into that separation and with-drawing from his Father which brought upon him all this misery that befel him which now after so large a view taken of the elder Brothers state comes in the next place as the second Branch of this Text to be considered by us viz. CHAP. VIII The second state of wanderers from God in two Branches opened and applyed THE misery of departing and wandring from God implyed in these words This thy Brother was dead was lost a two-fold metaphorical expression to represent it by Let us briefly and but briefly consider them Branch 1. Was dead A sinner by leaving God and running after sin and Satan brings death upon himself becomes as a dead man So Solomon tells us too Prov. 21.16 He that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall abide in the congregation of the dead For as the Apostle saith also to the Believers Rom. 8.13 If ye walk after the flesh ye shall dye and it must needs be so for 1. With God is the fountain of life Psal 36.9 In his favour is liâ—e Psalm 30.5 and his eternal Word or Son is that eternal life that was with the Father in the beginning in whom was life and that was manifested in these last dayes more fully to us 1 John 1.2 with John 1 4. The Spirit of God is life and the spirit of life Rom 8.2.10 by whom God through Christ breaths in life and so this God this one Father Son and Spirit having life in himself gives life also to others as he pleases and hath given to all life and breath and all things and so in the beginning when he made man made him of the dust of the earth and breathed in him the breath of life and man became a living soul Gen. 2.7 both as his body and person was made alive in the world indued with breath sense motion and understanding and also as his soul or inward man being upright and having its dependance on God being in subjection to his Word and Spirit in his image and likeness and so in his favour while upright he was owned of him and in union with him and had peace and joy and spiritual life in himself as so deriving it from him but in departing from him his word and command which is life and tends to life also is death and man so doing he dyed Spiritually First as to the loss of the favour of God in which was his life and of his subjection to God and fellowship with his Word and Spirit the fountain and conveyor of life and he fell under his displeasure in and from which is death even the death of the spirit of man inasmuch as the favour and fellowship of God his Word and Spirit being withdrawn his life was withdrawn with them and inasmuch as it lay open to his anger to inflict misery upon it and so the inward state of the soul and spirit became unquiet dead without sense of the life of God the favour spirit and operations of his grace in it and was filled with fear shame guilt as the effects of the life withdrawn and misery deserved and exposed to and then bodily death as to its principles entred and so the sentence for dying at Gods pleasure bodily and for ever had not mercy looked upon man and prevented followed also Gen. 2.17 and 3.18 19 Rom. 5.12.18 2. But God rich in mercy looking back upon his prodigal Son man here devised his recovery and to that end sent his Son or Word that eternal life that was with him and made him flesh and in that flesh mortal and under the sentence of death that was upon man and accordingly delivered him up to death for our Sins who by his death destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil and swallowed up death from off the nature of man as it is in him and filled it with immortallity and eternal life so as he having dyed dyeth no more death hath no more dominion over him but the fulness of the God-head dwells in him bodily and all the fulness of his favour grace and blessing in which is life yea and the Spirit of Life is in and upon him so as he also in dying and by his death inasmuch as it was sustained by him for us even for all men hath obtained a release of all men from under that first Death and Judgement in which all universally and alike were condemned to dye as it did and must have stood upon us without his interposing and hath the ordering of Death and Grave and Hell in his hand and dispose with power and authority to bring us thereout and enliven and quicken soul and body yea and invest them with immortality and eternal life as pleases him he being in himself and for mankinde the resurrection and the life the deliverer and the raiser and the only ground or foundation cause and effector of the Resurrection in others either as to soul or body and the life quickning them and in which they being quickned live John 11.25 Yea in him is and God hath given to us even to the same us whom he commands to believe which is all men or men indefinitely eternal life so as that in partaking of him we partake of the Resurrection and are raised up in and by him in our spirits and partake of life spiritual life and so whosoever believeth in him though dead in himself is enlivened by him and shall live and being made alive in believing and going on yet to believe shall not dye shall not lose this life that he hath in and by him for ever but is alwayes in the raised state as to his state spiritually and shall be so at the last day bodily too and so alwayes in the favour of God in which is life in a justified state from sin and wrath curse and death and in a state of acceptation with God and heir-ship to the life promised further of God in and by him and hath his interest in and fellowship with God the fountain of life and the Spirit of God and its influences who is the Spirit of life and gives and upholds life as it is said He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life and so as all mankinde are in a released state from the destructiveness of the first death as in and of it self and in a possibility of life because in the hand of Christ where is life even spiritual and eternal life yea both for soul and body as in a root and fountain for them and communicable to them so all such of men as in hearing and receiving the Word and Doctrine of Christ which is called the word of life and life Acts 5.20 John 6.63 Prov. 4.13 because Christ objectively is in it as the matter of it set forth in and by it and his Spirit which is life and the Spirit of Life accompanies it and breaths in it are therein by the
