are upon thee and Hear me O Judah and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem believe in the Lord your God so shall ye be established and The Lord heard this and was wrath because they believed not in God and trusted not in his salvation But now under the New Testament because Christ as Mediator who was promised is come our Faith more usually and immediately addresseth it self unto Christ as God in the flesh God dwelling in our nature is made more familiar to our Faith than the person of the Father who is meerly God God in the flesh is more distinctly set forth in the New Testament and so he is more distinctly to be apprehended by the Faith of all Believers Ye believe in God sayes Christ to his Disciples whose faith and opinion of the Messiah was till Christ's Resurrection of the same Elevation with that of the Old-Testament-Believers Ye believe in God but he rests not there believe also in me John 14.1 make me the object of your trust and salvation as well as the Father believe also in me not only so but believe in the first place on me One sweetly observes that when Faith and Repentance came more narrowly to be distinguished by their more immediate objects it is laid down thus Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ Acts 20.21 not but that God and Christ are objects of both but that Christ is more immediately the object of Faith and God i◠more immediately the object of Repentance so that we believe in God through believing in Christ first and we turn to Christ by turning to God first O remember this Le◠our Faith in the more direct and immediate exercise of it be pitch upon Christ as God 〈◊〉 the flesh 3. Faith must go to Christ as God in the flesh made under the Law Gal. 4.4 and hence it is that the Apostle joynes these together God sent his Son made of a woman made under the Law If Christ had been out of the compass of the Law his being incarnate and made of a woman had done us no good Suppose one in debt and danger of the Law to have a Brother of the same flesh and blood of the same Father and Mother what will this avail if that same Brother will not come under the Law i.e. become his Surety and undertake for him It is our case we are debtors to God Col. 2.14 and there is an hand-writing against us and contrary to us here is a Bond of the Law which we have forfeited now what would Christ avail if he had not come under the Law if he had not been our Surety and undertook for us Our Faith therefore must go to Christ as made under the Law not only taking our nature upon him but our debt also 2 Cor. 5.21 our nature as men and our debt as sinful men He hath made himself to become sin for us who knew no sin i.e. he made him to be handled as a sinner for us under the Law though he knew no sin on his part but continued in all things written in the Book of the Law to do them If Faith be inquisitive when was Christ made under the Law I answer Gal. 5.3 even then when he was circumcised Thus Paul protests I testifie to every man that he that is circumcised is a debtor to do the whole Law Christ at his Circumcision entred into bond with us and undertook for us and therefore then and not till then Luke 2.21 he had his Name given him Jesus a Saviour and from that time he was a debtor to do the whole Law Not only to
life his way on earth was a continual lecture of humility a little before his death he gave such an example of humility as never was the like He poured water into a bason John 13.5 and began to wash the disciples feet O ye Apostles why tremble ye not at the wonderful sight of this so great humility Peter what dost thou wilt thou ever yield that this Lord of Majesty should wash thy feet methinks I hear Peter saying What Lord wilt thou wash my feet art not thou the Son of the living God the Creator of the world the beauty of the heavens the Paradise of Angels the Redeemer of men the brightness of the Fathers glory and I what am I but a worm a clod of earth a miserable sinner and wilt thou notwithstanding all this wash my feet leave Lord O leave this base office for thy servants lay down thy towel and put on thy apparel again beware that the heaven or the Angels of heaven be not ashamed of it when they shall see that by this ceremony thou set'st them beneath the earth take heed least the daughter of King Saul despise thee not when she shall see thee girded about with this towel after the manner of a servant and shall say that she will not take thee for her beloved and much less for her God whom she seeth to attend upon so base an office Thus may I imagine Peter to bespeak his Master but he little knew what glory lay hid in this humility of Christ it was for us and our example an humble Christ to make humble Christians 3. In him was patience O when I think of Christ's labours in preaching weariness in travelling watchfulness in praying tears in compassionating and then I add to all these his submission of Spirit notwithstanding all the affronts injuries and exprobrations of men how should I but cry out O the patience of Christ 1 Pet. 2.23 the Apostle tells us that when he was reviled he reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously I have already given a touch of these graces in Christ which now I may set before me In him was wisdom and knowledge and justice and mercy and temperance and fortitude and