though those that speak perverse things pretend word as from the Apostles for what they say yet let us not for trial of them and preservation from them wave the Gospel or seek help any where else but still hold fast the things delivered which we have been taught by the Apostles by word or Epistle as the Apostle instructs the Thessalonians when he beseeches them not to be moved or troubled neither by Spirit Word or Letter as from them 2 Thes 2. 2 15. Let us not leave the Scripture because they perveâ—t it in their glosses but still hold that fast as our Saviour hath set us an example Mat. 4. 6 7. and in the light and instruction thereof that we may not be carried about with divers strange doctrines let us consider the end of their conversation that speak unto us in their word or by writing or personal conference if that be Jesus Christ the same yesterday to day for ever though weaknesses be found acknowledge them that are such and so walk Heb. 13. 7 9. And be we all followers together of the Apostles and of those that have spoken to us the Word of the Lord Phil. 3. 17 looking diligently unto our selves and one to another that none fail of the grace of God that no root of bitterness no evil spirit or doctrine springing up trouble us and thereby many be defiled c. Heb. 12. 15 16. and thereto warning one another in all wisdom according to capacity and let us observe that counsel and instruction given by the Apostle Jude ver 20. 21. Ye beloved building up your selves on your most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost keep your selves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life Having thus spoken largely to the former part viz. the Apostles commendation of them to God and the word of his grace at this time of his departure we shall briefly add somewhat to the second thing at first proposed which is contained in the words in which we have 2. A â—urther Declaration of the excellency of the person and thing to which he commends them laid down by way of motive to ingage them to commit themselves to God and the word of his â—â—ce Which God and Word of his grace is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are saâ—ctified In which we have these two branches 1. This God and Word is able to build you up 2. And to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified 1. This God and Word is able to build you up In which we shall speak to these two things 1. Shew what is meant by building up 2. What is imported in this branch of the motive 1. Then by building up is meant a making â—hem to increase or causing them to grow up and â—ise higher This expression of building refers to two things in Scripâ—ure sometimes to a place of habitation 2 Chron. 2. 1 12. and sometimes to a family or houshold Ruth 4. 11. and according to this double acceptation these two things are meant 1. An increasing of them who were already gâ—thered to Christ and making them as to themselves and the society to prosper and ascend higher and higher into Jâ—â—us Christ and those things that are excellent both with respect to themselves particularly and as with respect to the Church or society of which these to whom the speaks directly were members and overseers a growing up into Christ in all things which is the Head namely into the knowledge of him who is the Son of God in our nature accepted to all the ends of his undertaking and unity with him which is called edifying the Church Eph. 4. 12 13 15. a growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3. 18. and so it is an abounding in the knowledge of his will in all wisdom even in the whole of Christ and in all spiritual understanding namely such a discerning as is given by the Spirit in the words which the Holy Ghost teacheth Col. 1. 9. and growing more into union with Christ and conformity to him a more hearty imbracement of him and the word of his grace And so a being united more one to another in love and growing up together in the vertues of Christ adding to their faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness charity 2 Pet. 1. 5 7. setting their affections more on things above having their conversation in heaven and expectation from heaven and in all a going on to perfection and being more firmed setled and established by walking in Christ as they have received him Col. 2. 6 7. 2. An increasing of them as to number and so multiplying of them by an addition of others to them gathering others to Christ and the Church besides those that are gathered as Isa 56. 8. which is the issue of the former for while they are edified in knowledge faith and all vertues of Christ they come to be multiplyed according to that Act. 9. 31. then had the Churches rest and were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and comfort of the holy Ghost were multiplyed So the whole body growing up into Christ in all things is said to make an increase of the body to the edisying of it sell in love Eph. 4. 15 16. An adding to the Lord and to the Church continually till we all come to the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Act. 2. 41 46. 11. 24. Eph. 4. 12 13. even as an house or family is said to be built by the birth and addition of children to it Gen. 16. â— Deut 25. 9 2. Now then in that it is said which is able to build you up herein is imported and signified to us 1. That those to whom he speaks were in some measure come unto and built upon the foundation of God and so born of the incorruptible seed of the Word So much is signified in that he saith which is able to build you up that they were come to and built upon Jesus Christ according to that To him coming as unto a living stone Ye also as lively stones are built up c. 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. Eph. 2. 20 21. and indeed the foundation on which they were built and seed of which they were begotten it was the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever and which by the Gospel is preached to us 1 Pet. 1. 23 25. namely Jesus Christ who was delivered to death for our offences and raised again for our justification And other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3. 11. he as witnessed of by the Prophets and manifested