Praises of God Yea this is a thing meet to be joyed in and for 1. By God his Father himself for so he puts in himself here not only its meet that thou shouldst make merry but we I and thou too A wise Son makes a glad Father Prov. 10.1 My son be wise and make my heart glad that I may answer him that reproacheth me Prov. 27.11 Though this Son had done foolishly in departing and running away from his Father and when he began to be an hungry in joyning himself to a Citizen of that Countrey yet he did wisely when coming to himself he repented and returned and the Father here rejoyces and hath wherewith to answer his other Son reproaching him So also in Prov. 23.15 16. My Son if thy heart be wise my heart shall rejoyce even mine yea my reins shall rejoyce when thy lips speak right things It s meet a Father be glad of his Sons welfare 2. By his Brother or Brethren it is meet we should make merry and be glad not only I but thou also with me for should not brethren love one another and be glad they may enjoy one anothers company in health and safety and therefore be glad when any of them escapes any danger and the more the greater the danger was that is escaped and then 3. By the Servants also that attend on them There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth ver 10. and I have no greater joy saith one of Gods Servants in the Gospel then to hear or see that my Children walk in the truth yea and to repent and turn from swervings too so the Apostle Paul the Servant of Christ Now I rejoyce saith he not that ye were made sorry but that ye were made sorry to repentance 2 Cor. 7.9 4. But most of all by the sinner himself made alive again and found of his Father and in his Fathers house amongst his Brethren whether in the lower rooms while here or in the upper chambers as the Thief or Malefactor that day he dyed was in Paradise O give thanks to the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever Let the redeemed of the Lord say so whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy c. Psal 107.1 2. Quest But why is it meet to make merry and be glad for such a one upon such an occasion surely there is great and good reason for it Answ 1. Because of the goodness of the condition it self in which a repentant sinner is found or brought into Good things are matters of joy when had and enjoyed here 's nothing but good in this state good it is in it self and good to all others therefore worthy joy and mirth and gladness 1. Good in it self for 1. It is a state of life and life is good in it self and therefore matter of promise which it would not be if not good for we do not use to promise what we judge bad and if God judged life bad or it were so in it self God would not promise it He is just he shall surely live Ezek. 18.9 It s matter of prayer Oh that Ishmael might live before thee Gen. 17.18 Let Reuben live and not dye Deut. 33.6 And its matter of praises Psal 1â—9 175 Let my soul live and it shall praise thee and let thy judgements help me Yea it s a matter of Christs purchase that he came into the world to procure and give yea the principal matter I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly John 10 10. and therefore surely life is good a great good Yea skin for skin said the adversary and all that a man hath will he give for his life 'T is usually so but especially spiritual life the life of the soul in Christ and so in the favour of God is good The life which is in the path of righteousness wherein is no death Prov. 12.28 And this is the state the sinner is taken into upon repentance and coming back to God in Christ as in Ezek. 18.17 If the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed and keep all my statutes and do that that is lawful and right he shall surely live he shall not dye and ver 22. He shall live So in Chap. 33.11 Turn and live Being brought back to God in and by Christ the only way by which any can come or be brought to God John 14.6.7 he lives in and by Christ who is the Resurrection and the life so as that whoever believes in him whatever he be or hath been though never so dead yet he shall live and living and believing in him he shall live for ever John 11.25 26. And so it s said here He is alive again Object Oh! but the repenting Malefactor upon the Cross dyed for all his repentance Answ As to his body he did and all must and that as so inflicted on him was the fruit of his sin not of his return yea as to its sentence a means of his return from his sin but that which was the fruit of his repentance was that he lived to God Being judged according to 〈◊〉 in the flesh but living according to God in the Spirit 1 Pet. 4.6 and so his soul lived and went that day to Paradise and lived for ever His death as it was the fruit of his sinning was matter of sadness but as it was a means to his repentance so it was to be joyed in but much more the life of his soul and eternal life promised to and to be enjoyed by both soul and body in the Resurrection the fruits or consequents of repentance are matters of unspeakable joy and gladness if a Childe fall into the fire will not the mother rejoyce to see him snatched out of it and live safely and in health again though with causing the scorched skin to peel off surely yes 2. It is a state of being found a found state a state wherein a sinner is not lost from God and his goodness to his Brethren and fellow Servants but is found in and with them known owned and approved with God and with men Angels of one minde â— God and so is with them under the gracious approving knowledge of God and under his gracious care counsel defence c. and in unity with all that are well and happy found in a large and spacious house in and under the enjoyment of or title to large Provisions richest Furniture sweetest Relations and Friends abiding and eternal safety and satisfactions Come to Mount Sion the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem to be of them as Ephes 2.19 20. and to an innumerable company of Angels to have fellowship with them and protection by them to the General Assembly and Church of the first-born whose names are written in heaven as owned of God and inrolled as heirs of heaven and its infinite glory and happiness to be with
