Bidbanck M. A. Price 6 d. bound A new System of the Apocalyps or plain and methodical Illustrations of all the Visions in the Revelation of St. John Written by a French Minister in the year 1685 and finished but two days before the Dragoons plundred him of all except this Treatise 1 John V.xii. He that hath the Son hath Life and he that hath not the Son of God hath not Life WE that have this Prize put into our hands of labouring to save your Souls near the last Day and Hour and the going down of the Sun of your Lives are constrained to make short Work As blessed Mr. Perkins did in calling down a Malefactor from the very Ladder saying Man come down and thou shalt see what God's Grace will do to strengthen thee In the Life of Mr. Perkins but as true as we can in this little time If we should hold you under the Conviction Wrath and Condemnation of the Law of God for Sin deserving it we should keep you in the dark Prison of Unbelief and endanger your everlasting state by with-holding from you the saving Knowledge of Jesus Christ We have endeavoured faithfully to set before you your Sins and the Ways of Sin not to keep you under Terrors but to draw you to Christ not to bind upon you the heavy Burden of Ten Thousand Talents which you owe to the Justice of God and leave you to groan under it without hope of unbinding or releasing your Souls but that you may come weary and heavy laden to Christ We have cause of great sadness and heaviness of Spirit to think how nigh you are to the Judgment-Seat of Jesus Christ and how long you have been ignorant careless Despisers of him in whom you must believe or perish everlastingly Oh! How sad and grievous would it be if you should go out of the World without saving Knowledge and Faith without turning to God through Jesus Christ by whom alone you must come to God and obtain remission of Sin and everlasting Life You have now but a little Time left you to learn Christ and we must now open to you the Kingdom of God and set forth Jesus Christ before you evidently for Grace and Life or leave you in the Dark as we found you You must take hold of Christ and of Eternal Life or sink into the Gulf of Eternity You are upon the Brink of that boundless Ocean O now even now while there is any part of this Day left lay hold of eternal Life by Jesus Christ But how shall you believe except you hear and how shall you hear without a Preacher O now then hear a Sermon of Jesus Christ and of eternal Life by him If I were to Preach for my Life and but one Sermon and never to Preach more it should be of God my Saviour of the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ This is certainly like to be the last that you for whose sake principally it is designed shall hear before you die O! therefore now hearken for it is for your Life and by how much the more negligent you have been of your great Salvation be you the more diligent and attentive now O hearken now and the Lord open your Hears to attend to what the Lord shall say unto you from the Text now read to you The Reason why I have chosen this Text is because I would drive home the Point which you heard already Preached by Mr. Dudley the Wednesday before in the Prison and to purpose handled the other day That you cannot contend with God nor stand in his Judgment without Christ from Job 9.3 If he will contend with him he cannot answer him one of a thousand you cannot answer to your Charge therefore take Counsel And this being the last Service I shall ever do for you in this kind the best Service I can do you that are so near your appointed End yea and to all that hear me this day is to open and apply to you this Text which I have read unto you In the Words we may find full Resolutions and Answers to the greatest Questions of Concernment to all Men living The great Case of every Mans Life and Death is determined in them If the Question were asked by any of you 1. Who is the Man that shall escape in the day of the Lords Wrath and live happily with God in Heaven for ever The Answer is That Man and that Man only who hath the Son of God that is to say He who heartily believes in him embraces and receives him as the Son of God the Saviour The Decision is plain in few words He that hath the Son hath Life 2. If a contrary Question be asked Who is that wretched miserable Man who shall not see Life nor come into the Kingdom of Heaven but perish everlastingly in Hell not in respect of his being but happiness and well-being The Answer is plain and peremptory He who hath not the Son of God hath not Life hath no title nor right to Life nor any grounds of hope of it 3. If the Question be What a Man shall do to be saved Or how may a Soul that is convinced of Sin and Death that is made sensible of his Sin and Misery that confesseth how he hath sinned and how he deserves to die for ever for it How may a Soul I say thrust thorough with the fear of the Curse of the Law as with a fiery Dart that sigheth and groaneth under the Sentence of Death and is afraid of dying and being condemned to Hell when he dieth come to be cured of his Wounds and to Hope to see Life This this is the way the Only way the sure and certain way let him come to Christ and have him as he is offered and then he shall not die in his sins but have eternal Life For He that hath the Son hath Life as sure as he hath the one he shall have the other O then you that pant for Life embrace the Son 4. Grant it to be true that such are the Merits Grace and Power of Jesus Christ the Son of God that whoever hath him and believeth in him with a right hearty uniting effectual Faith hath Life But may not a Man who hath not the Son have Life Is there no other way or means of Life and Salvation but Christ Hearken to the Word and give Credit to it it speaks fully to the Question He who hath not the Son of God hath not Life This one Scripture carries Evidence and Conviction with it to stop the Mouths of all Gainsayers and Cavillers But this Text is not alone there are three Scriptures more that conclude in the same Sense both in the Affirmative and Negative See 1. John 3.36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life there 's the Affirmative He that hath the Son hath Life And he that believeth not the Son shall not see Life there 's the Negative or Contrary He who hath
