them saith the Lord. But this shal be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my people And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord. For they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will forgive their iniquities and I will remember their sin no more Fiftly Sometimes the everlasting Covenant sith God doth not only become our God and Father But our God and Father to eternity Not only forgiving and pardoning sinne but forgiving and pardoning sinne and iniquitie for ever and evermore Not only writing the law of life and love in the hearts of his people but he Characters it in their hearts by a Character that cannot be deleted or extinguished Isay 55.3 Incline your eare and come unto me heare and your soule shall live And I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Isaiah 54.10 For the Mountains shall depart and the Hills shall be removed But my kindnesse shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Sixtly And in the text it is called the law of the Spirit of life 1. Not only because it gives eternall life to the sonnes of Adoption 2. Because that it frees the sonnes by Adoption from the Law of sinne and death But also because it is established in the hand and breast of the Lord of life Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sinne and death 2 Why is it termed the Law 1. To answer The truth of prophecie which hath beene delivered by the Holy Ghost Isaiah 2.3 And the people shall say come yee and let us goe up to the Mountaine of the Lord to the house of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his waies and wee will walke in his pathes For out of Sion shall goe forth the Law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem 2. To distinguish it from the Law of Nature The Law Ceremoniall and the Law Morrall Jer. 31.33 But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those daies saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People 3. Metaphorically or Respectively as the Lawes in France are not the Lawes of Spaine nor the Lawes of Spaine the Lawes of England So the Law of the spirit of life is not the Law of Sinne and Death 4. To denote that although the Saints are not under the Law of accusation arraignment execution and condemnation Neverthelesse they are un-the Law of grace Faith Peace Mercy and Reconciliation Rom. 6.14 For sinne shall not have dominion over you for yee are not under the Law but under grace Thirdly Why the Law of the Spirit First Because the Spirit reveales it John 15.14 He shall glorifie me because he shall receive of mine and declare it to you Secondly Because the Spirit of God ingraves it in the hearts of all those that are in Covenant with the Father and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent Thirdly Because the promise of the Law or Covenant is consonant to the fruits and workings of the Spirit of life and glory Gal. 5.22 But the Fruits of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace Longsuffering Gentlenesse Goodnesse Faith Meeknesse Temperance against such there is no Law Fourthly Why in Christ Jesus Not without grave consideration First If all heavenly divine and excellent blessings are in Christ Jesus then the Covenant or Law of life is in Christ Jesus but all heavenly divine and excellent blessings are in Christ Jesus therefore the Covenant or Law of life is in Christ Jesus Ephes 1.3 Blessed be the God and Fatther of our Lord Jesus who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 1. â—0 But of him are yee in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisedome and Rightâ—eousnesse and Sanctification and Redemption Is wisedome without him that is the treasure of wisedome No Is Righteousnesse without the Lord of Righteousnesse No Is Redemption without our blessed and most gratious Redeemer No Is Sanctification without him that Sanctifieth his by his blood most deare No Or is the Covenant of Grace and life without the Lord of life No In man there is not only the excellency of memory the rarenesse of affection but also the highnesse of understanding in the Sunne there is not only beauty splendor but rarenesse of efficacie So there is not only Redemption Justice Sanctification and Wisedome But also the Covenant and Law of life and mercy Secondly This Covenant or Law is established by the death of Christ Mediator Therefore it is meet and expedient that it should be in Christ Mediator Heh 9.15 And for this cause hee is Mediatour of the New Covenant or Testament that by meanes of death for the Redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the the promise of eternall inheritance Heb. 12.24 And to Jesus the Mediatour of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinckling which speaketh better things then that of Abell Thirdly Because that he hath performed all that the Morrall Law requireth the Morrall Law required of thee absolute compleat and intire Righteousnesse it demands of thee exact perfect and strickt obedience it binds thee over that thou shalt not speake one word before the barre of Justice that thou shoote no arrow below the glory of God that thou answers eternall infinite equall commands of the Father but thou art come too short of his glory thy obedience is not answerable to his requires and thy arrowes are on this side the throne of grace and mercy but the Lord Christ became the surety he hath payed all thy debts though more in number then the sand upon the Sea shore he hath borne the sence of anger of wrath of heate and justice when thou stoodest quivering before the barre of justice then he answered for thee When Angels stood wist and silent sith they could not beare the heate of everlasting burning nor answer the severity and and purity of infinite and eternall Justice when men were whist and silent sith they were involved in their blood clothed in old rotten raggs of Righteousnesse and could not answer the puritie and Righteousnesse of the God of Righteousnesse when all Creatures might give in their voice we have Gold Silver Brasse Tinne Lead and Iron We have Pearles Jewels and rare Treasures the beautifull Diamonds the costly Rubies and the richest Saphirs Yet all these cannot redeeme one from
the Pitt Justifie one in thy presence bring one to the riches of Inheritance or to answer thy exact demands or requires but we all confesse the truth of him as it is written of him and not of us Psalm 40.7 8. Then said I loe I come in the volume of thy booke it is written of me I delight to doe thy will O God yea thy law is within my heart Fourthly It hath beene expedient that the Law of life should be placed in the Lord of Life as the old Covenant or the law of Death was placed in the Loines of Adam It was not convenient that the Law of Faith should be in the Children of Incredulitie that the Law of love and mercy should be in the Children of Wrath and Furie that the Testament of life and Reconciliation should be in the Sonnes of Death and Condemnation had this Covenant beene made with us as the old Covenant was made with Adam we had broken this Covenant as well as Adam Therefore such hath beene the eternall wisedome of the Father to establish the Covenant in Christ sith he was the sonne of Mercy the sonne of Love the sonne of Grace and Bountie He was he that was able to make us at once with the Father to naile our sinnes to the Crosse to burie them in his grave to cast our sinnes into the Sea of Oblivion he was he that was able being the mind of the Father to reveale the mind of the father being the sonne of the bosome to make knowne what hath beene in his Fathers bosome being the treasures of wisedome to manifest hidden Knowledge and Wisedome Hence the Law of the Spirit of life is said to be in Christ and not in us according to the Text. Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sinne and death Fiftly Why freed Me not only because of manifestation to the Churches of Christ that he had interest in the Liberty and Redemption by Jesus Christ but also that he might have great consolaion in the midst of all sorrowes and tribulations as if he had said though the Law hath made Warre against me hath slaine me hath found me polluted sinfull and defiled and made me cry out who shall deliver me from the body of this death notwithstanding from that I am rescued and delivered according to the text Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the Law of sinne and death Why saith hee from the law of sinne 〈…〉 some understand this to bee law ceremoniall but I understand this to bee the law morrall that it is not proper to call the law ceremoniall the law of sinne and death I prove it thus First That which was the only cause of death to the Beasts and the figurative imposition upon them to signifie eternall life to the redeemed and reconciled that is not properly called the law of sin and death to us but the law ceremoniall was the onely cause of death to the beasts and the figurative imposition to signifie eternall life to them that are reconciled and Redeemed Ergo. Secondly That which by the Holy Ghost is not called the law of sinne and death is not the law of sinne and death but the holy Ghost hath not called the law ceremoniall the law of sinne and death therefore it is not the law of sin nor death The Holy Ghost hath attributed this to the morrall law Rom. 7.11 For sinne taking occasion by the commandement deceived me and by it slew mee Rom. 3.20 21. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh bee justified in his sight for by the law is the knowledge of sinne but not the righteousnesse of God without the law is manifest being witnessed by the law and the Prophets 1 Cor. 15.55 56. O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory the sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the law That law which figures out eternall life Redemption reconciliation that cannot bee the law of sinne and death but the law ceremoniall figured out eternall life Redemption and reconciliation therefore that cannot bee the law of sin and death the ground is this because the figure really answereth to the thing figured the end of Heave offerings signified the exaltation of our Lord upon the Crosse the peace offerings the reconciliation by Christ in the day of his Crosse the burnt offerings the satsfying of the justice of the Father to witt the appeasement of wrath in the time of his crosse If I should speake of the Cherubims they signifie nothing else but mercy in that they were covered with gold designes the riches of Christ in that they spread their wings one towards another denotes the faith of the Saints towards the throne of grace and mercy in that the mercy seate was placed above the arke of presence signifies that Christ the Lord of life and salvation is exalted above all things and that his presence extends it selfe to his poorest and meanest servants in that God answered from the mercy seat betweene the Cherubims mâ—kes knowne to the Saints Adopted that they are to receive answer of prayers from the breast of Christ to their poore soules The Law The gleanings of Ephraim was better then the vintage of Abiezer the law of life and reconciliation is better then the law of death and condemnation the one accuseth before the barre of Justice the other excuses before the thron of grace the one arraignes before the throne of Gods tribunall the other acquits before the mercy seate the one condemnes the soule and conscience of sinne iniquity and transgression the other frees the soule from sinne iniquity and transgression the one is the cause of curse and execration the other the cause of blisse and benediction the one affrights amazeth and consternateth the other comforteth refresheth and consolates one made the children of Israel flee from mount Sina the other makes us approach neare to Mount Sion Heb. 12. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24. For ye are not come to the mountaine that might be touched and that burned with fire not unto blacknesse and darkenesse and tempest which voyce they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more for they could not indure that which was commanded and if so much as a beast touch the mountaine it shal be stoned or thrust through with a dart And so terrible was the sight that Moses said I exceedingly feare and tremble But ye are come unto Mount Sion and unto the City of the living God and heavenly Ierusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the generall assembly and Church of the first borne which are written in heaven and God the judge of all and to spirits of just men made perfect and to Iesus the Mediatour of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then
the infinite and the purity of my divine justice letteth Could your darkenesse bring it selfe to my glorious light I dwell in the light unaccesable 1 Tim. 6.16 Who only hath immortality dwelling in the light whom no man hath seene nor can see to whom be honour and power everlasting amen Can your impurity reach my infinite and eternall purity I am a God that can behold no iniquitie Haback 1.13 Thou art of pu rer eyes then to behold evill and canst not looke on iniquitie wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal◠trechearously and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous then he Can thy death atting and touch my life being from eternitie to eternitie I am alone the fountaine of living waters Jer. 2.13 For my people have committed two evills they have forsaken me the fountaine of living waters and hewed them out Cisternes broken Cisternes that can hold no water Or can your lownesse and profunditie reach the highnesse of my sublimitie I dwell in the high and the holy place Isaiah 57.15 For thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternitie whose name is holy J dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Could Dives passe the gulfe of hell to the bosome of Abraham No can a bird without wings reach the hight of the sunne No can a man without eyes behold the highest orbs No or can thy soule that is involved in the law of horrid iniquitie unite it selfe to me No this way of union was not found in the habitable world but in my habitation of glory this was not found in the depths below but in the heights above this was not found in thy breasts and invention but in my breasts of heavenly compassion well saith the scripture Man knoweth not the price thereof neither is it found in the land of the living the depth saith it is not in me and the sea saith it is not in me God understandeth the way thereof and he knoweth the place thereof Therefore this was my wisedome to give this Glory to my beloved sonne John 17 22. and the glory which thou gavest me J have given them that they may be one even as we are one That by his blood he might make them which are afarre off nigh to me Ephes 2.13 But now in Christ Jesus yee who sometimes were farre off are made nigh by the blood of Christ That by the death of his crosse he might make of two one Ephes 2.15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmitie even the law of Commandements contained in Ordinances for to make in himselfe of twain one new man so making peace And that he might bring them to me that never knew the riches of my grace Ephes 2.18 For through him we both have an accesse by one spirit unto the father Untill I came to live in my people to make thē a habitation dwelling place till I made them habitations of glory for the spirit of my glory they were as farre from me as my dwelling place is from the lowest hell as the clearest light is from the greatest darkenesse and the barre of my Justice from the throne of mercy But my spirit gives them a being in the heavenly places my spirit removed all the letts betwixt me and my people my spirit gives them to injoy a being reall in me and in the dearest of my breast 1 Thes 1.1 Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus to the Church of Thessalonica which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Hence all the branches receive their life from the vine Christ Jesus hence also the members receive their vitall motion from their head Christ Jesus hence the spouse receiveth her being from the bridgroome Jesus Christ through and by the spirit of life therefore comes in the glorying and expression of my people according to the text For the law of the spirit of life in Christ hath made me free from the law of sinne and death Thirdly because of the life of Faith and love and hope which is given thee by the Spirit of life It was not the shadow of Peter that healed the sick and weake but the overshadowing grace from the throne of eternall mercy it was not the handkerchiefes and neckcloathes of Paul that drave out devills but the omnipotent power of the eternall mediatour it was not the water in Baptisme that washeth away sinne but the blood of Christ so it hath not been in the purity strength of the sonnes of death to free themselves from the Law of sinne and death but in the power of the law of life according to the text Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made me from the law of sinne and death You that have been Prisoners without hope as by the blood of my Testament I have sent you out of the pit where there is no water so by the law of my life I have freed you from the law of sin death I have made you to live the life of faith when I hide my face the light of my dearest love and gratious countenance when I covered my selfe with darknesse and wrapt my selfe in a clowd when I seemed to bid farrwell as though I would see you no more then I made you to live by faith which was in mee when as my servant Ionas was in the depth of the Sea in the gulfes beneath invironed in the mighty waters and in the bellie of the devouring whale I made him to call upon my name and to looke towards my holy Temple when thou wast in the depths of the sea of miseries in the ocean of miserable iniquity notwithstanding I have made thee looke to the throne of my grace and bounty highest mercy when I suffered thee to be mocked scoffed derided scorned to be stoned deprived of bread convenient shutt out from amongst the dearest and nearest friends bringing thee to the gates of deepest miseries and to the prison where thou shouldest have lost thy liberty notwithstanding I have made thee live by faith which is in mee I have brought thy faith into Christ there thou livest there thou delightest there thou restest there thou dwellest there thou joyest and there abidest as the seate of the Eagle is upon the rock undervaluing all inferiour places so thy habitation is in Christ the rocke of righteousnesse and thou undervaluest all sublunarie and inferiour things As I have made the promises yea and Amen to the praise of my glory so I have made thee to rest upon those promises to eternall glory As I am becom thy most benignous and gratious Father in my Covenant to perpetuitie so will I make thee live by love through my Covenant to Eternitie If I have
us for it is written cursed is every one that hangeth upon a tree I saw that you could not stand just in the sight of my Father I gave you another righteousnesse by faith which is in me Phil. 3.9 And being found in him not having mine own righteousnesse which is of the law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnes which is of God by faith Now as you are not the sonnes of death but children of life so you are under the law of life Now as you are not the children of servitude and bondage but the children of liberty and Adoption are under my law of liberty and Adoption Gal. 4.1.2 Now I say that the heire as long as hee is a child differeth nothing from a servant though he is Lord of all but is under Tutours and Governours untill the time appointed of the Father Gal. 5.1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and bee not intangled againe in the yoake of bondage Now are you not children of unbeleefe and diffidence sith I dwell in your hearts by faith which is by me Ephes 3.16.17 That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to bee strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith being rooted and grounded in love Now you are not slaves of hell and wrath but the dearest and choysest ones through my grace and tender compassion therefore you are not under the law but under grace Rom. 6.14 For sinne shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the law but under grace Therefore you shall walke as my dearest my choisest and my redeemed as my peculiar my jewels and reconciled Doe I make my branches stately through my union do I make mine fruitfull through my blessed Communion and doe I not make mine subjective through the law of life and benedicton Now they will live the life of faith in me the life of love through me the life of obedience by me I have not given them the rule of mercy and peace to walke contrary to the rule of mercy and peace I have not given them the law of faith to call in question the faithfulnesse of my Fathers love and the pretiousnesse of my dearest blood So I have not given to them the fruits of the Law of life that they should walke as a dead people but that they should live by my fountaines of living waters by my nearest union and richness of communion through spirit of life and Adoption ever triumphing rejoycing and glorying in my law of life by which they are freed from the law of sinne and death according to the text Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed them from the law of sinne and death JOHN 16. verse 22. And ye now therefore have sorrow but I will see you againe and your hearts shall rejoyce and your joy no man taketh from you THe sad complaint of Israel was mine eyes runneth down with water because the Comforter is farre from me he that should releeve my soule will not looke upon me my bowels are troubled the enemy hath prevailed over me this is the relation of the Israel of God mine eye powreth downe with waters my comforter is not farre from me hee that will releeve