an Idoll an imaginary God to the losse of the true God The want of all things is as nothing in comparison of the want of Christ man that hath Christ hath great matter of rejoycing in the want of every other thing man that wants Christ hath great cause of humiliation in the presence of all worldly fullnesse And every man in his naturall estate is as empty of Christ as the foolish Virgins lampes were of Oyle or the tree which Christ cursed was of fruit even wholly and altogether without Christ Without the life of Christ Christ liveth not in them any more then the root doth live in a dead and withered branch Without the knowledge of Christ the mystery of Christ is a sealed Booke which they cannot open or a booke written in a strange language which they cannot reade the treasures of wisdome hidden in Christ are hidden from their understanding as the light of the Sunne is hidden from the eyes of the blind without the fruit of Christs death it doth not mortifie their lusts their old man is not crucified with Christ their lusts are not dead with Christ as the Philistines dyed with Sampson Without the benefit of Christs resurrection they are not planted into the likenesse of Christs resurrection they rise not from sinne and from the world as Christ rose from the grave Sampson rose at midnight and carried away the gates of Gaza but the Gazites were quiet all night they rose not Christ is risen and hath made an open way for us to passe from death to life but carnall men continue their sleepe and slumber in sin they rise not to newnesse of life and conversation they are without the fruit and benefit of Christs offices Christ is not to them a Prophet revealing Gods will and enlightning their understandings a Priest expiating their sinnes and reconciling them to God a King subduing Satan and their corruptions and reigning graciously within them and making them truly subject and obedient unto God They are without the apprehension of Christs beauties and taste of Christs sweetnesse Christ is to them like the Manna to Israel a light bread they see no beauty nor comlinesse in Christ he is no more to them then another Beloved then gold and silver the covetous mans beloved then honours and high places the ambitious mans beloved then idols and humane rites and ceremonies the superstitious mans beloved they are without the righteousnesse of Christ he doth not justifie them he doth not cloath them with the garments of salvation Without the presence of Christ as an empty house without the dweller Christ dwelleth not in their hearts by faith Without the love of Christ as a Harlot without the love of her husband without the dispensation of Christ he doth not communicate himselfe and his saving gifts unto them any more then the head communicates it selfe to the members which are dead Christ suspends his gracious influence from their soules There is not the least character or cognizance of Christ upon them they are without the power of Christ strengthening them without the holinesse of Christ sanctifying them without the fullnesse of Christ satisfying them and without the goodnesse of Christ sweetning their troubles and turning all for the best unto them and man thus being without Christ is matter and occasion of great abasement and humiliation to the soule of man man that is without Christ hath nothing whereof he may truly glory The want of all things is nothing to the want of Christ If Moses want a guide in the wildernesse Hobah may be instead of eyes to him if Noah have not where to rest his foot upon the Earth the Arke may beare him up in the waters If Hagar have no water in her bottle her eyes may be opened to see a well If there be no corne in the Land of Canaan Aegypt may supply them If the Gibeonites be besieged Joshua may rescue them If Peter be in prison the Angell may free him If the woman of Shunems sonne be dead the Prophet may raise him There is a supply in Christ Jesus for all mans necessities a helpe for all mans distresses a comfort for all mans sorrowes but if man want Christ there is none to quicken and restore him to the first resurrection there is none to free him from the bondage of Satan there is none to guide him in the way to Heaven there is none to replenish him with grace and sanctification there is none to rescue him from the spirituall enemies which doe besiege him In the absence of the Lord Jesus there is no redresse for soul-distresses no helpe against soul-discomforts the having of all things is as nothing if man have not Christ with them what if thou hast the stature and armour of Goliah yet without Christ thou wilt fall in the battell what if thou hast the favour and honour of Haman yet without Christ all this will availe thee nothing and at length shame will be thy portion what if thou hast the riches of him in the Parable yet not having Christ thou wilt eat the bread of sorrowes be in straights in the midst of thy sufficiency and at last the evill spirits will take thy soule from thee What if thou hast the wisdome of Achitophell yet not having Christ thy wisdome will be turned into foolishnesse and thou mayest faile of wisdome in thy head to restraine thy hands from being thine owne executioners What if thou hast all the Ordinances of God to feed thee all the Ministers of God to instruct thee all naturall and morall indowments and common illuminations to adorne thee and all Ecclesiasticall priviledges to honour thee and yet hast not Christ all these like Pharaohs Chariots without wheeles will suffer thee to sinke and perish in the red Sea of Gods vengeance the presence of all worldly abilities is very frivolous in Christs absence and man should never so abase and humble himselfe for the want of any thing as for the want of Christ and his communication of himselfe unto him all that can be said to demonstrate mans being miserable or to move man to humiliation is briefly comprehended in this that he is without Christ 3. Mans alienation from Christ in his naturall and corrupt estate doth discover and lay open the cause why Christ is of no more esteeme with the men of the world no more precious in the eyes of carnall men here is the ground of it they are without Christ they are strangers to Christ and Christ is a stranger unto them For this cause 1. They have no cleare and comfortable knowledge no true and gracious discerning of Christ Christ is hidden from them as light from the blinde He was in the world saith the Evangelist and the world was made by him and the world knew him not He was in the world by his great and mighty workes of Creation and Providence as a maker and a ruler by his universall presence