the Lamb that was flain to enjoy it yet then gloriously of his fulness shall they receive and grace for grace They shall not then need those Mediums for their help that now they do whether they be Prophecies they shall fail whether there be tongues they shall cease whether there be knowledge it shall vanish away for we know in part c. 1 Cor. 13. 8 9. All those gifts of Apostles Prophets c. shall then cease for they are given from on high to continue till we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4. 8 13. they shall not then â—each every man his neighbour and every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know him from the least to the greatest Jer. 31. 27 34. Heb. 8. 11. and it appears this perfect knowledge they shall have through the sight of him Now in looking to him they are lightned Psal 34. 5. But Oh! how shall they then be inlightned when they shall see him as he is Hence their knowing now and hereafter is put as the effect and consequent of their seeing 1 Cor. 13. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part but then shall I know even as also I am known signifying that according to the sight of him whether darkly or clearly such is and will be our knowledge And from this sight and knowledge of him they shall be filled with love to him and God in him and with love and charity one to another for charity never faileth 1 Cor. 13. 8. their hearts shall then be ravished with him from that clear and open discovery of his love and loveliness their love now to him which is in part is begotten and increased through the understanding of his we love him because he first loved us every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God for God is love in this was manifested the love of God towards us because he sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him whom having not seen ye love 1 Pet. 1. 8. but when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away and they shall compleatly love him and delight themselves in and be abundantly satisfied with his love 1 Joh. 4. 7 10 19. 1 Cor. 13. 10. and shall be filled with divine love one to another yea and with all heavenly vertues when they perfectly know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge even all discovery and manifestation of it vouchsafed for it is greater than is contained in any revelation of it and therefore it exceeds all our knowledge and perception of it they shall be filled with all the fulness of God Eph. 3. 19. and so they shall be like to the Angels that do his commandments hearkening to the voice of his word Luk. 20. 36. with Psal 103. 20. his will shall then be done on earth as it is in heaven Mat. 6. 10. And in seeing and beholding him they shall appear with him in glory then shall the righteous shine forth as the Sun in the kingdom of their Father Mat. 13. 43. When Moses was in the Mount seeing and beholding the similitude of the Lord his face shone that the children of Israel were afraid Exod. 34. 29 30. with Numb 12. 8. yet he could not see his face or glorious appearance so no man hath seen him nor can see him but then they shall see his face and his name glory and dignity shall be upon their foreheads the Lord shall arise upon them and his glory shall be seen upon them Rev. 22. 4. Mat. 5. 8. Isa 60. 1 2. 35. 2. 6. In this glorious condition they shall then together keep an everlasting Sabbath in that rest or keeping of Sabbath which remains for the people of God Heb. 4. 9. and together shall they then sing for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion Isa 52. 8 9. they shall then sing Hallelujah salvation and glory and honour and power unto the Lord our God Rev. 19. 1 7. they shall sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb Rev. 15. 3. in which they shall with thankfulness and rejoycing remember the infinite grace of the Son and of the Father in him in what he hath done and is become in what he is now doing and in what he will then do all summed up in that new song of the four Beasts and four and twenty Elders mentioned in Rev. 5 9 10. to wit That the Lamb was not is slain and is raised again in that same body in which he bare our sins on the Tree and hath destroyed all our enemies by himself in the name and authority of the Father his own right hand and his holy arm hath gotten himself the victory he hath purged away our sins overcome and abolished death destroyed the devil and obtained all glory into himself in our nature and for us this is the song of Moses in the type The Lord hath triumphed gloriously thy right hand O Lord is become glorious in power thy right hand O Lord hath dashed the enemy in pieces Exod. 15. 