my soule will looke upon me my bowels are refreshed the chariots of hell hath not prevailed against me therefore though I am possest with sorrow because I possesse not what I shall possesse neverthelesse I shall see his face my heart shall rejoyce and my joy shall no man take from mee And ye now therefore have sorrow What the Saints beloved are they not delivered from the power of darkenesse and translated into the kingdome of my deare sonne have they not the spirit of joy and delightfull solace are they not crowned in Sion with everlasting joy upon their heads doe they not rejoyce in the garments of Salvation and perfect robes of righteousnesse Have they not the oyle of joy and gladnesse in stead of the garments of heavinesse and shall they not sing praise for ever and ever more unto mee which am blessed for evermore notwithstanding they are invirond with great sorrow and heavinesse Who lives amongst Tygers Wolves Lyons and Beares if not they who are counted the basest of the creature the vilest of the earth the terror to the sonnes of men and the scumme of the world if not they who encounters with the Devill makes war with the flesh fights against sinne and all evills if not they if the roaring Lyon the devill seeke to devoure them doe they not seeke to me the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah if the flesh doth burthen them say they not with Paul who shall deliver them from the power of death if sin doth defile them do they not desire to be washed in my pretious blood and if the law of terror affright them doe they not fly to the law of life in Christ Jesus mine would sinne no more offend no more but praise me evermore Sith I have made them new creatures formed them according to my Image and made them conformable to my mind and pleasure True it is I imbrace them I love them and I delight in them to dayes everlasting yet my divine pleasure hath been to hide my face for a moment to obscure my selfe for the twinckling of an eye as though I would take my leave or farwel of them notwithstanding I have done it for their consolation to shew my might and power in conservation and my superemenent bounty and love in their beatitude and glorification I that hid my glory I that gave them not a footstep for habitation have given to them my heavenly mantion and though I deprived them of my personall presence yet my blessed presence shall shine upon them in my heavenly Citie What though for a moment they doe not possesse me in the fulnesse of communion in the blessednesse of my beatification in the plenitude of hope and benediction Yet I will see them againe their heart shall rejoyce and their joy shall no man take from them But I will see you againe If I come to mine who am my Churches King of glory I will bring her to the habitation of my heavenly glory if I the loving bridegroome come to my beloved Church and choysest Spouse I will make her glad with my heavenly and gratious countenance I will remove away her teares though thousands her forrowes though infinite and her Lamentations though as the sands upon the sea shore then shee that was wrapt in the dust below shall sing glory and praise to me on high for I that take away all teares will wipe away teares from her face For I will see her againe her heart shall rejoyce and her joy shall no man take from her I will What I will it was my pleasure to excercise mine under tribulations tentations
theme prolong Sith that no obiect to the view or sight Gives such sweet solace to the soules delight And graces power grants its free consent That all my theame of Christ was congruent That pen might stay and I might cease my verse Of Christ in prose the more I might rehearse Christs gratious Message from the Throne of Grace to all the Prisoners of hope ROM 8.1 2. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sinne and death WHen we look upon the Sun Moone and Starres and behold the wisedome mercy and power of the Father towards humane generation it makes us to stand amazed and astonished so when wee looke and behold the wisedome mercy and power of the Father shining forth in Christ the morning Starre the Sonne of everlasting grace and bounty it makes us to wonder and admire at that which shineth forth to us in the morning starre and glorious Sonne of righteousnesse That which shineth to us by in and by the Creature is not comparable to that which shineth toward us in and through the Lord Jesus What is the brightnes of the morning starre to Christ the morning starre or what is the beauty and glory of the sunne to Christ the Sun of glorious righteousnesse or what as the beauty of things terrene earthly to things sublime or heavenly hence the Apostle memorates and records the excellency of the Lord Jesus Christ by the priviledge the Saints received in and by him according to the Text. Now then there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8 1. Beloved our manner is by way of exposition or contemplation Now then there is no condemnation They have been cast out to the open shame of their faces they were not swadled in the day of their Nativity but troden in their blood and overwhelmed with the deepest miserie they have beene alienated from the throne of grace estranged from the mercy seate and have lived without God in the world they have beene in the blacke swadle bands of the Devill under the claves of the roaring Lyon the Devill and have beene children of wrath as well as others The truth of the premisses is granted notwithstanding there is no condemnation to them sith the being of the Saints in Christ frees them from all the gulfes of horrid miseries whatsoever They have many sinnes many infirmities iniquities and transgressions they are an offending and erring people out of the way as well as others they have beene silenced before the throne of Justice they have sinned and shot their arrowes below the glory of the Father the truth of the premises is granted Notwithstanding there is no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus sith the Father of eternall mercy hath given unto them an absolute Nonimputation of offences in the Lord Jesus in whom hee hath reconciled his beloved Saints and peculiar in the act of Justification hee hath given to his Saints a generall acquittance freeing them from sinne iniquity and transgression by the blood of the Lord of life and glory and by the death of him who was the onely beloved of his bosome hence comes in those rare sentences of divine testimonies Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen it is God that justifieth who is it that shall condemne it is Jesus Christ that is dead yea rather that is risen againe who is at the right hand of God making intercession for us Rom. 8.33 34. To them is given the priviledge and dignity of union they are branches to Jesus Christ the blessed and fruitfull Vine of his Church I am the Vine ye are the branches John 15.5 they are members to Jesus Christ their blessed head and reconciler to wit Members of his flesh of his bones Eph. 5.30 they are the choise pretious and dearest spouse of the Lord Jesus Christ My beloved is mine amd I am his he feedeth among the Lillies Cant. 6.3 they are not onely deare to Christ because he hath bought them but they are neere to Christ because they are made one with him The glory that thou gavest me I have given to them that they may be one as we are one John 17.22 What Devill therefore shall accuse the accuser of the Brethren is cast out of the heavenly places And I heard a great voyce out of heaven saying Now is come salvation and strength and the Kingdome of our God and the power of his Christ for the accuser of the brethren is cast downe which accused them before our God day and night what hell shall terrifie sith the Lord Christ hath triumphed over hell death the devill and all Evills O death where is thy sting oh grave where is thy victory The sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the law But thankes be to God which giveth us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. shall the law adjudge us noe sith wee have a gratious Mediatour who ever presents us glorious in the sight of his gratious and heavenly Father hence it is spoken by the holy Ghost that Christ entred into heaven to appeare in presence of God for us For Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true but into heaven it selfe now to appeare in the presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 shall death amaze or trouble us no for by the death of Christ wee are delivered from the servitude and slaverie of death That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devill and deliver them who through feare of death were all their life time subject to bondage Heb. 2.14 15. What though the venamous Serpent seeke to sting thee yet be not thou dismayed what though the Law morrall would accuse artaigne or condemne thee before the barre of justice yet be not discourâ—ged what though death with the sting thereof would amaze thee yet bee thou not amazed sith there is no Condemnation to thy soule or conscience sith thou art in Christ Jesus and he pleades thy cause at the right hand of the Father saying This my people stands righteous before thee in my righteousnesse holy through my holinesse and pure through my purity and integrity am I not their Lord of pure and divine righteousnesse am I not their prince of glory who hath presented them pure spotlesse and intire in thy sight Am not I the Mediatour of thy everlasting grace mercy who was made not onely unto them wisedome and redemption but also righteousnesse and sanctification was not I arraigned at the barre of Pontious Pilate that they might not be arraigned at the barre of justice accused of my native countrymen that they might bee excused
