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
and large dominion than over the works of God's hands here below yea that nothing no person or thing is exempted from being under his Lordship except him who hath put all things under him though this be not so gloriously manifested now as it shall be in due time Thou hast set him over the works of thy hands thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet sor in that he put all in subjection under him he left nothing that is not put under him Heb. 2. 7 9. Oh great grace toward mankind and especially for the good of those that shall be heirs of salvation Hence that admiration What is man that thou art mindful of him Psal 8. 4. Heb. 2. 6. 1. 14. This is that grace in Christ as to the first branch of the testimony even that he by vertue of his blood hath delivered us in himself from the guilt of our sins which occasioned the first breach and from that so great a death and hath obtained forgiveness of all our sins all grace and truth into himself and a great and glorious Lordship and authority And by vertue of what he hath done and hath received he is become the one and only foundation the living stone and chief corner stone the head of the corner 1 Cor. 3. 11. 1 Pet. 2. 4 6. yea to the disobedient the head of the corner 1 Pet. 2. 7. the Saviour of the world Joh. 4. 42. 1 Joh. 4. 14. the way the truth and the life Joh. 14. 6. the only door â—f approach to God by whom only we may come to the Fâ—ther Ioh. 10. 7 9. the true light the light of the world Ioh. 1. 9. 8. 12. the bread of life and water of life Ioh. 6. 35. the true vine Ioh. 15. 1. he is beauty and glory excellency and comeliness for our escape Isa 4. 2. the Lord and Christ Act. 2. 36. a Prince and Saviour Act. 5. 31. yea in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and in him we are compleat who is the head of all principality and power Col. 2. 9 10. Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord who can shew forth all his praise Psal 106. 2 3. his love is that which passeth knowledge Eph. 3. 19. And great cause and good ground have we to pray for our selves and one another that God would strengthen us with might by his Spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith in what he hath done and is become that we being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height even of his grace Eph. 3. 16 18. where the excellency of this love and grace is set forth in like expressions as is the unsearchableness of the Almighty for God is love See Iob 11. 7 9. there we have these several dimensions spoken of though in a contrary order The breadth of this grace is such as that it is broader than the Sea though that be famous for its breadth and therefore called the great and wide Sea Psal 104. 25. yet he hath given to it its decree that the waters should not pass his commandment Prov. 8. 29. there is an end of that but his love is exceeding broad and his commandment his Gospel in which it is declared this is more capacious infinitely exceedingly wide who there-through hath in our nature obtained dominion now and shall exercise it gloriously from Sea to Sea he is that place of broad rivers and streams and shall be so gloriously manifested Isa 33. 21. and they that from the excellency of his loving kindness put their trust under the shadow of his wings shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of his house and he will make them drink of the river of his pleasures now in a first fruits of the Spirit and hereafter in a full injoyment for with him is the fountain of life Psal 36. 7 9. 46. 4. As to its length it is longer than the earth as to its duration and continuance for it is everlasting Jer. 31. 3. And he hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace 2 Thes 2. 16. and it is by vertue thereof that the earth and all the inhabitants thereof which were dissolved by the sin of man are upheld he bears up the pillars thereof upholds all things by the word of his power Psal 75. 3. Heb. 1. 3. whereby all the inhabitants of the earth are in him redeemed from the curse of the Law and whereby there is peace on earth good will towards men and which extends in the vertue and fruit of it to all the inhabitants of the earth in every age and generation and that to a gracious end Hence all the earth called upon to make a joyful noise to be thankful unto him and bless his name c. Psl 100. to look to him and be saved Isa 45. 21 22. The depth of it is deeper than hell even that wherethrough he hath destroyed Satan in his first work and is fitted and impowered to destroy him in his second and will do it in due time he hath spoiled principalities and powers Destruction and death say we have heard the fame thereof with our ears Job 28. 