every vertue or every grace that possibly I can think of A bundle of Myrrh is my Beloved unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi 3. I look at the conversation of Christ in word and deed for his words they were gracious Not an idle word ever came out of the lips of Christ himself tells us that of every idle word we must give an account O then how free was Christ of every idle word Mat. 12.36 he knew the times and seasons when to speak and when to be silent he weighed every word with every Circumstance time and place and manner and matter Eccles 3.7 There 's a time to keep silence and a time to speak said Solomon when he returned again to his wisdom and hence we read that sometimes Jesus being accused he held his peace Mat. 26.63.27 12. and when he was accused of the chief Priests and Elders he answered nothing but other whiles he pours out whole Cataracts of holy instructions he takes occasion of vines of stones of water and sheep to speak a word in season he is still discoursing of the matters of the Kingdom of Heaven and he speaks such words as give grace unto all the hearers round about him so for his deeds and actions they were full of grace and goodness the Apostle Peter gives him this character which I look upon as a little description of Christ's life who went about doing good Acts 10.38 it was his meat and drink to do all the good he could it was as natural to him to do good as it is for a fountain to stream out he was holy and heavenly unspotted every way O the sweet conversation of Christ how humbly carries he it amongst men how benignly towards his Disciples how pitiful was he towards the poor to whom as we read he made himself most like 2 Cor. 8.9 He became poor that we might be made rich he despised or abhorred none no not the very Leapers that were eschewed of all he flattered not the rich and honourable he was most free from the cares of the world his prescriptions were Care not for the things of the morrow and in himself he was never anxious of bodily needs above all he was most solicitous of saving souls Much more I might add if I should go over the particulars in the Gospel but by these few expressions of Jesus Christ we may conceive of all the rest 2. Let us be humbled for our great inconformity to this copy what an excellent pattern is here before us and how far how infinitely do we come short of this blessed pattern O alas if Christ will not own me unless he see his Image written upon me what will become of my poor soul why Christ was meek and humble and lowly in spirit Christ was holy and heavenly Christ ever went about doing good and now when I come to examine my own heart according to this original I find naturally a meet antipathy a contrariety I am as opposite to Christ as Hell and Heaven 1. For my thoughts within I am full of pride and malice I am full of the spirit of the world what is there in my heart but a world of passions rebellions darkness and deadness of spirit to good and 2. If the fountain be so muddy can I expect clear streams what words are these that come many a time from me Christ would not speak an idle word but how many idle evil sinful words come daily flowing from my lips Out of the abundance of the mouth the heart speaketh and if I may guess at my heart by my words where was my heart this Sabbath and the other Sabbath when my discourse was all on my calling or on the world or it may be on my lusts or on my Dalilah's on my right-hand-sins or on my right-eye-sins and 3. What actions are these so frequently performed by me if I must read my state by my conversation Whose image and superscription is this the last oath I sware the last blasphemy I belched out the last act of drunkenness idolatry adultery I committed or if these sins are not fit to be named the last piece of wrong I did my neighbour the last prank of pride I played on this stage of the world the last expence of time when I did no good in the world neither to my self nor others the last omission of good as well as commission of evil O my soul whose Image is this is it the Image of Christ or of Sathan If the worst Scholar in the School should write thus untowardly after his copy would he not be ashamed if in my heart and life I observe so many blots and stains so
but they were not able to draw for the multitude of the fishes 2. Hereupon Christ is known Therefore that Disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter ver 7. it is the Lord the alarm given now all the Disciples bestir themselves 1. Peter he casts himself into the sea 2. The other Disciples they come in a little ship to the land and there they dine and commune with Jesus which is the end of the history and so ends this Book of our Evangelist John Thus far we have propounded the object our next work is how to direct you to look unto Jesus in this respect CHAP. II. SECT I. Of knowing Jesus as carrying on the great work of our Salvation in his Resurrection THAT in all respects we may look on Jesus 1. Let us know Jesus carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in his resurrection and during the time of his abode upon earth after his Resurrection This is worth the knowing on it depends our justification sanctification salvation For if Christ be not risen we are yet in our sins and our faith is in vain and our hope is in vain little hope