1 12. God is gone up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a trumpet sing praises to our God sing praises sing praises to our King sing praises Psal 98. 1. 47. 1 6. and this the song of the Lamb that God hath brought him out of the horrible pit out of the miry clay and set his feet upon a rock c. And put a new song into his mouth praise to our God who hath so delivered him and made him triumph over all our enemies sin death hell Devil c. Psal 40. 1 3. 22. 19 25. This is the Psalm or song for the Sabbath day I hat God hath made Christ glad through his work in delivering him and us in him from all our enemies and exalting his horn like that of an Unicorn and anointing him with fresh oyl with the oyl of gladness above his fellows this is the day which the Lord hath made they shall then for ever be glad and rejoyce in and for it Psal 92. 1 4 10. 118. 21 24. And that he hath redeemed them unto God by his bloud in discovering the preciousness of it in his testimony and testimonies of his goodness out of every kindred and tongue and people and Nation when they were sometimes of them and so of the world children of wrath by nature even as others yet then God who is rich in mercy for the great love wherewith he loved them when dead in sins quickned them together with Christ as Eph. 2. 1 5. for this they are now instructed to sing Allelujah Psal 135. 1 4. Praise ye the Lord c. for the
Act. 26. 17 18 22 yea any man in having and declaring it faithfully doth minister grace to the hearers Eph. 4. 28. with Col. 4. 6. It is true men have no knowledge of or will to any thing that is spiritually good yea they are naturally inclined to all evil lusting after vain things but he giveth more grace grace abounding and exceeding their natural corruption pulling down their strong holds casting down their imaginations and every high thing that exalts it self against the knowledge of God it presents more excellent and glorious arguments and gives more strength where ore he saith God resisâ—â—th the proud such as still refuse to humble themselves and turn at his reproofs Jam. 4. 5 6. the grace of God saving to all men hath now appeared Tit. 2. 11. and therefore mens sin is rendred hereby to be exceeding sinful because they either receive not this grace or receive it in vain because they receive not the love of the truth so as to be saved thereby 2 Thes 2. 10 11 12. But no more to this because it hath been in part spoken to already 3. This Gospel of Christ is called the word of his grace because it is that whereby he gives grace more abundantly to them that hear in hearing he rejecteth the proud that scorn to receive his grace but he giveth grace to the humble Jam. 4. 6. He so gives testimony to the Word of his grace as that in receiving this men receive the Spirit even through this hearing of faith and not by the works of the Law even that spirit of faith whereby they have the faith of the operation of God wrought in them and so they are said to have believed through grace Gal. 3. 2. Act. 14. 1 3. 18. 27. Hence this is called the Word of faith both because it testifies Christ to be the foundation and object of faith and because by it he is working faith in those that hear it yea and doth work it in all those that in hearing hear Rom. 10. 8 17. and so chuses them out of the world from the state and fellowship thereof saves them from their ignorance of God and enmity unto God Rom. 11. 5 6. Tit. 3. 3 5. it is that means whereby he makes them partakers of the forgiveness of their sins in their minds and consciences they are justified by grace justified by faith by this word of faith believed even from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Tit. 3. 7. Rom. 5. 1 Act. 13 39. he makes the opening of his name in his testimony the very declaration of that justification and forgiveness he hath received powerful to wash them from the guilt of their sins and so speaks peace to them Act. 26. 18. the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus doth make them free from the Law of sin and death and so from the a cusation of sin by the Law in opening this arâ—ument unto thâ—m that what the Law could no dâ— in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the â—â—eness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh Rom. 8. â— 3. It washes their heart from an evil conscience namely from a conscience that chargeth and condemns it self as held under wrath because our first Father hath sinned and we in him and come forth frâ—m him naturally and necessarily polluted for this is not now the condemnation and from an evil conscience that seeks by dead works to wash it self and speak peace to it self from some works of righteousness of ours This truâ—h known makes free and so the Son hereby Heb. 10. 22. Joh. 8. 31 32 36. yea and hereby they receive remission of those sins in which they sin after the similitude of Adam's transgression To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive forgiveness of sins Act. 10. 43. And so being justified by faith they have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ freedom from the fear of his wrath and that in believing this Word he fills with joy and peace in believing and multiplies grace and peace to them through the knowâ—dge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord even â—â—rough the doctrine of him known and received by them Rom. 5. 1. 15. 13. 2 Pet. 1. 2. and so begers them again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the deaâ— as discovered in the Gospel for it is his word that quickens them 1 Pet. 1. 