That the First-born is of the same Nature with the rest of the Children thinking thereby to strip him of his Divine Nature and Godhead and to make him no more than a Man then he would partake of the Nature of every Creature as well as Mans for he is not said to be the First-born of Men only but of every Creature This therefore is a Title of Dignity and Honour as much as to say He is the First-born Heir and Lord of every Creature He is not a Creature nor called first Mr. P. Bayn on the Colos Christianni Schotanni in Collegio Miscellaneorum Theologicorum Disp 1. de prim genitura Sec. 11 12. Zanch. in Col. as tho first made but first and chief in Dignity and Power over all Creatures Psal 89.28 I will make him my first-born higher than the Kings of the Earth All things are subject to him 1 Pet. 3.22 and put under his Feet Ephes 1.22 His Dominion is over all This is the Son of God's Love manifested in the Flesh suffering in our Nature even unto Blood to make Attonement and to procure us the forgiveness of Sin O how happy are they who have him 5. That he is not a Creature not a meer Man or made God which implies the greatest Contradiction Nor a Divine Man as if he were more like God than other Men as the Arians and Socinians dream and feign him to be but that the Son of God the Son of God's Love is true God and hath an undoubted Title to the Dominion of all Creatures is made evident from ver 16 17. in which there are these infallible Proofs of his Godhead 1. All things were created by him that are in Heaven and that are in Earth c. 2. As all things were created by him so they were created for him All things were created by him and for him therefore he was not an Instrument in the Hand of the Creator but the most High God and one God with the Father and Holy Ghost To us there is but One God of whom are all things c. 1 Cor. 8.6 All things are by Christ the Son of God and also for him as their End therefore he is the High God See Rom. 11.36 The Instrument is for the principal Cause That which I as the Principal do use my Servant to do is not for his sake but my own but the end of all these things was no less the Honour of Christ than the Father Reverend Holy Bayn on the Coloss If Christ were the Instrument of God the Creator in the Creation then all things would not be for him for his Service and his Glory who was the Instrument He was an equal Cause with the Father and the Holy Ghost because all things are for him for his Service and Glory therefore he was not an Instrument nor an inferiour Agent but one God with the Father Yet we must observe an Order in the Government and Administration of the Mediatory Kingdom of Christ Christ as God is one with the Father but Christ God-Man as Mediator hath a respect to God the Father John 5.8 Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much Fruit so shall you be my Disciples John 11.4 I have glorified thee on the Earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do John 7.18 He that seeketh the Glory of him that sent him is true and there is no unrighteousness in him And Phil. 2.11 And that every Tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father 3. And he is before all things ver 17. before the World and all things in it If he were a meer Creature he could not be before all things he could be but the first of Creatures but being before all Creatures he should not be degraded and debased to be made but a Creature But he is before all things that are made therefore God the Creator of all things for there can be nothing before All things but God as before all Time nothing but Eternity And that Saying of the Reverend Davenant upon these Words Quomodo fuit ante omnia si ante suam incarnationem non fuit Quomodo condidit omnia qui ipse non extitit Expos Rep. P. ad Colos might stop the Mouths of all the Socinians who make the Conception of Christ to be the Principle and beginning of his Filation or being the Son of God grounding their Error upon that Text spoken of before Luke 1.35 How was he before all things if he was not before his Incarnation How could he make all things who was not himself in being Saith that clear and learned Man 4. By him all things consist He supporteth and beareth up all things upholdeth all things by the Word of his Power Heb. 1.3 All things are continued in their Being Place Order and Usefulness by him by whom all things were made He beareth up the World and keepeth things together from falling into confusion and ruin I have been the longer in the Description of the Son that you may know him and that knowing him you may desire him come to him believe in him have him honour him admire him and do all that is required of you Consider one thing before I go to the next Head The Son of God is to be had as he is given and sent of the Father and as he is said to come into the World All which Expressions do signifie to us his Office and Undertaking of a Mediator with the Performance and Benefits thereof The Knowledge of him as such is necessary to and is the beginning of Eternal Life John 17.3 This is Eternal Life to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent as Mediator to mediate Peace between the infinite God and sinful Men. Therefore let me in few Words open to you the meaning of the Word and the reason and nature of the Office of the Mediator as he is called 1 Tim. 2.5 There is one Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a Ransom for all where observe these things plainly 1. The Mediator is a middle Person between Parties 2. The Parties between whom he dealeth as Mediator are God and Man Medius Natura Medians Officio Trelent alii 3. The high Quality of the Mediator is set out by his Humane Nature and by his Names the Man Christ Jesus 4. What he did he gave himself a Ransom for all And by this last Particular we understand three things of great Moment 1. The Condition of all Men they were guilty of an heinous Transgression against God and were fallen under the Curse and Justice of God A miserable Condition 2. What God required and must have or sinful Men must abide and perish under the Wrath and Curse of God there must be a Ransom given and paid for them and that was the precious Blood of the Son of God 1 Pet. 1.18 19. and his Life