22. Satan had laid his plot very deep and by his subtlety having beguiâ—ed our first Parents and drawn them into the transgression and so into the desert of curse and death thought to have made them for ever necessarily alike miserable with himself and indeed the condition into which he brought them and they by listening to him brought themselves was such as they could never suffer this death so as to overcome in suffering no man could redeem his brother c. and yet the death must be suffered and overcome or no mercy could be shewn to mankind but now our God and the Father in him the man Christ Jesus hath counterplotted and underuinâ—d him and in what he thought to have dealt proudly he was aâ—ove him in that very destruction in which he though to have destroyed us for ever is he taken and fallen our Jesus hath through death destroyed him that had the power of death even the Devil and hath obtained the victory and his triumphing Song is Oh death where is thy sting Oh hell where is thy victory Death in him is swallowed up into victory and abolished and he hath overcome hell and out-witted Satan in the net which he laid for us and into which we were fallen is he himself taken Oh infinite pity and love to man-ward and through Christ God gives us the victory that we may rejoyce in his salvation and in the name of our God list up the banner 1 Cor. 15. 55 58. Psal 20. 5. 98. 1. 47. The height of it is the height of heaven for there-through and by vertue of what he hath done thereby he being raised from the dead hath offered himself a
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
which is falsly so called 1 Tim. 6. 4 20 21. yea some it seems there did arise that turned all into an Allegory and said the resurrection was past already and so made shipwrack of faith and overthrew the faith of some 1 Tim. 1. 19 20. 2 Tim. 2. 16 18. 2. That the end of those that speak perverse things is to draw Disciples after them and herein they are distinguished from the true Ministers of Christ the end of whose conversation is Jesus Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 13. 7 8. These that speak perverse things serve not our Lord Jesus but their own belly magnifie not him in and unto all but seek to espouse men to themselves that they may have preheminence and maintainance Whereas those that are like minded with the Apostles indeavour to espouse men to Christ that they may present them a chaste Virgin to him and aim at this that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ and in lifting up Jesus Christ they seek the good of men and especial good of believers though they be as reprobates 2 Cor. 11. 2 3. 13. 7. 1 Thes 2. 5 6. 3. That because such may arise speaking perverse things to draw away Disciples after them therefore it behoves others yea all believers to watch that seeing they know this before they may not be removed from him that called them into the grace of Christ 2 Pet. 3. 17. Gal. 1. 6. It is good for them to take heed what they hear especially when God is removing faithful and eminent instruments even from such as are over them Mark 4. 24. and not take things on trust Surely we are very ready when once we have an high esteem of men to receive all for truth they say and not to bring it to the light and from hence much evil springs for we rob Christ of that honour that appertains to him and hurt our selves if we so receive what is said though it be truth we receive while our faith stands in the wisdom or authority of men and while we receive the word of God as the word of men because of our esteem of their goodness wisdom learning it works not effectually in us 1 Thes 2. 13. And if those we so esteem err from the truth we are apted to follow them and so the blind leading the blind both fall into the ditch good it is therefore to examine what such say that if it be truth we may receive it as the word of God if they speak perverse things as they do when they consent not to wholsom words Prov. 8. 8. We may reject it according to that despise not prophecyings wherein men speak to edification exhortation and comfort try all things in those prophecyings you may not despise hold fast that which is good aâ—â—â—ain from all appearance of evil 1 Thes 5. 20 22. with 1 Coâ— 14. 3. The Jews at Berea are commended as more noble that those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things declared by the Apostle Paul and Silas wereso therefore many of them believed Act. 17. 10 12. and the Apostle exhorts the believers to judge what he said to them 1 Cor. 10. 15. and surely then we may well try all others that are of our selves and not therefore to receive what they bring because they are such as have received and declared the Gospel 4. That whereto we are to watch that we may discern and avoid any perverse things that may be spoken by some among our selves it is God and the word of his grace as before is said by attending unto wisdoms words and inclining our ear unto her sayings c. we may put perverse lips far from us so as not to use them our selves nor be corrupted by others that have them Prov. 4. 