If mine groanes with sighes and groanes with unspeakable and unutterable it is by my Spirit of Sanctification Rom. 8.26 27. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self make intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered and hee that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the minde of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God If mine are consolated through consolation it is by Spirit of consolation 2 Cor. 1.4 5. who comforteth us in at our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them that are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ Doe my people incounter with hell sinne the law death the Devill and all evills without my presence no doe my people Navigate upon the mighty seas of miserie doe they saile over the vast Ocean of calamity without my assistance no I am not onely their Lord victorer to triumph over hell by heaven over death by my life over sin by my blood over the law by the law of the Spirit of life over the flesh by my spirit over the Devill by my death over the world by my glorious and triumphous victorie I am not onely their Lord acquirer of glory by relinquishing of my glory of righteousnesse by fulfilling all righteousnesse of peace by the peace of my crosse of love by the losse of the sence of love but I am there Lord conducter and leader to my heavenly glory What morning starre conducts them to rest but I the morning starre what sonne of beauty leades them to the light of felicity but I the sonne of righteousnesse I am the sunne by day and the cloud by night I am the only captaine of my redeemed and purchased I am the day starre that alwais appeares in the hearts of mine Therefore there is no condemnation to them which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 A sweet Contemplation Oh the depth of the sweet love and mercy of my Lord that bought Mee what no condemnation to me No I am washed in the blood of the lambe immaculate I am presented spotlesse in spotlesse robes I am Redeemed from amongst the prisoners of no hope I am united to the sonne of God and injoy communion with him My soule who shall condemne thee shall death shall hell shall the law shall the Devill shall the world shall the flesh no for they are not in thy beloved what though London England and the whole world band themselves against thee what though Legallists the Angells of light the world and all the rable of hell shall beset thee on every side what though the nearest and them which should be dearest to thee raise lies slanders reproches rebukes ignominies and all evills against thee yet be not dismayed for there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Now thy thoughts shall be continually upon thy free redemption thy rich justification thy sollid sanctification thy glorious Adoption thy wonderfull union and thy eternall glorification now thy spirit is full of love of praise of glory saying with the Apostle Rom. 8.1 2. Now then there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus who walke not after the flesh but after the spirit For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made mee free from the law of sinne and death The Philosopher saith there is a hidden and secret vertue in the starres and planets not in consonant to Scripture canst thou restraine the sweet influences of Pleiades And that there is a hidden vertue in gemms and pretious jewells that none can understand but those that are skilfull lapidaries So there is a hidden and inclosed excellency in Christ the Lord of life and Prince of glory and who can restraine the influences of his goodnesse or who can understand the richnes of his love but those who have knowne him by experience who can speake of the glorious robes of righteousnesse but those that are cloathed with the glorious robes of righteousnesse who can make mention of the rarenesse of Adoption but those who have obtained inheritance immortall and immarcessable or who can declare concerning the liberty of grace and glory but those that have accesse to the throne of grace by the spirit of glory hence came the rare experience the blessed Apostle found in and through the hand of the Mediator who delivered him from the law of sinne and death by the glorious and indissoluble Law of life according to the Text. Rom. 8. 2. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the law of sinne and death The law in Scripture is taken severall waies First Sometimes for the rule of mercy and peace because from it the Saints injoy Mercy from the bowels of mercy in God the Father from Jesus Christ Mediatour of the Law or Covenant Gal. 6.16 As many as walke according to this rule peace be unto them and mercy and upon the Israel of God Secondly sometimes it is taken for the law of faith sith in and by that wee doe not onely beleeve the pardon of sins through the blood of Christ the non Recordation of iniquity through the mercy of the Father and the free injoyment of God to be our God and heavenly Father in that Covenant of life peace and Adoption but also because that we by that Covenant are under the command of the Father the mind and will of the Lord Christ the gratious mediatour of the law of life reconciliation Rom. 3.27 Where is boasting excluded by the law of workes nay but by the law of faith Thirdly Sometimes it is called the New Testament not onely in opposition to the old but because the Father of dearest mercies hath beene pleased to reveale and testifie a more full fruition and Communion of his love in the remission or condonation of iniquity in the blood of his deare Sonne Luke 22.20 Likewise also he tooke the Cup after Supper saying this Cup is the new Testament in my blood which is shed for you Fourthly Sometimes it is tearmed the new Covenant to denote that high dignity great Prerogative and wonderfull priviledge that is given to them under this Covenant sith in this he becomes their God and bountifull Father Remembreth their iniquities no more Writes his law in their hearts And teacheth them the high and deepe truths of the Gospel Jeremiah 31.31 32 33 34. Behold the dayes come saith the Lord I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah Not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt which my Covenant they breake although I was an husband unto
flesh and blood he also himselfe tooke part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devill Victorer over the law and over all accusations by his intercession Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect it is God that justifieth who is it that condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen againe who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Triumpher over Captives and leading captivitie captive by the power of his assention It was impossible our Lord should be retained by the bonds of death the barts of hell and the power of the Devill not only because it hath beene the determinate counsell of the Father not to leave his soule in grave nor suffer his holy one to see corruption Acts 2.27 Because thou wilt not leave my soule in hell neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption Because of that pittie he had to his beloved Spouse his dearest members his tender branches Ephes 2.6 And hath raised us up together made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus because of the dignity of himselfe being King of his Church Lord of life Mediatur of the Covenant Acts 2.24 Whom God hath raised up having gloosed the paines of death because it was not possible he should be houlden of it But also because of the mighty and infinite power of the spirit of glory which rais'd up our Lord of life Prince of glory O my soule consider consider what the spirit of life hath done for thy foule Had not our Lord been raised from the dead by the spirit of life sinne would have crusht thy conscience to the lowest gulfe of misery the Devill like a roaring Lion would have devoured thee the law of terrors would have bound thee to the barre of eternal justice to eternitie death would have delivered thee to the second death forevermore and all evills would have ceased upon thy spirit for ever and ever Thē mightest thou have said with the Psalmist The sorrowes of death had compassed thee and the evills of hell had found thee thou foundest woe and sorrow then mightest thou have spoken with Hezekiah That thou wast forsaken as a Shepards Tent that justice would have beene as a Lion to breake all thy bones thou mightest have mourned as a Dove chattered as a Crain to the dayes of eternity Saying That thou should'st behold his gracious face no more behold his gracious countenance no more but remaine in everlasting chaines under darkenesse for evermore Shouldest thou have beene so happie as Jonah no he was but in the bellie of the Whale but thou shouldest have beene in the bellie of hell he was in the depth of the sea but thou shouldest have beē in the depth of the bottomlesse pit the waves of the sea and the bellowes thereof incompassed him but the waves of greatest sorrowes and bellowes of exceeding wrath should have incompassed thee he was heard out of the bellie of the Whale and his prayer came into his holy temple but thy prayer should have beene shut out from his glorious presence and should not have appeared before the throne of grace a Goard was provided for him to hide his head from the heate of the Sunne but no shelter nor shadow had beē provided for thee to hide thy soule frō everlasting burnings Where had beene the glorying of the Saints had our Lord not beene raised from the dead we should have had no cause to glory in the blood and death of his crosse no cause of triumphing in a glorious presentation in a hapy reconciliation in an absolute abolition of the hand writings which were written against us Where had been our redemption from death and the feare thereof from the grave and the sting thereof from out of the hands of the Devill and and the slavery thereof from the law and the execration thereof where had been our royall Robes of Righteousnesse our garments of glorious salvation justificatiō in his glorious presencs if the holy one had seen corruption the branches of the rarest vine should have withered the members to the head of purest gold would have perished and the spouses to our blessed and dearest Bridegroome would have been clothed with shame reproah for ever But blessed thrice blessed be that name is blessed forevermore sith he hath raised the head and the members the branches the vine the bridegroome the spouses together He that left not our Lord in the grave hath not left the Redeemed of the Lord in the pitt of distruction he that suffered not the sonne of the bosome to see corruption will not suffer the sonnes by adoption to be swallowed up by everlasting perdition Therefore you sonnes daughters of men we will not only glory in Christs incarnation in Christs crucifixtion in his grave buriall glorious assention but also in his victorious triumphous Resurrection The risse of the son of righteousnesse is more to us then the sun of morning light that delights the eye sence of sublunaries this the soules of distressed consciences that causeth the hearbs plants trees to rise out of the earth this causeth the branches spouses members of Christ to rise out of the lowest pitt that removeth darknesse bringeth in a light Diurnal this removeth darkenesse bringeth in a light eternall That is the plenitude above and the riches of the earth beneath this is the riches of the Church Militant and the plenitude of the Church Triumphant Therfore will we glory in the spirit of life according to the Text Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sinne and death The spirit of life Sweet and pleasant is the expression of Job Will the wilde Asse roare when he hath grasse or will the Oxe low when he hath fother or will the dead soule mourne for life when it hath the spirit of life Noe it will joy it selfe in the spirit of joy and consolate it selfe in the spirit of consolation triumphing with the Apostle because the spirit of life hath freed it from the law of sinne and death according to the Text. Rom. 8.2 For he law of the spirit of Life◠in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death Secondly It is called the spirit of life sith that the spirit is the cause of union with the Lord Jesus by which the Saints receive both life spiritual and life eternall My prisoners of Hope and Bond men to the throne of mercy know and consider that it is not in your powers to injoy union with me and Jesus Christ whom I have sent the spot of your sin the blott of your transgressions and the impurity of your iniquities hath prevented the exactnesse rigidnesse and perfection of my law most pure hath hindered the eternitie