in himselfe but all his glory is in Christ the very whole of true Christians is from Christ Jesus Christ is both the fountaine filling and the life quickening them they cannot but acknowledge with Paul It is Christ lives in them In the words we have 1. A terme of opposition But 2. An Agent or Authour Christ he is the Author of this spirituall life 3. An Act liveth Christians live not the life of grace by themselves it is received from Christ 4. A Subâ—ect in me True believers are the only subject of spirituall life First of the terme of opposition but a word signifying an opposition of things in that sense in which things are opposed Labour not for the meat saith Christ which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life and again lay not up for your selves treasure on earth but lay up for your selves treasures in Heaven And so likewise it is the Apostles charge be not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is And be not drunke with wine wherein is excesse but be filled with the Spirit And thus the Apostle here I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me I live indeed but it is not of my selfe but from Christ it is not of nature but of grace Christ is the root of spirituall life in me It is plaine and manifest to the feeling and experience of Gods children that they have not the life of Grace and holinesse from themselves but from Christ Jesus they know that Christ is the authour and finisher of their salvation they know that Christ is in them Examine your selves proove your selves know yee not that Christ is in you except yee be reprobates saith the Apostle We know saith S. John that we are of God quickning regenerating enlightning and sanctifying us and we know that the sonne of God is come and hath given us an understanding to know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his sonne Jesus Christ this is the true God and eternall life they know that Christ is in them as a root enlivening them as a Sun illuminating them as a Refiners fire purging them The woman of Shunem knew that the Prophet had raised her dead son to life the children of God know that Christ hath raised their soules which were dead in sinnes and trespasses the blind man knew that whereas he was blind he did now see and that Christ had opened his eyes Gods children have experience of Christs opening the eyes of their understanding Naaman knew that Jordan had washed away the leprosie which clave unto him Gods servants know that they are washed sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God Gods children know that of themselves they are dead in sins and trespasses and that Christ is the authour of spirituall life unto them they know that of themselves they are empty of all spirituall good and that Christ is the fountaine filling them they know that in their naturall estate they are the slaves of Satan the bond-men of the world the servants of corruption and that Christ alone is the worker of their freedome the beginning and the end of their salvation The life of grace and holinesse is not of man but of Christ no child in the course of nature can beget it selfe but is begotten of another Parent no child of God in the way of grace is the authour of his owne regeneration and new birth but is begotten again by the resurrection of Jesus Christ the Spirit of God perswading them of the truth informing them in the virtue and applying to them the power and efficacy of Christs resurrection begetteth them againe unto a lively hope mans receiving of Christ is the receiving of spirituall life and new-birth As many saith the Evangelist as received him to them gave he power to become the sonnes of God which were borne not of blood not by the Nobility and dignity of their Parents according to the flesh nor of the will of the flesh not by the ability and strength of nature not by any activity liberty or freedome of their owne nor of the will of man not by the art or industry education or instruction of man but of God It is not in the power of man to regenerate man God useth man as his instrument but God himselfe accomplisheth the worke as a supreme and free agent when and where he pleaseth Man is an alien to the life of God and can no more raise himselfe to a spirituall life then Lazarus could raise himselfe to a naturall life Mans conversion is a new creation which is as farre beyond the power of man as the forming of himselfe of nothing All the instruments of spirituall life are dependant no more able to quicken the soule of man then Gehazi with his Masters staffe was able to raise the woman of Shunems sonne to life without Elisha himselfe the life of the soule is hidden in Christ and he that hath not Christ is farre from all spirituall life Such therefore as have no experience of Christs communicating the life of grace and holinesse unto them are none of Gods children their life is a naturall a worldly a carnall and not a spirituall a heavenly and holy life they live by a fleshly and not by a spirituall principle by a corrupt and humane and not by a divine and heavenly rule they live unto themselves and not to Christ they are of themselves and they incline and move to themselves as to their proper Center they confine themselves within themselves they can nor looke nor move beyond themselves That which