20 24. they are powerful to deliver us from the man that speaks froward or perverse things Prov. 2. 1 12. yea if any should turn away their ears from the truth and be turned to fables yet here-through believers may be instruments of saving themselves and them that hear them 1 Tim. 4. 16. Hence when the Apostle saith They went out from us but they were not of us namely immediately before their departure he saith not they were never of us but there was a secret departure in heart before they left them as to bodily presence He adds But ye have an unction from the holy one viz. the truth Christ as declared in the Gospel and ye know all things Let that abide in you which ye have heard from the beginning And ye shall continue in the Son and in the Father in their peculiar favour care and protection these things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you 1 Joh. 2. 19 26. See also 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. 3. 1 2. Jude 18 21. Believers need not that any man teach them as to matter or manner but as the anointing the testimony of Christ teacheth of all things and is truth and is no lye 1 Joh. 2. 27. to that therefore let us have our recourse alwayes and especially when God is taking away as here eminent and faithful watchmen we have then the more abundant need to have the great things of God's Law alwayes in remembrance in which we may have fellowship with the Father and Son 1 Joh. 1. 3. and that believers might have these things alwayes in remembrance was the Apostles indeavour 2 Pet. 1. 12 14. 1 Tim. 6. 12 14. 2 Tim. 1. 8 13. 2. 2. And though the gifts which Christ hath given to men be very useful and given to a gracious end yet because the persons that have them are men subject to like passions with others and so may possibly speak perverse things good therefore it is for believers to pray for themselves and one for another that their love may abound in all knowledge and judgment that they may try things that differ and so approve things that are excellent that they may be sincere and without offence till the coming of Christ otherwise they will not so be Phil. 1. 9 10. Oh that there were not too much cause to say That so great is our dulness of hearing we have not our spiritual senses exercised to discern both good to imbrace it and evil to avoid it as Heb. 5. 11 14. but according to our account of the persons we hear such account we have of what they say if we be jealous of them we suspect what they say when they speak right things and if we think highly of them we are apt to drink down all they say and therein to think more highly of them than is meet Oh! that we did more commit our selves to God and the word of his grace for his teaching and preservation that we might know what to hear and receive and what to refuse Let us take fast hold of instruction and
is said of those that died in the faith that these all having obtained a good report through faith received not the promises God having provided some better thing for us that they without us should not be made perfect Phil. 3. 11 12. Heb. 12. 39 40. Though believers are complâ—at in Christ who by the one offering of his personal body once for all hath perfected for ever in himself and that provision he hath made and Covenant he hath sealed them that are sanctified so as there needs no more offering for sin yet in themselves they are not compleat nor compleatly in him and are therefore instructed to walk in Christ as they have received him rooted and built up in him and to have their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and their bodies washed with pure water Col. 2 10. with ver 2 7. Heb. 10. 14 22 their being built up is by degrees they go from strength to strength Psal 84 7. and are changed from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. 18. And hence they are said to grow like a Cedar Psal 92. 12. to grow up Eph. 4. 15. to increase 1 Thes 4. 10. Col. 2. 19. to abound more and more 1 Thes 4. 1. to press toward the mark Phil. 3. 14. to run the race Heb. 12. 1. All which expressions signifie that the believers while here in mortal bodies have not yet attained to compleatness in themselves or to a compleat iâ—joyment of what is to be possessed and which while here they seek and wait for Here though he that is perfect in knowledge is with them abiding in Christ yet they are not perfect in knowledge but are instructed to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savâ—our Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3. 