3. Psal 119. â—0 93. yea hereby he washes them â—rom the dominion and service of sin in their members that henceforth they should not serve sin and walking in the Spirit in minding the things of the Spirit and yielding up to its operations sin shall not have dâ—minion over them nor shall they fulfil the lusts of the flesh Joh. 15. 3. 8 32. Rom. 6. 14. Gal. 5. 16. Psal 17. 4. 119. 9 11. through this knowledge of Christ and God's grace in him he gives unto them still and further the spirit of wisdom and revelation to glorifie Christ and enamour their hearts on him and so to redeem them from their vain conversation Eph. 1. 17 18. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Tit. 2. 14. And hereby he gives unto every one of this body grace even some gracious giâ—t whereby they may speak to God and pour out their hearts unto him and some useful gift to speak to men as this testimony of Christ is received by them and confirmed in them Rom. 8. 26. 1 Cor. 1. 5 6. Joh. 7. 38 39. yea in and with this he doth establish them and save them from the error of the wicked and from divers and strange doctrines that they may not be as children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine Heb. 13. 7 9. Eph. 4. 11 14. 1 Cor. 15 1 2. Psal 17. 4. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son to preserve and keep him from those deceivers that are entred into the world and to make him strong that the wicked one shall not touch him so as to corrupt him from that simplicity in Christ 2 Joh. 7 9. 1 Joh. 2. 13 14 4. 4. 5. 18. yea hereby he gives grace to them to strengthen them with might unto all long-suffering and patience with joyfulness in those afflictions and tribulations which he is ordering unto them this is their comfort in their affliction for his word quickens them and it is unto them the joy and rejoycing of their hearts Col. 1. 11. Psal 119. 49 50 78 82. Jer. 15. 15 16 17. he creates the fruit of his lips unto them in his testimoâ—y peace peace and so heals them that are broken in heart and binds up their griefs Psal 147. 2. with Psal 107. 20. Isa 57. 15 19. with Chap. 61. 1 3. and so causeth them to know and prove
unto him and tell what thou hast done hide it not Josh 7. 19. While men are pleading their innocency or hiding their sin and crying out only of the affliction they therein indeavour to disannul his judgment and condemn him that they may be righteous Job 40. 8. whereas in a right examining our selves in the light of the Loâ—d and taking shame to our selves as it appears thereby to belong to us and so humbling ourselves we shall herein rightly glorifie him and acknowledge that he is righteous in all he hath brought upon us and that he hath not done without a cause all he hath done in the midst of us yea that he hath not laid upon us more than is meet or was needful to seal home our instruction and make us partakers of his end in afflicting us 2 Chron. 12. 6. Neh. 9. 33. Job 34. 23. Dan. 9. 7 14. yea we shall have cause abundantly to confess and acknowledge to his praise that he hath not in thus afflicting us dealt with us according to our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities but hath punished less than our iniquities deserve Psal 103. 9 10. Ezra 9. 13. It is of the Lords mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not Lam. 3. 18 22. This will strengthen us to say I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him Mic. 7. 9. Yea consider that there is mercy with him as to forgive our iniquities and heal our backslidings so also to make up our â—â—sses and repair our breaches yea though our breach be like the great Sea and none can heal it though our bruise be incurable and wound grievous and there are with us no healing Medicines yet he can and in returning to him will restore health unto us and heal us of our wounds Jer. 30. 12 13 17. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death Because they rebelled against the words of God and contemned the counsel of the most high therefore he brought down their heart with labour they fell down and there was none to help then they cryed unto the Lord in their trouble and he saved them out of their distresses He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness for he hath broken the gates of brass and cut the bars of iron in sunder And whoso is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. Psal 107. 10 16 43. Oh that we may not be tempting God and limiting the holy one of Israel and say can he help us can he repair our breaches but consider what he hath done already and in that incouragement and as that is working in us both to will and to do Come and let us return to the Lord for he hath torn and he will heal us he hath smitten and he will bind us up Hos 6. 1 2. Isa 57. 1 15 18. Levit. 26. 40. 42. Yea and be we admonished to examine our selves and to return to him in confessing our sins lest we provoke him to make further breaches upon us lest his soul depart from us and he make us utterly desolate of our glory Jer. 6. 8. For if we be not reformed by these liftings up of his hand but still walk contrary to him he will proceed in walking contrary to us and will yet punish us Levit. 26. 