is of the flesh of a fleshly originall compounded wholy of fleshly principles having no other then fleshly ingredients in it that is flesh discerning after a fleshly and carnall manner and not perceiving the things of God which are spiritually discerned savouring and relishing only things carnall and fleshly minding only that which is vaine corrupt and earthly walking by a fleshly rule the imagination of their owne hearts and proposing a fleshly end the satisfaction of their owne corrupt and sinfull lusts they are not of God as a childe is of his Parents they beare not on them the Image of God as a child doth beare the image of his Father they depend not upon God as a child depends upon his Parents they abide not with God as a child with his Parents they receive not Gods instruction as a childe receives his fathers instruction they love not God as a child his Parent they delight not in God as a child rejoyceth in his Parents the meditation of God is not sweet the thought of Gods presence is not pleasant to them they frequent not Gods house they make it not their dwelling and place of their delight as children doe their Fathers house He that is without Christ is without God
over us to be honourably entertained by us Saint Luke as of a Physitian sent to heale us as of a ransomer sent to free us and to restore spirituall liberty to us And Saint Paul saith plainly When the fulnesse of time was come God sent forth his sonne made of a woman made under the Law to redeeme them that were under the Law that we might receive the adoption of sons and in him dwelleth the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily and he filleth all in all And the authority calling preparation and fulnesse of Christs abilities to save us is very manifest 1. In regard of the power communicated unto Christ as Mediator All power both in heaven and in earth is given unto him power of vivification he quickneth whom he will as he raised Lazarus out of the grave power of illumination he openeth and no man shutteth as he opened the eyes of him that was borne blind power of sanctification he purgeth away all sinne as he cleansed the leprosie from the uncleane power of remission as Lord and King he forgiveth sinne he blotteth out sinne as the Sun the cloud power of pacification as he appeased the winds and waters power of administration as the high Steward of Gods family the supreme Pilot over the ship which is the Church of God as the great Centurion over the Lords army and chiefe Justice in Gods Kingdome power of subiugation casting downe and breaking in pieces all opposing forces as the stone out of the mountaines burst Nebuchadnezzars Image power of protection and sustentation in all troubles as Noahs Arke sustained him in the deluge and Christ safe guarded the three children in the fiery furnace The miraculous and mighty acts of Christs power are cleare and manifest declarations of his calling and commission and of his ability to minister salvation 2. In regard of Christs exaltationâ— He is exalted above all principalities he is exalted above all the common creatures as the Creator and workman above the worke as the Lord above his lowest servants he is exalted above all Angels as the Prince above the Nobles as the son above the attendants he is exalted above all devils as the Conquerour above the captives he is exalted above all the Saints of God as the head above the members as the King above the subjects as the bridegroome above the bride He is set at the right hand of God an exaltation whereof no meere creature is capable Christs Majesty dignity glory and exaltation doth even infinitely surpasse the dignity and honour of man and Angell He is made higher then the heavens others ascend into heaven have their dwelling in heaven but Christ is made higher then the heavens being God and man in one person having an exaltation above all Saints and Angels the inhabitants of heaven all that is in heaven and in the earth being put under him Christs sitting in his Fathers throne Christs exaltation above all creatures fully declared his ability to save his chosen from all evils 3. In regard of Christs impletion and filling of all He ascended farre above all heavens that he might fill all things Christ filleth all things with his power and common and generall operation as the Sunne fils all the earth with his influence with his absolute authority and dominion as a King fils his kingdome with his common gifts and mercies as the Master of the house fils all the persons of the house Christ filleth the Devils and damned men with his justice wrath vengeance but he filleth his Church and children with his ordinances as a teacher fils his schoole with books and rules of instruction as a nurse fils the childe with her breasts and the Master of the feast his guests with food these he filleth with knowledge as the Sun the aire with light with spirituall life sence and motion and all heavenly graces as the head the members as the root the branches as the Sun the starres sweet and comfortable excellent and gracious is that fulnesse which Christ ministers to his members and by his filling of his faithfull servants he verefies his Fathers mission and preparation of him to accomplish mans salvation 4. In regard of his proposing of his Fathers glory and referring all to his Fathers praise as the supreme and ultimate end of all his service and undertakings an ingenuous son preferres his fathers honour above his owne honour a good servant his Masters profit above his owne profit a loyall Embassador the Kings will message advantage and renowne above his owne will errant benefit or credit Christ as Mediator was both a sonne a servant and Gods great Embassador preferring his fathers will pleasure and praise above his owne I seeke not mine owne will faith Christ but the will of him that sent me and againe he sought not his owne glory but the glory of him that sent him and to the father Christ thus speakes of himselfe