in the power of the law of life sith Christ in that is become thy life Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made thee free from the law of sinne and death Thirdly The father hath given the Lord Jesus Christ to bee the shepheard of his flocke through his Covenant of life and mercy Elkanah gave to Penninah and her children portions but to Hannah hee gave a double portion Abraham gave to the sonnes of Keturah gifts but to Jsaack he gave the possession though to others the Father gives riches and honours notwithstanding he gives to his everlasting Beatification Not only in condonation of transgression in peace of conscience through Christs intercession but also by giving them into the hands of the great shepheard of his sheep that they might injoy an eternall tuition protection All we were wandering sheepe we had lost the image of God and beare the Image of the devill deprived of the title of eternall life being bound with chaines to eternall death bound to beare the burden of iniquity to undergoe the dreadfull and terrible sentence of the morall law wee were blinde without sight naked without cloathing spoiled and bereft of all the rare and noble injoyments which wee injoyed poore sillie sheepe wandering upon the craggie mountaines of iniquity the rockes of misery the desert and wildernesse of calamity Was the groat lost not we amonst the lost were the sheepe gone out of the way and we not gone astray Notwithstanding such hath beene my tender mercy my superemenent grace my yearning bowels of compassion towards you That I have sent the great and gratious shepheard of Israel to seeke the lost sheepe of the house of Israel the Lord of life to seeke the sons of death and the son of my love to call and seeke the Children of wrath Eze. 34.16 I will seeke that which was lost and bring againe that which was driven away and will binde up that which was broken and will strengthen that which was sick but I will destroy the fat and the strong I will feede them with judgement Rather then mine should rest upon the lofty mountaines of impurity my beloved shall seeke them up by the word of reconciliation rather then mine should abide upon the craggie rockes of iniquity my beloved shall seek thē up by the word of great salvation Rom 10.7 8. But the righteousnesse which is of faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thine heart who shall ascend up into Heaven that is to bring down Christ from above or who shall discend into the deep that is to bring up Christ againe from the dead But what saith it the word is neigh the even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which wee preach Ther is no such Shepheard as the Shepheard of Israel he loves his sheep to the death Hath it been recorded that any King hath layd down his life for rebellious Subjects Hath it been inrowled that any Bridegroome hath lost his life for his Bride or any Shepheard hath layd down his life for his sheep but my beloved the King of my Church chosen the Bridegroome to his beloved spouses and the great shepheard of his sheepe hath layd down his life for his wandring sheepe John 10.18 No man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my selfe I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it againe this commandement have I received of my father He is the carefull shepheard of my flock neither the heate of the day nor the cold of the night hindred Jacobs care of Labans flock the heate of my wrath furie and indignation nor the coldnesse of the effections of his peculiar can prevent his care over my scattered and dispearsed flocke Were the shepheards carefull of their flock in the day of Christs comming and will not Israels shepheard be carefull of his flocke after his comming he is not only as a father to mine to carrie them in his armes Cant. 2.6 His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth imbrace me As an Eagle that beares them upon his wings Deut. 32.11.12 As an Eagle stireth up her nest fluttereth with her wings spreadeth abroad her wings taketh them beares them upon her wings So the Lord alone did lead him and their was no strange God with him But as a shepheard who carries his upon his shouldiers to the fould of grace and glory John 10.16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold them also J must bring and they shall heare my voice and there shall be one fold one shepheard Whilst mine are subject to chances and all evils he is their defender whilst they are subject to goe astray he is their gatherer hence he answereth my Commission Mat. 15.24 But he answered and said J am not sent but unto the lost sheep of Jsrael The poorest and meanest of his flocke by him are sustained the strongest and fatest of his flocke by him are supported he leads them by his precious promises clothes them with his heavenly grace and gives them a rich inheritance amongst his Saints Ephes 1.18 The eyes of your understanding being opened that yee might know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints If they are scorched by the heate of tribulations he is their cloud of preservation if they want light in the darkest night he is their fire by night for consolation Isaiah 4.6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heate and a place of refuge and for a cover from storme and from raine For thou hast been a strength to the poore a strength to the needy in his distresse a refuge from the storme a shadow from the heat when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storme against the wall His sheep are neere to him through union John 27.23 J in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me They are deare to him through redemption 1 Pet. 1.18.19 For as much as yee know that ye were not redeemed with corruptable things as silver and gold from your vaine conversation received by tradition from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as a Lambe without blemish and without spot They are precious to him through donation John 17.9.10 J pray for them J pray not for the world but for them which thou hast given me for they are thine and all mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them And they are gracious in his sight and presence through acceptation Ehes 1.6 To the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved They are precious Jewells in his account and estimation they are his tender flocke in
his account and computation are their deaths precious in his sight and are not their lives precious in his presence Is the vine tender ever its branches the King loving to his Subjects the spouse acceptable to the bridegroome and are not his flocke precious deare to the great shepheard of Israel neither the Foxes by their cunning the Wolves by their ravening the Lions by their roaring the Tigers by their devouring shall be able to plucke them out of his hand John 10.28.29 And I give unto them eternall life and they shall never perish neither shall any man plucke them out of my hand my father which gave them me is greater then all and no man is able to plucke them out of my fathers hand As they have beene acquired by an eternall power purchased by an infinite value so they are conserved by an eternall power and omnipotencie to the Kingdome of blisse and felicitie 1 Pet. 1.5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time Ephes 1.19 And what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us ward who beleeve according to the working of his mighty power O my soule be certainly assured that nothing shall befall thee but that which shall be good for thee If death the sting of that is removed if life thy life is written in the book of life If perill conservation by the hope in Christ If famine thou hast the bread of life if want of water thou hast the fountaine of living water if sicknes thou hast healing to the wings of Christ if temptation thy faith shall be to thee more precious then gold that is tried in the fire if want of freedome thou hast libertie through redemption if losse of the love of the nearest in thy bosome thy Lord shepheard is nere and deare to thee and if want of defence thy Mediatour will be thy sunne and sheild Psalme 84.11 For the Lord God is a sunne and sheild the Lord will give grace and glory no good thing will he with hold from them that walke uprightly Rom. 8.28 And we know that all things worke together for good to them that love God to them that are the called according to his purpose Oh! my soule if thou gloriest thou shalt glory in such a shepheard is he not the great shepheard able to make thee perfect in every good worke Heb. 13.20.21 Now the God of peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Jesus that great shepheard of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good worke to doe his will working in you that which is well pleasing to you through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever amen Hath he not fountaines above all fountains springs surpassing all springs and pastures more pleasant then all pastures Ezek. 34.23 And I will set up one shepheard over them and he shall feed them even my servant David He shall feed them and he shall be their shepheard 14.15 verse I will feed them in a good pasture and upon the high Mountains of Israel Shall their fold be there shall they lie in a good fold and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the Mountaines of Israel I will feed my flocke and I will cause them to ly down saith the Lord God His voice will I heare his word will I obey to his call I will subject I know the difference between his voice and the voice of strangers they set up mans inventions makeing linsey woolsy garments and set up mans posts by Christs posts they advance mans rightteousnesse set up legall doings and popish performances they throw the Lord Jesus Christ out of his thron and plucke him out of his chaire and set up the creature worse then nothing But the voice of Christ is to speake of the praise of his owne righteousnesse of the pretiousnesse of his own blood of the triumph of his owne death of his love to his beloved Church of the nearnesse of that union the saints have with his father and of the pitie he hath to the broken spirits Mat. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavie laden and I will give you rest And of the gift of eternall life to his adopted John 17.2 And thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternall life to as many as thou hast given him Of the praise of the glory of the honour of the dominion of the power and of the love of his Father John 17.23 I in them and thou in me that they may bee made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me Of the revelation teaching direction convincement and comfort of the spirit John 15.26 But when the comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the father even the spirit of truth which proceedeth from the father he shall testifie of me Therefore as thou givest praise because hee is thy mediatour thy King thy Bridegroome thy vine and thy beloved so thou shalt give praise sith hee is become thy eternall carefull deare and loving shepheard rejoycing in the law and covenant of life in Christ that is blessed yea a thousand times blessed for evermore Rehearsing the words concerning the Law of life in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made thee free from the law of sinne and death Secondly In respect of Eternity The Celestiall body is more excellent then other bodies in foure respects First Because it is a Cause Universall Secondly Because it is carried about with a circuler motion Thirdly Because of heavenly light and fourthly because it is incorruptible So the Covenant or law of free grace is not onely excellent because the light of the fathers countenance shines in that Covenant because it is conferred upon the sonnes of miserie and calamity because it is the cause of all divine graces and mercies given to the Saints but also sith it is everlasting and eternall My Covenant is not as the small dew upon the tender hearbs not as the fading leafe and withering hearb not as the fraile life of the sublunarie creatures I made the first Covenant with Adam and it was momentanie I have made the second in Christ and it is to perpetuity when I espoused mine to me to the praise of my glory I espoused them to me for ever through my mercy Isa 54.7 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercy will I gather thee in a little wrath I hide my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindnes will I have mercy upon thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer Whence once I become their God I am their God to eternity when once I become their Father I am their Father to perpetuitie as there is no end of the blood of the covenant of
my grace as there is no end of the death of the Covenant of my peace so there is no end of my loving kindnesse in the covenant of grace peace Though I have made a covenant it is not l ke the first covenant I made in mount Sinai Ier. 31.31 Behold the day is come saith the Lord that I will make a new covenant with the house of Jsrael and with the house of Judah Not according to that I made with their Fathers c. Hence my people may glory in my Covenant had I made a Covenant with them to be their God to day and their enemy to morrow to blot out their sinnes to day and to remember them to morrow to write my law in their hearts to day and blot it out to morrow to give righteousnesse peace rest grace truth hope joy peace love reconciliation redemption and Adoption to day and to take these away to morrow my people should not had cause of glorying in the eternity of my favor but now have they great cause of glorying in my covenant sith it is as fast as the day and the night though all things fade and waxe old as a garment though the heavens should depart as a scroule though the hills should flee and the mountaines be removed notwithstanding this covenant must needs stand for ever Jsay 54.10 For the mountaines shall depart and the hils shall be removed but my kindnesse shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my peace bee removed saith the Lord that hath mâ—rcy on thee Had I made the Sunne the Moone the Starres the planets like the fading herb grasse or trees where had beene their rarenesse If I had made the gold the gemms the pretious Jewels like the drosse of yron where had beene their richnesse If I had made my second covenant of peace of grace of love and mercy like the first of terrors of dreads of horrors and decaying where had beene the pretiousnesse But my people glory not only because I have made a Covenant but because I have made a covenant everlasting they glory not onely in righteousnesse but in everlasting righteousnesse not only in treasures but in eternall treasures not onely in life but in eternall life not only in peace but in perpetuall peace and attonement So they glory not only in the covenant of life and peace but also that it is the etarnal covenant of life peace Hence they glory with the Apostle Rom. 8.2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made us free from the law of sinne and of death Thirdly Because it is placed in Christ. The Sunne is placed in the midst of the planets from whence all the planets receive their purest lights the heart is placed in the midst of man that all the parts from thence might receive their vitall motion the law of life and grace is placed in Christ Jesus that from thence the Churches might receive their happinesse Happie O thrice happie are the Churches tha they have such a Lord and such a law not of sin and death but of grace and life Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made them free from the law of sinne and death The earth was undecked and undorned till I adorned the earth with beauty the heavenly orbs were not beautified till I beautified them with the Splendor of the Sun of Moone and Planets The old law was inglorious by curse execration and condemnation but I have made a new glorious through life hope and benediction In whose hand is it blessed if not in the hand of the blessed mediatour in whose breast is it happiâ—â— if not in the breast of him that is a gratious Redeemer and in whom can that be glorious except in him that is King of Kings and Prince of glory It would not have stood with the glory of my wisedome If I should have made my covenant of life with the slaves of the devill bondslaves to hell and children of death it would not have stood with the honour of my wise disposement should I have placed my second covenant in them that brake my first and have shott their arrowes as farre distant from the throne of my grace as the highest place is from the lowest hell I should have lost the dignity of my grace had I made it with Angels who pittied not the prisoners of my hope neither could they answer the require and severity of my Justice As I have placed the purest light in the lightest Sunne and the rarest vertue in the purest gemmes so I have placed my law of absolute and intire purity in the Sonne of my rarest excellencie I have made my Covenant to Christ Gal. 3.16 Now to Abraham and his seede were the promises made he saith not and to seedes as of many but as of one and to thy seede which is Christ I have made my Covenant with Christ sith none could satisfie my justice or fulfill my righteousnesse but him alone I made my Covenant in Christ 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises are in him yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us I made him the Covenant of life and Salvation Isay 42.6 7. I the Lord have called thee in righteousnesse and will hold thine hand and will keepe thee and give thee for a Covenant of the people for a light of the Gentils to open the blinde eyes to bring out the prisoners from the prison and them that sit in darkenesse out of the prison house He was the Character of my person and the effulgencie of my glory hee was the appointed King and the Lord commander of my purchased and acquired the Mediatour to and for my Redeemerd and Reconciled the prince of the kings of the earth the first begotten from the dead and the only one and beloved of the bosom therefore my covenant is to him with him and in him I tooke up my habitation in him from eternity to eternity my dwelling and delectation is in him from the beginning to the ending hence my Covenant of eternity rests in the bosome of eternity from whence should the espoused have their Commands but from their bridegroome I have not married them to the law but to Christ Rom 7.4 Wherefore my brethren ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ that ye should be married to another even to him who is raised from the dead that we should bring forth fruit unto God From whence should the subjects have their ordinance but from their King I have not made Mosâ—s their king but Christ King of his Church Psal 45.11 So shall thy King greatly desire thy beauty for hee is thy Lord and worship thou him From whence should the redeemed of the Lord have their rules precepts but from Christ I have not made Moses their Prophet but Christ their Prophet Deut. 18.18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren like
unto thee c. O my soule if I glory I will not glory in that which is written in tables of stone but in that which is written in the fleshly tables of thy heart not in that which is the ministry of death but in that which is the ministry of life not in the ministry of condemnation but in that which is the ministry of salvation not in that which gendreth to bondage but in that which tendeth to libertie not in that which hath a vaile and darkenesse but in that which hath light and glory not in that which disconsolates and discomforts the drooping conscience but in that which consolates comforts the drooping spirit Thou gloriest in the pretiousnesse of his riches in the rarenesse of his promises in the beauty of his righteousnesse and shalt thou not glory in the pretiousnesse rarenesse riches of the law of life in Christ did David desire the waters of Bethlehem above all waters did Abraham desire a sonne above the Land of Canaan and shalt thou not desire this law of life above all lawes if others pitch their tents by Sinai thou shalt pitch thy tent by Sion if others follow Moses thou shalt follow Christ if others delight in that which drives them from God thou shalt delight in that which drawes thee neere to God The law of sinne and death hath not freed thee from the law of sinne and death the law of curse or execration hath not freed thee from the law of death and condemnation the law of terrours and horrors hath not freed thee from the law of terror horrour but the law of life by which thou art dead to the law that thou mayest live unto God Gal. 2.19 For I through the Law am dead to the Law that I might live unto God Hence thou therefore shalt hearken to the Commission of the Father Mat. 17.5 While he yet spake behold a bright cloud overshadowed them and behold a voyce out of the cloud which said this is my beloved sonne in whom I am well pleased heare ye him Who hath the words of eternall life but he John 6.68 Then Simon Peter answered him Lord to whom shall we goe thou hast the words of eternall life Into whose lips hath grace been infused but into his Psalme 45.2 Thou art fairer then the children of men grace is powred into thy lyps therefore God hath blessed thee forever Or who hath the