21 24. such like strokes as these are not only great judgments in themselves but also fore-runners of greater so when the Prophet was declaring the greatness of such a judgment as in which there was none to guide Jerusalem among all the sons she had brought forth namely that it was an heavy testimony of God's displeasure such as in which she had drank at the Lord's hand the cup of his fury the dregs of the cup of trembling wrung out he then signifies that this was also the forerunner and concomitant of greater judgments therefore he adds These two things are come unto thee who shall be sorry for thee desolation and destruction and the famine viz. that also of hearing of the words of the Lord and the sword c. Isa 51. 17 19. See what our Brother hath spoken more largely to this purpose in lamentation over the dead in Christ Page 30 33 37 38. and in breach upon breach pag. 8 12. And so much the Apostle here signifies I know saith he that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in amongst you not sparing the flock c. ver 29. 30. Oh that the consideration of all might awaken us to gather our selves together before the decree bring forth before the day pass as the chaff before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon us before the day of the Lords anger come upon us that we may seek the Lord seek righteousness and meekness that either he may graciously turn away his anger and judgments further threatned or however we may be hid in the day of the Lord's anger Zeph. 2. 1 3. Amos 4. 2. 12. 2. He now commits these to God and the word of his grace that they might take heed to themselves and to the flock to feed them as ver 28. And so for instruction to them and to them and to such as now go before others in the word of the Lord yea to all that are faithful in the Lord that to the end they may edifie themselves and one another they commit themselves to this person and thing quietly leave themselves with the great Shepherd and the Word of his grace expecting helpfulness herein even wisdom strength and direction to all their service for in Christ as declared in the Gospel they may be furnished unto every good word and work in this person and thing to which he commends them they might be every way furnished for feeding and edifying themselves and one another in Christ as manifested in the word and so in the word of Christ there is given matter wherewith to seed instruction to the manner how to feed and motive to move hereto 1. Matter wherewith to feed namely to nourish them up with the words of faith in which Christ is declared to be the Author and finisher of the faith and of good doctrine 1 Tim. 4. 6. that they might grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3. 18. the thing wherewith they might feed them it was the Gospel of Christ as opened according to the revelation of the mystery in which is the sincere milk whereby men may grow and be nourished up 1 Pet. 2. 2. And so the Apostle in this his exercise in directing them on such an occasion to God the word of his grace was a follower of God gave such instruction to these as God gave to the leaders of the people in former â—imes to whom he said This is the rest even that foundation laid in
deal of cunning craftiness to deceive and beguile others withal her wayes are moveable thou canst not know them Prov. 5. 6. they would be thought many times to commend that which their soul loaths they can sometimes speak of Christ in their words and of Gods grace in him to sinners while yet they only consult to cast him down from his excellency they delight in lyes they bless with their mouth while they curse inwardly Selah Psal 62. 4. they privily deny the Lord that bought them and not openly and in plain words however not at first or until men begin to listen to them and imbrace their strange doctrines 2 Pet. 2. 1. inwardly they are ravening wolves while yet they come unto you in sheeps cloathing Mat. 7. 15. they hide their design so cunningly that they are not easily discovered therein and speak in secret and are like them that peep and mutter as those that are afraid of the light and if one know discern and take notice of them they are in the terrors of the shadow of death and therefore believers are more ready to be insnared with them and it is more difficult so to detect them as to preserve others from them So much the Apostle signifies when he saith Many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping as signifying that the believers were hardly perswaded to believe they were evil workers or as bad as indeed they were because they pretended one thing and intended another and yet notwithstanding their specâ—â—us pâ—etences they were the enemies of the Cross of Christ whose end is destruction a marring of the visage of the Son of man Phil. 3. 18 19. and therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the thâ—ngs we have heard that we may not be as children tâ—ssed to and frâ— and carried about with every wâ—nâ— of doctrine by the sleâ—ght of men and cunning craftness whereby they lye in wait to deceive Eph. 4. 14. For notwithstanding their appearing godliness and great boastings of themselves their alluring doctrines their diligent importunity and cunning craftiness in hiding their design we may by the words of God's lips keep us from the error of the wicked and from every path of the destrâ—yer When wisdom Jesus Christ entreth into thine heart by faith and knowledge the word of his grace is pleasant unto thy soul discretion shall preserve thee understanding shall keep thee to deliver thee from the way of the evil man Prov. 2. 10 12. 4. 