I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the worke which thou gavest me He glorified his father on earth by declaring his fathers will and counsell by making his father appeare glorious in the eyes of the people by ascribing all his miraculous and mighty works to his fathers power by fulfilling his Law by his obedience by satisfying his fathers justice by his sufferings by gathering home the soules of men to God his Father to know his Fathers will to adore his Fathers name to obey his Fathers precepts to beleeve his Fathers promises to love his Fathers truth to glorifie his â—athers name and every way to conforme themselves and their doings to his Fathers testimonies and by his full intendment and glorious accomplishment of his Fathers honour he compleatly demonstrated his ordination and preparation his comming in the name of his Father to be mans Saviour CHAP. XIII IN this with open face may all men behold and see Gods dispensation of salvation unto man by Christ his Sonne Christ is come in his Fathers name ordained prepared most absolutely and compleatly furnished to communicate salvation to the Lords chosen others come in the name of the Lord to procure and promote the salvation of man instrumentally ministerially subordinately dependantly but Christ is come in his fathers name to give salvation unto man absolutely and independantly by his owne power meritoriously by his owne worth and merit efficiently by the efficacions and mighty worke of his owne Spirit fully and everlastingly being able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him the Lord Jesus is the efficient and meritorious cause spring and fountaine of mans salvation There is no other name given under heaven wher by man can be saved but onely the name of Christ The name of the creature is a name of weaknesse emptinesse unworthinesse the name of mans righteousnesse is a name of many pollutions the name of mans worke and services is a name of debt and manifold
Stars in the night season communicate the fulnesse of the Sunne to the aire and inhabitants of the earth the Ministers as Starres in the right hand of Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse communicate to the soules of men the fulnesse of Christ Jesus in the night of this world we are all strangers to Christ Jesus without the Lords Ministers Christ is hidden from that people which enjoy not the ministery of the Gospell Gods Ministers by their labours communicate the knowledge of Christ as the Embassador communicates the knowledge of the King and of his mind God saith the Apostle who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined into our hearts to give the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus God is knowne in and through Christ as a man is knowne in and by his face We know an earthly Father in the face of his Sonne begotten by him we know God as a father of mercies only and through the face of Christ Jesus we see the face of man in a glasse in the Gospell in the labours of Gods Ministers we behold as in a glasse the face of Christ Jesus Christ is a storehouse in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisedome The Ministers have the ministeriall key of knowledge to open Christ unto the people Christ is a living fountaine a well of salvation a well sealed and shut up in the Scriptures Jacob rowled away the stone from the mouth of the well and gave Labans flocke water to drinke the Minister rowles away the stone removes the obscurity of the Scripture opens and interprets it and makes the people drinke of Christ the true and everliving fountaine the Ministers communicate the faith of Christ as Gods instruments the worke of faith in men the man of God by his prayer restored Jeroboams withered hand the Minister by his preaching and prayer restores the hand of faith in the heart of man formerly withered dryed up and of no use Faith commeth by hearing Who is Paul and who is Apollo but Ministers by whom ye beleeved even as the Lord gave to every man The Ministers communicate the life of Christ to men Christ by his corporall voice called Lazarus out of his grave by his Evangelicall voice by his word in the mouth of his Ministers he cals the soules of men out of the grave of sinne the dead in sinne heare the voice of the Sonne of God in the Gospell and they that heare live The ministery of the Gospell is the instrument of the soules vivification a meanes of Christs living in them that are Gods children the Ministers communicate the love of Christ Christ gives his love to the soule of man in the ministery of his word Isaac gave the pledges of his love to Rebeckah by Eleazar his father Abrahams servant Christ gives the pledges of his love to his Spouse the Church by the Ministers God his fathers servants by them he woeth and espouseth them unto himselfe and in the banquetting house of his ordinances his banner over them is love the Ministers communicate the peace of Christ the Embassador speaks words of peace from the King and communicates the Kings peace unto the people the Minister the Embassador of Christ the Prince of peace preacheth peace by Iesus Christ to the soules of men The Lord hath created ordained and appointed the fruit of his lips to be peace to them that are nigh and to them that are afar off Christ feeding the multitude corporally distributed bread unto them by his Disciples Christ feeding the soules of men spiritually with himselfe the true bread of life come downe from heaven communicates himselfe to men by the labours of his Ministers Abraham by the hands of his servants ministred jewels and bracelets to Rebeckah God by his Ministers communicates many spiritual and heavenly jewels even the whole treasury of Christ Jesus to his faithfull Church and servants whom he joynes in wedlocke with his sonne Manifold sweet and gracious are Gods dispensations of his Sonne by the labours of his Ministers Christ in and by the ministery of the Gospell is made very