have we either of Heaven or of Resurrection if Christ be not risen of all men we are most miserable that believe in Christ if he whom we believe in be not risen again O my soul study this point many take it up in gross they can run over this Article of their Creed The third day he rose again from the dead but for a particular understanding of it in respect of the time or the end or the manner or the certainty how many are to seek I shall appeal to thy self are not many discoveries already made which before thou never tookest notice of and if thou wouldst but study this point how much more might yet appear especially how much more might yet appear as to thine own good it is not enough to know Christ's resurrection unless thou know it for thy self Be sure thou hast this in mind That Christ rose again but what 's that to me saving knowledge is ever joyned with a particular application if Christ be my Head then he could not rise but I rose with him and in him and thus O my soul look on Christ and thus search into every particular of Christ's resurrection come study when he rose study the Arguments that make out Christ's resurrection sure and certain study all the Apparitions of Jesus Christ O what delightful studies are these hadst thou been with them to whom Christ appeared would not thy heart have leaped with joy come study it close for the benefit of these Apparitions extend to thee the fruit of Christ's resurrection is thine Job 5.27 even thine as well as theirs Know this for thy self SECT II. Of considering Jesus in that respect 2. LEt us consider Jesus carrying on this work of our salvation for us in his resurrection It is not enough to know a saving necessary truth but it is required further that we digest truths and that we draw forth their strength for the nourishment and refreshing of our poor souls As a man may in half an hour chew and take into his stomack that meat which he must have seven or eight hours at least to digest so a man may take into his understanding more truths in an hour than he is able well to digest in many what good those men are like to get by Sermon 's or Providences who are unaccustomed to this work of meditation I cannot imagine it is observed by some that this is the reason why so much preaching is lost amongst us why Professors that run from Sermon to Sermon and are never weary of hearing or reading have notwithstanding such languish starved souls because they will not meditate And therefore God commanded Joshua not only to read the Law but to consider of it Josh 1.8 and dwell upon it This Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night why this is the duty that I am now pressing to if thou knowest these things consider â—uminate meditate ponder on them again and again And because this work requires enlargedness of heart and spirit therefore take it into parts and consider of each of them apart by it self As 1. Consider of the time when Christ rose again As Christ had his three dayes and no more so must thou have the same three dayes like unto his the first day was called the day of preparation the second was the Sabbath-day and the third was the resurrection day so thy first day is a day of preparation a day of passion wherein thou must strive and struggle against sin and Satan wherein thou must suffer all their bitter darts till thou dyest and give up the Ghost And thy second day is a day of rest wherein thy body must lye in the grave and thy flesh rest in hope wherein thou shalt enter into peace and rest in thy bed until the trumpet sound and bid thee arise Isa 52.7 and come to judgment And thy third day is a day of resurrection unto glory It is the first day of the week or the first beginning of a never ending world Thus consider the time of Christ's resurrection and thence mayst thou draw down some use for thy souls nourishment 2. Consider of the reasons why Christ arose was it not to confound the Jews they could not endure to hear of Christ's resurrection and therefore when Peter and the other Apostles preached that point Acts 9.33 They were cut to the heart and took councel to slay them It is the case of them to say We will not have that man to reign over us they that by their sins crucifie Christ every day cannot without horror think of his exaltation it cuts them to the heart that Christ is risen to be their Judge Again was it not to confirm the faith of Christ's followers till he was risen their faith was but a weak faith weak in knowledge weak in assent weak in confidence weak in assurance much ado had Christ with them many a time had he chid them Why are ye fearful O ye of little faith but after he had shewed uimself alive by many infallible proofs they could then cry it out My Lord and my God Again was it not to evidence that he had fully satisfied all our debts the Apostle tells us that Christ was our Surety Heb. 7.22 at his death he was arrested and cast into Prison whence he could not come till all was payed and therefore to hear that Christ is risen and that he hath brokens the bolts and fetters of the grave it is a clear evidence that God is satisfied and that Christ is discharged by God himself Oh what breasts of consolation are here Again was it not to conquer sin death and devil now he took from death his sting and from hell his standard now he seized upon the hand-writing