10 16. On let us hear then the instruction of our fâ—ther which is lâ—t thine heart retain my words keep my commandments and live get wisdom get understandiâ—g to get it not neither decline from the words of my mouth forsake her not and she shall preserve thee love her and she shall keep thee Prov. 4. 1 4 8. In committing our selves then to God and his Gospel we may be preserved from those whole end is destruction For 1. Here is compleatness prepared and discovered to give satisfying to our souls And 2. Direction given whereby we may know so as to beware of those grievous Wolves 1. Here is compleatness prepared and discovered to give satisfying to our souls this to which he commits them is the rest where the weary may find rest and this is the refreshing Isa 28. 12. Jesus Christ as declared in the Gospel is the bread of life and he that cometh to him shall never hunger after other food and he that believeth on him shall never thirst Joh. 6. 35. this God even our God hath done all things well for us and obtained all things into himself that may answer to all our needs supply all our wants and perfect whatsoever doth concern us he having been delivered for our offences and raised again from the dead hath made peace by the blood of his Cross slain the enmity that was between God and mankind broken down the middle wall of partition abolished death destroyed him that had the power of death wrought righteousness compleated salvation obtained eternal redemption received all fulness into himself for us yea he hath all things given unto him that may satisfie us All things are delivered to him of the father Luk. 10. 22. All things are here ready Mat. 22. 4. The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand Joh. 3. 35. All things that the Father hath are his Joh. 16. 15. And surely he saith so often All things that we might be assured that all fulness dwelleth in him and we may well reason as the Apostle doth in that he put all things in subjection under him he left nothing that is not put under him Heb. 2. 8. So may we say in that all things are delivered to him and ready and prepared in him it is manifest that nothing is excepted yea and he gives all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of himself even through the word of knowledge the word of his grace 2 Pet. 1. 2 3. How powerful is this to preserve us from those who come unto us preaching another Jesus whom the Apostles have not preached or another Gospel which the believers have not accepted whosoever drinketh of the water which Christ in the Testimony gives shall never thirst This will preserve such as continue drinking from gadding about to change their way and from an itching ear to hear and heap up to themselves teachers that bring not this doctrine and even make them say with Peter when many of Christ's Disciples because of reproofs met with and not submitted to went back and walked no more with him Lord to whom shall we go thou hast the words of eternal life Joh. 6 60 68. Prov. 8. 34 36. In him namely in Christ as declared in the Testimony are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge And this I say saith the Apostle lest any man should beguile you with inâ—icing words in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and in him ye are compleat who is the head of all principality and power let no man therefore beguile you c. Col. 2. 3 9 18. These things saith the Apostle John have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that ye may know ye have eternal life in having the Son and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God This was powerful to preserve them from those that did seduce them 1 Joh. 5. 10 13. with Chap. 2. 25 26. Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that according as it is written he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord 1 Cor. 1. 30 31. He is the living bread that came down from heaven Joh. 6. 51. The fountain of living waters for washing and cleansing us for cooling our thirst and satisfying us for watering and making us fruitful even like a watered garden
let him be accursed Gal. 1. 8 9. If any man consent not in his teachings to wholsom words the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godliness he is proud c. from such turn away 1 Tim. 6. 3 5. Now then we may be assured that such consent to wholsom words who say Christ died not for all nor by the grace of God tasted death for every man contrary to 2 Cor. 5 14. Heb. 2. 9. and so such as deny him to be the standing propitiation for the sins of the whole world 1 Joh. 2. 2. These teach men to deny the Lord that bought them yea they are led by the spirit of error who confess not praise not lift not up Jesus Christ as the Son of God the Saviour of the world they come not up to wholesom words for the true Christ is the Saviour of the world even of mankind and this began to be spoken by the Lord himself Joh. 3. 16 17. 4. 42. 6. 51. and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him 2 Cor. 5. 14 15 19. and so the Son of God is the Saviour of the world and this was the sum of the Apostles testimony which they had received and saw in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit 1 Joh. 4. 13 15. And the Apostle Paul saith that he was ordained a Preacher of this viz. That God will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth c. 1 Tim. 2. 