conspicuous and glorious in the eyes of the people very great is their blessednesse who have Christ communicated to them by the labours of Gods Ministers 2. In regard of the evils from which God delivers man by the labours of his Ministers God delivered the woman of Shunems sonne from bodily death by the ministery of the Prophet the Lord delivers the soule of man from spirituall death from being dead in sinnes by the labour of his Ministers the ministery of the Gospell is the instrumentall cause of the first resurrection the word is termed a word of life declaratively revealing life and operatively as an instrument working life God delivered Paul from his bodily blindnesse by the hands of Ananias he delivers man from spirituall blindnesse by the doctrine of his messengers by their instruction he opens their eyes and turnes them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God The Lord delivered Peter from Herods prison by the ministery of the Angell He delivers man from Satans prison and bondage by the worke of his Ministers by this as by a warlike weapon he casts downe the holds of sinne Satan fals like lightening from heaven and the soules of men partake of spirituall freedome as Goliah fell before David with a stone out of Davids sling so doth Satan before the Minister of the Lord with the word of God out of their mouth God delivered Naaman from his leprosie in Iordan and the impotent from their infirmities in Bethesda The Lord in and by the Gospell sanctifies the soules of his children this washeth away their uncleannesse this heales their infirmities this makes them new creatures Christ by his voice appeased the stormy tempest and gave a calme to his Disciples Christ by his Gospell appeaseth the tempestuous and perplexed consciences of his servants and brings them into a haven of spirituall peace and quietnesse He makes his Ministers as an Angell of God and one of a thousand to the afflicted soule comming like Noahs Dove with an Olive branch quieting him that is tossed upon the deluge of trouble turning his perplexity into peace his feare into confidence and his sorrow into sweet rejoycings God abundantly declares his dispensation of blessings by his Ministers through the removall of evils by their labours The Gospell is the choisest instrument averting evill foule and shamefull perplexing and mortall are the plagues and miseries resting upon them that neither enjoy nor regard the labours of Gods Ministers 3. In regard of the blessed state and condition whereinto God puts man by the labours of his Ministers The estate of man under the Gospell making a true use of the doctrines and instructions of Gods messengers is an estate of blessings The blessing
empty of God a stranger to God an enemy against God Christ is the Jacobs ladder by whom God cometh unto man and man ascendeth unto God God is knowne as a Father of love God is beleeved in as a king of mercies God is felt and tasted as the fountaine of grace and goodnesse only in and thorough Christ Jesus He that knowes not Christ working the life of grace and holines in him is under the death of sin and hath no cleare knowledge no comfortable remembrance no blessed taste and feeling no honourable and soul-ravishing apprehensions of God no delight in God no comfortable communion with God we discerne and apprehend God loving mercifull and gracious onely in and thorough Christ working in us the life of true holinesse mans thoughts of God are more or lesse joyous and delightfull according to the measure of Christs working within him CHAP. XIX THe second thing in these words is an agent or Author and that is Christ Christ liveth in his Saints he is the worker of this life the life of Gods children hath a very honourable originall it is not from a naturall but from a spirituall seed the life of nature is farre inferiour to the life of grace Life communicated by earthly Parents is an unworthy life in respect of that life which Christ doth minister unto us a life which goes not by generation but by regeneration a life communicable by no creature dispenced only by him who lives of himselfe and gives life to others at his pleasure according to S. Pauls open profession that Christ lived in him was the authour of the life of grace to him shewing us That Christ is the Authour of spirituall life to all Gods children he raised the body of Lazarus to a bodily life he rayseth our soules to a spirituall life he quickens whom he will he hath power to quicken all his will is to quicken only some when he was on earth he could have raysed all the dead to life yet he raysed but only a few thus now he hath power to quicken all men to a spirituall life but his will is to quicken only some such as God the Father hath chosen to salvation Christ saith S. John hath power over all flesh that he should give life to as many as God the Father hath given him all that partake of the life of grace derive and borrow the same from Christ who is the way leading the truth enlightning and the life quickning unto life everlasting and the Apostle saith our life is hid with Christ in God as the life of the branch is hid in the root and Christ is called our life by S. Paul and our life or the authour of spirituall life he is in us by way of Revelation he opens and shewes the way to life without Christ we are all in darknesse and the shadow of death and no man knows the Father but the Sonne and he to whom the Sonne will reveale him Our life he likewise is by way of meritorious impetration he hath purchased life for us Our life by way of originall the life of grace is originally in Christ and from him communicated unto us Our life by way of opeâ—ation he quickneth us by the powerfull worke of his Spirit And our life by way of conjunction he unites himselfe communicates himselfe and all his benefits to us as the Prophet applyed himselfe to the woman of Shunems sonne and raysed him to life And that Christ is the Authour of spirituall life to Gods children