18. And the Apâ—stle prayes for these Ephesians who were sealed with the holy spirit of promise that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the father of glory would give unto them the spirit of wisdom and revelation c. The eyes of their understandings being inlightnâ—d that they might further know what is the hope of his calling c. Eph. 1. 13 20. and that they might know the love of Christ Chap. 3. 14 19. And hence that holy man so oftentimes prayes that God would open his eyes make him understand teach him the way of his statutes give him understanding teach him knowledge c. Psal 119. 18 19 27 33 34 64 66. yea the Apostle Paul who as a wise Master-builder laid the foundation and preached the Gospel according to the revelation of the mystery affirms of himself and other believers that now they knew in part and not perfectly 1 Cor. 13. 9 12. And so they are not perfect in their faith in their hearty perswasion and imbracement of what God hath testified of his Son and dependance on him according thereto so as to live the life they now live in the flesh by the faith of the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us and to walk by faith but many weaknesses and mixtures are found with them and much shortness according to what the Apostle signifies concerning the Thessalâ—nians where he saith night and day praying exceedingly that we might perfect that which is lacking in your faith 〈◊〉 â—â—â— 3. 10. and thanks God because thâ—â—â—â—iâ—â—â—iâ— grow c. 2. Thes 1. 3. and tells the Corinthians thaâ— he had hope that when thâ—ir â—aith was increased they should be iâ—arged â—y them 2 Cor. 10. 15. and surely this appears when God is ordering â—â—ptâ—â—ions and tryals of the faith to them by their weakâ—ess and readiness to faint â—â—d be wâ—aâ—y that they baâ—e nâ—t yet attained unto a most â—ull assurance of â—â—iâ—h what douâ—â—ings and aptness to be calling into question God's love and â—aithfulness what jealousies and â—ears concerning him as if he would leave and forsake them what readiness to be looking or vain hâ—lp and turning the eyes this way and that way is found with such the Scriptures testifie and the experiences of such confirm Psal 31. 22. 77. 7 10. 116. 11. How oft our Saviour reprehends his Disciples on this account may be seen mat 6. 30. 8. 26. 14. 31. 16. 8. Mark 4. 4â— Luk. 8. 25. yea when they said We believe that thou camest forth from God Jesus answered them Do ye now believe Behold the hour cometh yea is now come that ye shall be scattered every one to his own c. Joh. 16. 30 32. That hour that came upon him made discovery of them that there was yet somewhat lacking in their faith how confident soever they were of themselves yea it may seem there was sometime some shortness found with Abraham the father of the faithful though not imputed of whom it was said he staggered not at the promise through unbelief but was strong in faith for when God promised that Sarah should be a Mother of Nations c. Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said unto God O that Ishmael may live before thee Gen. 17. 17 19. and surely believers have need to pray Lord help our unbelief as he Mark 9. 24. or however as the Disciples Lord increase our faith Luâ— 17. 7. Nor are they yet perfectly conformed to Christ and filled with the fruits of righteousness there is yet sin dwelling in them and in many â—â—iâ—gs they offend all and need therefore to be still sanctified and washed with the washing of water by the word to which end Christ gives himself to them for them Eph. 5. 25 26. 1 Thes 5. 23. their love to Christ and God in him may yet abound in all knowledge and judgment and though they love one another and all men yet they may increase and abound therein Hence they are instructed to add to their faith vertue c. Phil. 1. 9 11. 1 Thes 3. 12 13. 4. 1 9 10. 2 Pet. 1. 4 8. And as this instruction is useful to preserve us from the error of those wicked and Antichristian spirits who boast that they are sinless and perfect and injoy the fulness of all blessing and that they have need of nothing while yet they are poor and miserable and blind who though they are pure in their own eyes yet are not washed from their filthiness Wo unto them for they have received their consolation And also from their swelling words of vanity who being pufâ— up with their fleshly mind and not holding the head boast of their merits and works of superâ—rrogation c. seeing it shews our shortness and incompleatness in our selves while here that pride may be hidden from us and no flesh may glory in his presence but that even unfeigned believers may confess that when they have done all that is commanded them they are unprofitable servants So also it is proper as viewed in the glorious Gospel to move us continually to come unto Jesus Christ and to give more earnest heed to the things we have heard that with open face