words of peace and reconciliation but he Ephes 2.17 And came and preached peace to you which were affarre off and to them which were nigh Hence will I glory in the glorying expression of the Apostle Paul Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed them from the law of sinne and death Hath freed me Israel had ten portions in the King when Judah Benjamen had but two but it cannot be spoken according to that tenour of the saints beloved for they have a like inheritance in God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent sith they are chosen by one Lord redeemed by one Christ sealed by one spirit of life injoying the law of life being freed from the law of sinne and death Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed me from the law of sinne and death Christ is then operative in the soule when by faith he is particularly applied The transcient passage of the beauty or splendor of an object is through the eye unto the mind the passing consolable delectation which is in Christ is through a Christians application to the soule in Christ are treasures passing the treasures hid in the sands the emenency and superemency of all heavenly and divine compassions passing the compassions of humaine generation the excelency yea the superexcellency of worth merit and value passing all the valuable things which are wrapt up in the breast of things terrestiall But what are those treasures passing treasures the eminency the superemency of those heavenly and divine compassions the excellency the superexcellency of that his merit worth and value without a speciall or particular applyment The comfort of the eye is in seeing of the eare in hearing of man in moving the comfort of the soule is in applying What joy is there to a Rebell to thinke there is a Kingdome and yet out of that he shall be banished what comfort is there to a man to know there are rich treasures wrapt in our mother earth and he of those shall be deprived or what joy or comfort can come to the soule or conscience though there are all excellencies wrapt within Christs bosome if they of him shall not be injoyed other creatures were before man was created light overspread the earth before light in the sun was placed but comfort to the faithfull doth not arise before that Christ by faith is applied Our sad houres our dolefull dayes our gloomsome times are then removed when the vertuall efficacy of Christ through faiths application is received our comfort till we come to heavens City our joy till we come to heavens felicity and our solid refreshment till we come to heavens glory is through faiths applying Christ ours all in all Though the waves of iniquitie doe roare the floods of transgression fall the wind of bitter affliction blow heard upon us yet if once by applying we cast anchor into Christ solid joy doth inviron the heart and conscience as light doth incompasse the body of a rationall then the terrible the dreadfull the iâ—efull God against sinne and transgression appeares most bounteous most benignous most clementious through his marvilous compassion then the covenant of eternall grace and mercy puts to repulse the law of death and miserie then the worth and merit of Christ pleads redemption from the foule black jawes of the Devill reconciliation between the God of infinite purity and man who through sinne hath procured an infinite miserie and justification in the sight of our heavenly and compassionate father Anchor being cast in Christ all becomes a Christians his wisedome his death his blood his power his spirit and his Kingdome If the Bridgroome be the Brides by combination then his lands his livings his jewels his gold his silver is hers If Christ be ours then his heavenly benedictions his spirituall blessings his superabundant and heavenly treasure are become ours also All are yours and yee are Christs and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3.22 O my soule apply whole Christ particularly that thou mayest injoy him fully Was he deprived of all before Pilate accused of the Souldiers buffited of the high Priests disdained and not for thee he indured that which thou shouldest have sustained he suffered for that which hadst deserved Oh what did he sustaine Oh what hath he not sustained Oh what did he suffer Oh what hath he not suffered did he not undergoe the burthen of thy sinne which was insufferable by a strength and power invincible at what time the vaile of the temple rented
father so we also may walke in the newnes of life Rom. 6.4 O that I might feele the mighty operatiō of Christs mediatiō then should I behold God most propitious and clementious then should my faith cleave fast to the mercy seate for mercy and to the throne of grace for grace thereby should I rejoyce abundantly the singing birds would not so rejoyce when winter is gone and summer doth approach as I shall rejoyce in receiving delectation from Christs mediation then should I not runne from God with Adam but have accesse to God as Ester had to Ahashuerosh By whom also through faith we have accesse unto his grace by which wee stand and rejoyce under the hope of the glory of God Rom. 5.2 O my soule give glory to God thy heavenly Father and to Jesus Christ thy gratious Redeemer and to the holy Spirit who sealeth unto thee sure mercies which will never faile thee in the greatest extreamities Gods eternall favour in Christ established the efficatiousnesse of Christs merits and value the sealing thereof is not in thine owne power but in the power of the holy Spirit Hee that lookes upon the Creature he concludes that the Creature made not it selfe but it was made by the hand of the Creator he that minds how great a matter it is to have the eternall love of God and the merit of Christ to his conscience sealed will conclude it is not of himself but through the work of the Spirit who is our sealer And ye are scaled by the holy spirit of promise who is the earnest of our inheritance to the obtaining of Redemption unto the praise of his glory Ephes 13.14 but to draw unto a conclusion least many lines may be offensive unto thy patience Christian Reader only chuse thou Christ O my soule that when thy heart failes thee hee may be thy strength and thy portion for ever is not thy Saviour better then tenne thousands all things are valued but his value is invaluable all things are esteemed yet his worth is inestimable many things are uttered yet his excellency is unutterable Am I not ravished when he is my contemplation Am I not overjoyed when hee is my Meditation doth not my valley abound with pleasure when the vertue of his grace takes in me possession is the morning sunne so joyous to a traviller as Christ is to me when I thinke of him in the morning hee is more to thee O my soule then riches then honours then gold thē silver yea then pretious stones if thou hadst a kingdom and wast not assured of his kingdome what would that profit thee if thou hadst a world if thou hadst no interest in that blood which purchased the world to come what would that availe thee if thou hadst all the joyes and pleasures under heaven if thou hadst not the joy of his spirit what would that benefit thee if thou hadst al the gay apparrell in the world if thou hadst not Christs righteousnesse to defend thee from the wrath of God what fruit would that bring ūto thee if thou hadst all to plead for thee if thou hadst not Christ to excuse thee in the day of the Lord what joy could possesse thee it is good for thee to rest where Christ is so shall he be to thee a resting place it is good for thee to dwell where hee is for there are joyes for evermore O my soule feare not what man can doe unto thee if they take away thy name remember thy name is ingraved upon his breast he bare thy name upon the crosse he beareth thy name now in the sight of thy gratious Father Though thy name is extinguished yet not extinguished though not remembred yet remembred evermore Let Justiciaries cast their Arrowes by day and their fierie dars by night yet know that through thy saviour thou art able to repulse the fiery darts of Satan much more theirs Let them take away thy life thy life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God Let them conclude that thou art vaine glorious thy glorying expression shall be of Christ thy Lord of life and righteousnes sith if any in heavē or earth are bought to God by our Lord of life glory then thou art one of that company whilst thou as a poore pilgrim wanderest towards heavens City make thou a heavenly dimention of his glory Worthy is the Lambe who was slaine to receive power riches and strength wisedome and honour and glory and blessing and to him that sits upon the throne and unto the Lambe be ascribed blessing and honour and glory and strength for ever and ever Amen Revel 5.13.13 From the law of sinne and death O my people what have I done for you as Reconciliation to God my Father through my blood and death is the greatest mercy as my Adoption by my Spirit of glory is the highest love so my Redemption from the law of sinne and death by the Law of the Spirit of life is the freest bountie Have you not come short of my glory and the glory of my Father Rom. 3 23. For all have sinned are come short of the glory of God Have you not been under the curse and execration of the morrall law Gal. 3.10 For as many as are of the the workes of the law are under the curse for it is written cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the booke of the Law to do them Have not your Spirit been silenced and your mouthes stopt before my Fathers presence Rom. 3 .19 Now wee know that what things soever the Law saith it saith to them that are under the Law that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God Hath not Moses accused you before the barre of justice John 5.45 Doe not thinke that I will accuse you to the Father there is one that accuseth you even Moses in whom ye trust Was not the same Law that was made for ungodly wicked and incorrigable siners made for you 1 Tim. 1.10 For whoremongers for them that defile themselves with mankind for men-stealers for lyers for perjured persons and if there bee any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine But I have delivered you from the law of Condemnation by the law of Salvation from the law of execration by the Law of benediction from the Law of accusation by the law of life and reconciliation and from the law of adjudication by the law of hope and Redemption When that I saw that ye were come short of all righteousnes fulfilled al righteousness Rom. 10.4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness sake to every one that beleeveth Whē I saw that you were accursed I became a curse for you having undertaken to die the cursed death of the Crosse Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for