is apparent 1. By mans alienation and estrangement from the life of grace without Christ the branch without the root the body without the soule hath no life man without Christ is a withered branch a dead carcasse dead in sinnes and trespasses twice dead and plucked up by the roots and it is in Christs hand alone to quicken him Lord said Peter to our Saviour whither shall we goe thou hast the words of eternall life the word revealing promising and working life in all that are ordained unto life 2 By Christs ordination and appointment to minister all things to Gods chosen the fullnesse of light is dispenced to the ayre by the Sun fulnesse of water is dispenced by the Sea unto the earth the fulnesse of Aegypt was dispenced to the people by Joseph the fulnesse of God is dispenced to the soules of men by Christ Christ is the Sunne by whom they are enlightned the root by whom they are enlivened the Store-house by whom they are enriched the fountaine by whom they are replenished they are blessed with all spirituall blessings in Christ God convayes all in mercy unto man thorough Christ nothing proves a blessing unto man but what he hath by vertue of his conjunction with Christ there is no relation of love and peace betweene God and the soule of man but only in and through Christ Jacob and his sonnes found favour with Pharaoh only for Josephs sake Christ is the only Medium of mans favor and acceptance with God he alone is made of God to be wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption unto man God hath put the very whole of mans happinesse in Christ Jesus 3. By the insufficiency of any created power to minister the life of grace to man this is above the power of men and Angels the dispensation of life is peculiar to him that is Lord of life the industry of man is used indeed as an instrument of spirituall vivification but the efficacy is from Christ to this worke all created strength without Christ is like the strength of Aegypt in another case to set still the diseased woman in the Gospell spent all her substance upon the Physitians and yet there was no healing man may spend all his time and substance upon the creature and the creature may spend all its ability about man and yet when all is done without Christ there will be no spirituall quickning Am I a God said the King of Israel to Naaman to kill and to make alive that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosie Thus may the holiest Saint and most glorious Angell say Am I a God to kill and to make alive to kill sin and to enliven the soul that man should looke to me for spirituall vivification the sufficiency of the choysest creatures is a borrowed sufficiency derived from Christ and the efficacy and working thereof is wholy dependant upon Christ 4. By the dignity and excellency of spirituall life a life of that noblenes and eminency that none but Christ who is life it self can communicate it a seed which none but Christ can sow a tree which none but Christ the great Husbandman of the soule can plant the life of grace ariseth from a principle farre more noble then the life of nature Saul was head and shoulders above the residue of the people the life of grace is head and shoulders very high and farre above the life
of the flocke yeelding all their encrease to him that ownes them thus these men live to God bringing forth all their fruit and encrease to God Whether we live saith the Apostle we live unto the Lord or whether wee die we die unto the Lord whither we live therefore or die we are the Lords They live unto the Lord 1. Acknowledging themselves not to be their owne or under their owne power but to be Christs as his proper and peculiar people 2. By receiving all their direction from Christ and not walking after their owne imagination taking Christs word as the Israelites did the fiery pillar and the wise men the starre to conduct them in all their goings 3. By surrendring themselves up to Christ to doe his and nor their owne will as servants to doe the will of the Master with whom they are entred into covenant 4. By making Christ their refuge flying to him in their distresses as servants to their Masters 5. By minding Christ and intending his glory in all that they doe even to the very end of their life preferring Christs honour above their owne welfare being willing to abase themselves that they may exalt Christ and as they live to Christ so they dye to Christ acknowledging him to have the power of death in his hand submitting with patience to the decree of Christ touching both time and manner of their dissolution being willing to glorifie Christ by their death resigning themselves wholy into the hands of Christ when the houre of death comes upon them It is the earnest desire and unfained indeavour of all gracious persons both in life and death to make the name of Christ glorious looking beyond themselves to God and Christ Jesus in all their doings and sufferings As they are endowed with noble principles within in their inward man so they have honourable ends without in their externall worke as their life is originally from Christ so their motion is to Christ he is the prime object of their intendment as they have their use from him so they live unto him and this is the honour of the life of a Christian to live to Christ What is the honour of a wives life but to live to her husband and not to strangers What is the honour of a servants life but to live to his Master in the faithfull discharge of his office And what is the honour of a Christians life but to live to Christ and not to his owne corrupt affections doubtlesse every mans life is more or lesse honourable and glorious as hee lives more or lesse to God and the Lord Jesus And thus it appeares that their life in whom Christ lives is of the lives of all people the most excellent and honourable Their life is glorious in prosperity by walking humbly in the midst of their abundance in adversity by walking patiently in all their sufferings