some fashion or way or other O! shall the short and uncertain life that fadeth away be more the Care and Concern of all Men than the life of Jesus That incomprehensible Gift of God which is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord unto all them but to none but them who have his Son Labour not for the meat that perisheth but for the meat which indureth unto eternal Life which the Son of Man shall give you John 6.27 Yea count it better to enter into life halt or maimed or blind to avoid Sin the cause of Death than having two Hands two Feet two Eyes to be cast into Hell-fire Mat. 18.8 9. yea if it comes not only to the loss of Limbs but of Life it self spare not any thing to secure the Son and Life to thy Soul The having of him is safe without assurance but the assurance of it is comfortable for then the greatest danger is over and the everlasting Treasure and Inheritance secured and known to be so by the Testimony of the Spirit both from the Word and Conscience also 2 Vse Of Exhortation and Persuasion to believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God so as to have him altogether Person and Offices for all Uses Necessities Benefits and Purposes with all your Soul Mind and Strength What can be said more to persuade you than what is contained in these two short Sentences in the Text Be not content with any thing below the real and saving having of the Son of God Deceive not your own precious Souls try what you have whether what you have and put confidence in doth cause a spiritual Life of Holiness and true Joy and Peace in believing and be in you the hope of Glory all which they have who have Jesus Christ indeed That you may not be deceived in so great a matter I will shew you what some have had and you may have and yet come short of having the Son to Salvation and what they have who have him 1. You may read that the Jews thought they had enough when they could say they had Abraham to their Father John 8.38 But if God had been their Father they would have loved his Son v. 42. And by their Relation to Abraham they had the sign of Circumcision and other outward Privileges which many did build much upon But the Apostle did often overthrow their deceitful Building often telling them that Circumcision availed nothing no more than Uncircumcision but Christ was all in all Col. 3.11 But Faith working by Love Gal. 5.6 And a new Creature Gal. 6.15 2. They may not oly build upon their relation to Abraham and have nothing in themselves but they had a Form of Knowledge and Truth of the Law and think they can be Teachers of others Rom. 2.20 21. c. 3. And not only a Form of Knowledge a Religion in the Head but also a Form of Godliness in their Lives in opposition to the power of it 2 Tim. 3.5 which is rooted in the Heart and from the Heart springs forth and grows out in the Life dying to Sin and the World and living unto God 4. They may think they have and seem to have but they are mistaken in their thinking and but seem to have Luke 8.18 They may seem to have a Root of Faith when the Seed of the Gospel comes up in a green Blade but it withereth and is choaked by the heat of Sufferings and worldly Affections And they may say they have Faith James 2.14 These may have knowledg of Christ and his Word and be so far convinced of his being the Son of God as to be able to answer Questions concerning Christ and make an acknowledgment of him As the Devils confessed Christ Thou art Christ the Son of God Luke 4.41 And he suffered them not to speak for they knew that he was Christ Which was almost as much as Peter's Confession Mat. 16.16 and more than the ordinary Jews and Pharisees could say The one was the sincere Confession of a Friend the other of an Enemy There is an Assent to this Truth as to a Proposition or a true Doctrin and an Assent that is lively practical and cordial in order to have Christ the Son of God as a Person to be trusted to and relied upon for Life This is the Assent of a true Faith 5. Men have some Desires after Christ for the good they may get as the Scribe expressed Master I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest And Jesus saith unto him The Foxes have Holes and the Birds of the Air have Nests but the Son of Man hath no where to lay his Head Mat. 8.19 20. This was a trial of his sincere Faith if he would be as poor and destitute as the Master was If you had all things that can be named and have not Christ you have not Life Take heed therefore where you pitch and settle what you count your Treasure and upon what you build your Confidences Give me leave to hold you a little longer and to shew upon what Sand careless Builders who look not to the things that are eternal do lay their hopes of Life Suppose you had all things that are common to the sincere Believer and to the Pretender all will not amount to the Happiness of Life You say you are born of Christian Parents and not only of professing Christians but holy Parents So had the Jews as was noted but now Abraham the Father of the Faithful to their Father but not his Faith in Christ Say you have the best Church in the World for your Mother to what purpose except you are a living new-born Child of God Know you not that the Children of the Kingdom such as they were should be cast out Mat. 8.12 You have Baptism Had not Simon Magus that Token upon him Acts 8.13 You have the Ministry of the best Scholars and bless'd Men Had not they who had not Life this to say to Christ himself Thou hast taught in our Streets Luke 13.25 Yea but you have a Society of Saints you have Fellowship with Virgins and wise Virgins and had not and have not foolish Virgins the same Mat. 25. Shew what you have with your Lamps and what Oyl your Lamps are furnished with Have you Faith So had Simon Magus Acts 8.12 so have Devils Have you Christ indeed Have you Love unfeigned burning fruitful Love You have perhaps a Name to live a Name of Renown and Eminency so had they who were dead Rev. 3.1 All these things will make rather against you than for you if by all outward means you have not the Son himself 2. But some may say How shall I be certain that I have Christ the Son truly and indeed Let me ask you a Question or two and answer them to your self 1. How came you to seek after him and to have him Have you understood and felt your own Case and do you still know and feel when you look into your self a dead miserable