with thank fulness as in Psal 66.1 98 4. 100. 117 Peter the Apostle of the Circumcision tells us the same that God is not willing that any perish but that all should come to repentance and therefore is patient towards us and his long-suffering is to be accounted salvation as be saith Paul also writes as indeed he doth in Rom. 2.4 5. in whose writings he saith are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable namely in the mystery of Christ wrest to their own destruction 2 Pet. 3 9 15 16. now what might those things more likely be then those in which he seems to the unskillful to say that God would have some to perish and that his long-suffering is out of a purpose to destroy them which thou that pleadest so as before is said and such as thou art evidently wrest by your inferences to your destruction Better it is to believe the plain sayings of those holy men which they have delivered as the sum of the doctrine committed to them to be declared by them in all the world as the Apostle Paul expresly says of those passages above recited in 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. that they are the testimony whereunto he was ordained an Herald or Preacher and an Apostle a Teacher of the Gentiles not in equivocation and deceit for verily God sent not his servants into the world to deceive men with lies but in faith and verity ver 7 judging those understandings of or inferences and doctrines from any other sayings of Scripture about abstruser things that clash with those plain sayings to be mistakes than to lean to such understandings or inferences against them Mind also what our Saviour replyed to one that asked him if there were but few that should be saved and obey his counsel thereupon bidding him to strive to enter the strait gate before it was shut as the next verse implies Luc. 13.24 25. He taught him not to believe according to thy reasonings that either he must be pulled in strive he never so much against it or else there was no admittance for him but all his strivings to enter would be lost labour to him Our Saviour calls all the ends of the earth to look up to him and be saved he being a just God and a Saviour that hath not said to the house of Israel and by consequence to no body else that they should seek his face in vain but he speaks in righteousness and declares right things Isa 45.19 21 22. whosoever comes to him he saith he will in no wise cast them out he coming down from heaven to do his Fathers will and that is that every one that seeth or beholds the Son and believes in him should have everlasting life Joh. 6.37 38 40. Ask therefore and thou shalt receive seek and thou shalt find knock and it shall be opened to thee for he saith not some only that are elected to it but every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeks finds and and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Mat 7.7 8. cease thy reasonings then and instead thereof Incline thine ear and come unto Christ hear and thy soul shall live Isa 55.2 3. Assure thy self God is no respecter of persons if thou hearing consent and obey thou shalt eat the good things of the promised inheritance but if thou persist in thy disobedience thou shalt be destroyed for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Isa 1.19 20. and let this suffice to those thy reasonings But 2. If thou adde and say some that believe the Doctrine I herein preach take liberty therefrom to sin and may as well as from the other principles for if Christ dyed for all then must all be eternally saved and having liberty to turn to Christ when they will given them through Christ they may be bold to sin still till they please to turn I say breifly 1. That men may and will take liberty too often to sin where none is given them many do abuse Gods goodness and truth to their own destruction and yet his truth and goodness are blameless therein for its usually by believing some lye which they adde to his truth and for which he will reprove them Prov. 30.6 and so thou here addest falshoods to his truth For 2. Neither do the Scriptures nor I nor any that hold closely to them teach thee that all that Christ dyed for must and shall therefore be saved eternally but on the contrary they say that some deny the Lord that bought them as thou dost while thâ—u deniest to believe in and live to him and bring upon themselves swift destruction 2 Pet. 2.1 and that those that Christ dyed for may stumble and turn from him and in so doing may be destroyed and perish Rom. 14.15 1 Cor. 8.11 and upon that account they warn believers to take heed of offending their weak brethren Christ having dyed for all that they that live might live to him will therefore adjudge to a terrible destruction such as refuse to live to him chusing to live to themselves and to their sins 2 Cor. 5.10 11 14 15. 3. Nor do they assert that any man that refuses to turn at Christs calls at the present have liberty given them by him to turn when they will every obstinate holding fast of sin and refusing to turn when he gives liberty in his calls by his grace without which and further than that effects it none have any liberty at all to any thing that is spiritually good forfeits the liberty given and God may should he be severe to take the forfeiture as sometimes he doth upon that account withdraw it and swear in his wrath that men not entring his rest when by his grace they might they shall not enter it afterward if they would Num. 14.22 23 40 41 42. and that making excuses when he calls them and they might come they shall not afterward taste of his Supper to which he call'd them Luc. 14.18 19 24. Every act of willful sinning hardens the heart and grieves Gods spirit and provokes him to depart and cease striving with or drawing a man and if God cease drawing no man can come to Christ without his drawing Therefore take heed of provoking him thereto by such thy murmurings Joh. 6.43 44. Yet a little while the light is with thee walk while thou hast the light least darkness come upon thee and then thou walk thou knowest not whither Joh. 12.35 no man hath power over the spirit either his own to live as long as he list or Gods that it shall work with him as long as he please close with him therefore while it s yet a day of salvation Eccles 8.8 2 Cor. 6.1 2. One thing more I have to warn thee of and I shall conclude namely that thou abuse not any passage in this following Treatise about Gods goodness to great sinners or suddain receiving or comforting any such upon their repentance either to