In temptation by walking beleevingly resting upon God with a firme and sure confidence In opposition by walking couragiously holding fast their profession of Christ Jesus In losses by walking joyfully knowing they have an abiding substance in Heaven In all estates and conditions by walking holily and circumspectly shining like the light more and more to the day of their perfection CHAP. XXIIII BUt if their life in whom Christ lives be of all lives the most honourable and glorious how cometh it to passe that such people as live this life are often in outward appearance of all others the most ignominious and dishonourable I answer it so comes to passe 1. By reason of the secrecy and spirituality of their life their life is a hidden life it is hid with Christ in God saith the Apostle as the life of the branch in the winter is hidden in the root and hath little appearance in the branch thus the glory of a Christians life is hidden in God the outward splendour and beauty thereof many times appeares not Beloved saith S. John now we are the sonnes of God we have now a very blessed and glorious life with God but it doth not yet appeare what we shall be but we know that when he shall appeare we shall be like him the flower hath a glorious life surpassing Salomon in all his royalty yet in the winter it is hidden under the Earth but when the vernall Sun appeares then the flower appeares in her beauty thus when Christ who is our life shall appeare then shall we appeare with him in glory though our life be now hidden in obscurity 2. This comes to passe thorough the ignorance of carnall men the blind man sees not the glory of the Sun the carnall man by reason of his spirituall blindnesse sees not the glory of a Christians life Christ had meat and drinke which the Disciples knew not the true Christian hath a life and in that life an honour and a glory which the carnall man discernes not The naturall man saith S. Paul receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned carnall men thorough their ignorance repute that the foulest shame of man which is indeed the choysest glory of man holinesse the speciall workmanship of the Spirit of God upon man the brightest starre shining in the firmament of mans soule the richest and most orient pearle in the Cabinet of mans heart is looked on and censured by corrupt and carnall man as the only disgrace and shame of man speaking evill as S. Peter saith of the things which they understand not 3. It so comes to passe thorough the disgrace and reproach which is cast upon them that live the life of grace holinesse hath ever beene cumbred with the foulest traducements Scandalous mouths have ever beene most shamefully open against such as have been most holy in their conversation the best men have ever had the worst report Christ surpassed all in holinesse as the Sunne the candle in brightnesse and who ever was equall to him in reproaches they said of him that he was a friend of Publicans and sinners that he had a Divell was madd and that by Belzebub the Prince of the Divels he cast out Divels and Christ fâ—re-told his Disciples that men should revile them and persecute them and say all manner of evill saying against them falsly for his sake It is not some but all manner of evill saying which is heaped upon Gods children the wayes and workers of godlinesse are lâ—aden with innumerable reproaches as the smoake out of the bottomlesse pit in the Revelation did darken the Sunne and the aire so doe the smoaky scandals of carnall men whose throate is an open Sepulcher obscure and darken the names persons and lives of Gods servants hee that departs from iniquity making himselfe a prey as the Prophet of old spake a prey to the thoughts of men secretly to censure him a prey to the hands of men to
and reverence by returning to your tongues a pure language that your speech may minister grace to the hearers by restraining your eyes from beholding vanitie by disposing your hands to worke that which is good and by making your feet swift to every good duty as you discerne your soule living in your humane body moving all the members to humane services so discerne Christ living in your bodily members disposing and framing them to religious duties Feele Christ living in all your services as the chiefe worker of them and inabler of you to them doing all in his name by his assistance and for his glory Feele Christ living in the Prayer which you make praying by the Spirit of Christ in the name of Christ and for the honour of Christ Feele Christ living in the Word which you heare making it an immortall seed to regenerate you a sacred Fire to purge you a heavenly Light to guide you and a message of peace to comfort you Feele Christ living in the Sacrament which you receive making it a Coelestiall Manna feeding you a Seale of Righteousnesse assuring you of your Justification an obligation binding you to new obedience and a pledge of Gods unchangeable love towards you All holy Ordinances if Christ live not in them shew not himselfe powerfull by them are but an empty shell without kernell and a dry breast without milke ministring no nourishment All the Religious Duties wee performe if Christ live not in them are but a Sacrifice without Fire a dead Carkasse of no esteeme with God Our affections if Christ live not in us are a charet without wheeles they sinke and fall unto the earth they cannot encline nor move towards the Lord All our best abilities if Christ live not in them are as standing Waters without a living Spring they putrifie and rot and prove unprofitable If Christ live not in us our knowledge is ignorance our wisedome foolishnesse our faith presumption our love dissimulation and our obedience no better then rebellion If Christ live not in us our understandings are blinded and wee cannot savingly know God our will is inthralled and wee cannot intend God our faith like Jeroboams arme is withered and wee cannot lay hold upon the promise of God The