4 7. and instructed Timothy to hold fast the form of sound words which he heard of him that unto which he was ordained a Preacher as before and an Apostle viz. that God is one and there is one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time by which he proves and evidences that God will have all men to be saved c. I say to hold this last in faith in an hearty belief of the truth of it and in love to men so as declaring this to them and holding it fast in profession according to the constraining operations of the grace of God in Christ 2 Tim 1. 9 13. with 1 Tim. 2. 4 7. 2 Cor. 5. 13 15 18 20. and exhorted Timothy to command others to teach and himself to teach that the living God is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 4. 10 11. See also Tit. 2. 11 15. And in this direction given unto us for tryal of spirits that we may know so as to avoid false Prophets it is observable the Apostle doth not positively and particularly declare what the false spirits do hold and teach but in the general he saith If they confess not praise not lift not up Jesus Christ or give not to him the glory due to him in their confessions so as in all hearing the Apostles they are not of God and we are to beware of them if they Evangelize otherwise than what the Apostles have Evangelized we are to reject them for if it be not the voice of our Shepherd we may be sure it is the voice of a stranger and so we are to flee from them yea if any man come unto you saith the Apostle and bring not this doctrine the doctrine of Christ in which he is lifted up in the words of the Holy Ghost receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed He saith not if he take not up this doctrine which he may seem to do for advantage sake when he is with you that he may not be discovered but may deceive you but if he bring it not if this be not his message his errand when he comes the thing he is set to promote receive him not c. Prov. 14. 7. Joh. 10. 4 5. 2 Joh. 7 11. 2. And by their fruits may be meant also the effects of their doctrines which the Disciples of Christ may perceive and discern namely that they are such as tend to corrupt from that simplicity that is in Christ to draw away mens hearts and affections from him who is the only foundation of faith and hope the only fountain in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily the only bread of life and door of approach to God They tend to remove men from him that called them into the grace of Christ and cause men to err from the words of knowledge Prov. 19. 27. Gal. 1. 6. and this appears plainly in those that imbrace and entertain those confessions in which Jesus Christ is not lifted up in the word of the Apostles Now then in applying our selves to God and the word of his grace we may be preserved from those grievous Wolves for they confess not our God or confess him not according to that discovery given of him in the word of his grace Oh let us then keep sound wisdom and discretion so shall they be life to our souls preserve our souls in life and grace to our necks then shall we walk in the way safely and our foot shall not stumble Prov. 3. 21 26. take fast hold of instruction let her not go keep her for she is thy life Prov. 4. 13. 3. That I may not over-much inlarge I shall briefly say the Apostle directs and commends them to this person and thing that they might not arise speaking perverse things and that they might be preserved from those amongst themselves that would arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them ver 30. What hath been spoken before may be useful here also only in that he now forewarns them of this danger among themselves and therefore thus commits them He signifies 1. That amongst those whom the Holy Ghost hath made overseers over the flock some may possibly arise speaking perverse things crooked wreathed things such as in which they would pervert the Gospel of Christ Gal. 1. 7. and that either by desiring to be teachers of the Law as there were some inclined hereto amongst these believers 1 Tim. 1. 3 7. So some such among the Galatians that turned them aside to the Law to be justified or sanctified by the works thereof and to perfect by the flesh what was begun by the Spirit Gal. 2 15 16 3. 1 5. 5. 1 4. and turning them again to weak and beggarly elementâ— Gal. 4. 9. Col. 2. 22 24. or by not consenting unto wholsom â—â—rds event the words of our Lord Jesus Christ but limiting the grace of God and teaching men to deny the Lord that bought them 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. or not consenting to the doctrine according to godliness but â—urning the grace of our God into wantonness as if it gave liberty to men to continue in sin or to use their liberty for a cloak of maliciousness or licentiousness 1 Tim. 6. 3 4. Jude 4. 1 Pet. 2. 16 or corrupting the word of God with Philosophy and that Science
beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord we may be changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3. 18. And this leads us unto another instruction contained in this branch of the declaration of the excellency of this person and word to which he commits them Namely 3. That God and the word of his grace is able to build up believers this is the work of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ and the means by which he doth it is the Gospel of himselâ— according as it is vouchsafed he gives all things that pertain to â—ife and godliness but he gives it through the knowledge of himself 2 Pet. 1. 3. Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of the faith Heb. 12. 2. the Alpha and the Omega he who hath begun the good work and who also will perform it Phil. 1. 6 7. he is the foundation and he shall bring forth the head stone with shoutings crying grace grace unto it Zâ—ch 4. 6 7. Jesus Christ is â—â—â—â—oundation of God and yet he is so laid in the word of his grace and those that come unto him are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets as before It is his work and office to open mens eyes and to turn men from idols to himself but he doth it in preaching the Gospel Isa 42. 6 7. with Chap. 61. 1. The testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple giving wisdom to them that have none and revealing him in beholding whom they may be made wise and the Law and doctrine of the Lord is perfect converting the soul both at first and continually Ps 19. 7 8. Hence the Apostle was sent with this to open the eys of Jews and Gentiles and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God Act. 26. 18 23. He gives unto makes them partakers of the forgiveness of sins that turn unto him but he doth give it they receive it through his name even through the word of faith Act. 5. 31. with Chap. 10. 43. 26. 18. He gives wisdom to the wise but he gives it through this word of wisdom The Lord giveth wisdom and out of his mouth his doctrine cometh understanding the spirit of wisdom and understanding is still and further given in the knowledge of him Prov. 2. 1 6. Eph. 1. 17. Joh. 7. 37 39. He quickens them to a lively hope but he doth it by his resurrection from the dead as declared in the Scriptures 1 Pet. 1. 3. his words are spirit and life his word quickens them Joh. 6. 63. Psal 119. 50 93. He it is that increaseth the faith of believers but he doth it in and by his testimony he hath written it that those that believe may believe on the name of the only begotten Son of God that they may go on believing be more strong in faith that their trust may be in the Lord he hath written to them excellent things in counsels and knowledge Prov. 22. 17 20. 1 Joh. 5. 10 13. He is faithful who will establish them and keep them from evil 2 Thes 3. 3. but he doth it according to the Gospel they are stablished in the faith Rom. 16. 25. Col. 2. 7. He doth and will sanctifie them throughout but he doth it through his truth and his word is truth 1 Thes 5. 23. Joh. 17. 17 19. he sanctifies and cleanses them with the washing of water by the word Eph. 5. 26. He fills them with the fruits of righteousness and makes their souls like a watered garden but it is by his Gospel this brings forth fruit in them and they that delight themselves in his Law and meditate there in day and night shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth his fruit in his season Col. 1. 6. Psal 1. 2 3. he doth build them up but it is by the word of his grace and they are therefore instructed to be building up themselves on their most holy faith Jude 20. In short they are kept by the power of God the Gospel of Christ through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. with Rom. 1. 16 17. they live by faith and therein they may go on to perfection as far as here they are capable Heb. 6. 1. it is able to make wise unto salvation and profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished and perfected unto all good works 2 Tim. 3. 15 17. and those gifts which Christ having ascended up on high hath given and which continue with us in the Gospel are for perfecting the Saints for the work of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ c. Eph. 4. 12 13. And this is of usefulness to those that go before others in the word of the Lord yea and to all unfeigned believers to beware of Philosophy and vain deceit for in Christ as preached in the Gospel are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and in him believers are compleat Col. 2. 3 10. And that they turn not to the Law or any other doctrine or tradition of the Elders to perfect that by the flesh which was begun by the spirit for this Law and doctrine of the Lord is perfect in it self and in its effect for convincing the world of sin of righteousness and of judgment and turning and conveiting the soul and for teaching believers and guiding them into all truth and shewing them things to come and in walking after the Spirit in the testimony the righteousness of the Law shall be fulfilled in men he will put his Laws in their hearts and write them in their minds Joh. 16. 7 15. Psal 19. 7 8. Rom. 8. 4. 2 Cor. 3. 2 3. Heb. 10. 16. And this shews unto us wherein their great strength lies and how they may be preserved from all that would corrupt them and whereby they may be strong in the Lord this Gospel is the power of God it is able to build them up whoever would pull them down they cannot build up themselves by any wisdom or strength that is in them as of them but this is a powerful wâ—rd whereby they may overcome the wicked one and overcome the world be inabled to withstand in the evil day and having done all things to stand Eph. 6. 10 17. 1 Joh. 2. 13 14. 4. 4. 5. 4 5 18. to the end they may cleave to the Lord wiâ—h full purpose and love his Law the perfect Law of liberty and it might be their mediâ—ation night and day 2. He further shews the excellency of God and the word of his graâ—e in saying And which is able to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified Which is still powerful to move us to 〈◊〉 ourselves thereto We shall here brâ—â—fly consider 1. What is this inheritance