this mistery among the Gentills which is Christ in you the hope of glory Eph. 2.7 That in ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindnesse towards us through Christ Jesus Fiftly WEE beleeve that the Church which hath beene redeemed by the pretious bloud of our Lord and Master that she hath received the spirit of Adoption Glory Sanctification and obsignation to the intent that she might be absolutely assured of everlasting glory of God the Father the pretious riches of grace in Jesus Christ and the promises which are in Christ yea and Amen Vnto the praise and glory of the Father Rom. 5.2 By whom also we have accesse by faith into this grace wherein we stand and reioyce in hope of the glory of God 1 Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisedome and righteousnesse and Sanctification and Redemption 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us Sixtly WEE beleeve that Jesus Christ having paid an Eternall price and ransome to his Father in the behalfe of his Church and peculiar therefore the price in it selfe being eternall infinite and unmeasurable doth comprehend in it selfe a remedie for the miseries of All mankinde whatsoever Mat. 20.28 Even as the sonne of man came not to bee ministred unto but to mimister and to give a ransom his life for many 1. Tim. 2.6 Who gave himselfe a ransome for all to be testified in due time Seventhly WE beleeve that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a Gospel universall and is to be preached amongst all creatures whatsoever to the intent that the Father of eternall love and mercy might single out his people out of the world shew forth the dignity of his owne Son manifest the marvilous riches of his owne glory and leave the Creature without excuse Mat. 28.19 Goe yee therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Col. 1.23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and setled and bee not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which ye have heard and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven whereof I am made a Minister Eph. 2.12 That at that time ye are without Christ being Aliens from the common wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenant of grace having no hope And without God in the world 1 John 5.10 He that beleeveth me the sonne of God hath the witnesse in himselfe he that beleeveth not God hath made him a lier because hee beleeveth not the record that God gave of his Sonne John 3.18.19 Hee that beleeveth one him is not condemned but hee that beleeveth not is condemned already because hee hath not beleeved in the name of the only begotten son of God And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkenesse more then light because their deeds were evill Eighthly VVE beleeve that the Church being called by the word of life and salvation to participate of the glorious riches of Christ is bound by an everlasting bond of love and favour to yeeld all loyall obedience and subjection to Jesus Christ her Lord and Master 1 Cor. 1.9 God is faithfull by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Sonne Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 12.1 2. I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable sacrifice and be not conformed to this world but bee transformed by the renewing of your minde that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God Ninthly VVEE beleeve that the Church of Jesus Christ is presented glorious in the sight of God her heavenly Father through union with Jesus Christ and her interest in her royall robes of righteousnesse Phil. 3.9 And being found in him not having mine owne righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is thorough the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by faith Isay 61.10 I will greatly reioyce in the Lord my soule shall be ioyfull in my God for hee hath cloathed me with he garments of Salvation hee hath covered me with the robe of righteousnesse as a bridegrorme decketh himselfe with ornaments and as a bride adorneth her selfe with her Jewells Tenthly VVE beleeve that neither sin the Law nor Justice is any cause of her chastisement onely the free and deare love of her deere Father to the end that he might teach her the way to glory weaken the power of the flesh and make her live by faith and love before him all her dayes Heb. 12.6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every sonne whom hee receiveth Apoc. 3.19 As many as I love I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and repent Psal 119.6 7. Then shall I not bee ashamed when I shall have respect to all thy commandements I will praise thee with uprightnesse of heart when I shall have learned thy righteous judgements 2 Cor. 12.7 And least I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations there was given to me a thorn in the flesh the messenger of Satan to buffet me least I should exalted above measure 1 Pet. 1.6 7. wherein ye greatly rejoyce though now for a season if neede be ye are in heavinesse through manifold temptations that the triall of your faith being much more pretious then of gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ Eleventh WE beleeve that although her God and father is in every place and beholds all things and by consequence seeth sin as it is in the flesh not withstanding having presented her just by the act of Reconciliation through the blood of the Sonne of God Justified her through the none imputation of iniquitie and made her stand in Christ for ever through union with him hence she stands in his sight for ever without spot or wrinckle Heb. 4.13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and open unto him with whom we have to doe 2 Cor. 5.17 Therfore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature Old things things are past away behold all things are become new Col. 1.22 In the body of his flesh through death to present you holy unblamable unreproveable in his sight Ephes 5.27 That he might present to himselfe a glorious Church not having spot or wrinckle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Twelfe VVE beleeve that though in the dayes of Adam we with Adam stood under the old Covenant yet that Covenant is wholy abolished and that now injoying the law of faith mercy peace we stand for ever under that covenant
which hath beene proposed in Christ hence it comes to passe that we are freed absolutely from the law of sin and death and are brought under the Law of freedome and life Jer. 31.32.33 Not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers in the day when I tooke them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt which Covenant they brake although I was a husband unto them saith the Lord. But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my people Heb. 8.6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry by how much also he is the Mediator of a better Covenant which was established upon better promises Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sinne and death Thirteenth VVE beleeve that the Saints are to be a deare a tender and a loving people from the love that is given them in and through Jesus Christ and are bound to walke in the bond of Love to the intent that they may shew themselves children of light hold forth the love of Jesus Christ and the glory of God their heavenly and dearest Father John 15.12 This is my Commandement that ye love one another as I have loved you John 17.22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one Fourteenth VVE beleeve that the expressions of this love stands not onely in in the communion of gifts but also of goods insomuch that is it possible they are to live in one body as one common wealth nothing differing from the state of the Churches in the City of Jerusalem Acts 2.44 45. And they that beleeved were together and had althings common and sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men as every man had neede Fifteenth THe Saints are to be a quiet peaceable and loving people sith they are of the Kingdome and patience of Jesus Christ God hath called them to peace having given them a command to have peace with all and love towards all men And he shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people and they shall beate their swords into plowshares and their speares into pruning hookes Nation shall not lift up swords against Nation neither shall they learne warre any more Isay 65.25 The Wolfe and the Lambe shall feede together and the Lyon shall eate straw like the bullock and dust shall be the serpents meate they shal not hurt nor destroy in all my mountaines saith the Lord. Apoc. 13.10 He that leadeth into captivity shall goe into captivity he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints Apoc. 12.11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death Sixteenth VVEE beleeve that those that are to enter into a Churches estate are to make known to the Church their experience of the Spirit and faith in Jesus Christ insomuch that none are to bee admitted into a Churches state but such as are cordiall in their faith and experementall through communion with the Lord Jesus Acts 8.37 And Philip said if thou beleevest with all thine heart thou mayest and he answered and said I beleeve that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God Acts 10.47 Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the holy Ghost as well as we Acts 9.26 27. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem hee assayed to joyne himselfe unto the Disciples but they were all affraid of him and beleeved not that he was a Disciple but Barnabas tooke him and brought him to the Apostles and declared unto them how he had seene thk Lord in the way and that hee had spoken to him and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus c. Seventeenth VVEE understand that although their ought to be an especiall love of the Saints one towards another notwithstanding they are to shew themselves loving courteous and gentle to all that are without not reproaching but praising praying and blessing God for all that hate them Mat. 5.44 45 46. But I say unto you love your Enemies blesse them that curse you doe good to them that hate you and pray for them which dispitefully use you and persecute you That ye may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven for he maketh his Sun to rise on the evill and on the good and sendeth raine on the just and on the unjust For if ye love them which love you what reward have ye Doe not even the Publicans the same FINIS TRust ye not in a friend put ye not confidence in a guide keepe the doores of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom Therfore I will look unto the Lord I will waite for the God of my salvation my God will heare me Isa 50.6 7. I gave my backe to the smiters and my cheekes to them that plucked off the haire I hid not my face from shame and spitting For the Lord will helpe mee therefore shall I not be confounded therefore have I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed VVE judge no man If any man is contrary minded God shall reveale it according to his Divine Love and rarest Mercy in the beloved