whole sufficiencie of a Christian is from Christs living in him Christs living in man makes him wise in discerning the things of God sincere in intending the glory of God powerfull in withstanding what doth oppose him in the wayes of God fruitfull in the worke of God meeke and humble in submitting to the hand of God faithfull in keeping the Covenant of God joyfull in hearing the Word of God fervent in invocation upon the Name of God patient in waiting for the Comforts of the Lord contented with the portion God giveth constant in running the race which God hath set before him and graciously perswaded of living the life of Glory for ever in Heaven * ⎠* MANS MISERY WITHOVT CHRIST OPENING The sinfull perplexed dishonourable and Soul destroying Condition of Man without CHRIST tending to the driving and drawing of every man out of himselfe unto CHRIST By Alexander Grosse B. D. Minister of the Gospell and Pastor of Bridford near Exon in Devon-shire Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God 2. Epist Ioh. ver 9. If ye beleeve not that I am he ye shall dye in your sins Ioh. 8.24 If any man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered and men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned LONDON Printed by G. M. for John Bartlet at the Signe of the Gilt Cup near Saint Austins Gate 1642. MANS MISERY WITHOVT CHRIST OPENED EPHES 2.12 At that time ye were without Christ being aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world CHAP. I. Shewing mans alienation from CHRIST misery without CHRIST and opening the scope of the words ADam after his eating the forbidden fruit was without the Garden of Eden disabled to come to the tree of life man feeding on the forbidden fruit of sinne is a stranger to the Paradise of all spirituall and heavenly comforts wholy excluded from the true tree of life Christ Jesus There is no sweet and gracious communion betweene the Lord Jesus and carnall persons The men of the old world were without the Arke and perished in the deluge of waters men who are in their old corrupt estate who have not put off that old man which is corrupt according to divers lusts are without Christ and shall certainly perish in the deluge of their impieties and the Lords vengeance the fruition of Christ is mans happinesse mans crowne and comfort alienation from Christ is mans misery mans shame and the soules great distraction and trouble of all estates on Earth mans naturall and corrupt condition is most wretched and miserable a condition of death without spirituall life of darknesse without divine and heavenly light of bondage without Christian freedome of uncleanenesse without sanctification of emptinesse without all celestiall fulnesse of alienation without all comfortable communion with Christ without all interest in Christ and his benefits without either claime or title to Gods Promise to Heaven or eternall happinesse an estate of exclusion from all holy and gracious society with Gods children an estate of profanenesse without God without the knowledge of God without faith in God without love to God and without zeale for God for at that time in that estate and condition We are without Christ being aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world The Apostle in these words declares and amplifies the miserable and wretched estate of man the uncomfortable and dishonourable condition of the soule of man without Christ without the knowledge of Christ without faith in Christ without incorporation into Christ without participation of Christ and his benefits And this misery and wretchednesse of man the Apostle doth open set forth and amplifie by a five-fold alienation 1. An alienation from Christ at that time yee were without Christ Christ was not preached to you Christ was not knowne of you Christ was not imbraced nor beleeved in by you this is the first alienation and the ground of all the rest Hee that is an alien to the Lord Iesus is a stranger to all things appertaining to life and happinesse mans interest in Christ gives him interest in God and in all good things of God there is no way for man to come to God and eternall happinesse but only by and thorough Christ Jesus the neglect of Christ is the lesse of all 2. An alienation from the Common-wealth of Israel from that forme of Religion and divine worship which God had prescribed to the Israelitish people they alone at that time having the oracles of God among them Very miserable
then all other deliverances a deliverance from Satan the worst of all Tyrants a deliverance from Hell of all prisons the most loathsome of all places of torment the most painefull a deliverance from sinne of all fetters the strongest of all burthens the heaviest of all spots the fowlest and of all diseases the most mortall and dangerous a deliverance from the curse of the Law of all condemning sentences the most terrible and full of soul-anguish a deliverance from death of all the Kings of terrour the most dreadfull all other deliverances are but slender shadowes and representations of this deliverance This is a deliverance restoring man to greater felicity then all the deliverances beside which God ever wrought for man a deliverance by which man is made a living member in Christs body a loyall Subiect in Christs Kingdome a spirituall Free-man of the new Ierusalem a childe of God by Adoption the Spouse of Christ by holy wedlocke a glorious Conquerour over all the enemies of his salvation and an heire to a heavenly and incorruptible Kingdome Mans deliverance out of the estate of corruption comprehends matter and cause of all joy and thanksgiving Looke therefore every gracious and sanctified soule upon this blessed worke of Gods power love and mercy and say with the Psalmist Blesse the Lord O my soule and all that is within me blesse his holy Name Blesse the Lord O my soule and forget not all his benefits who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse and tender mercies The woman of Shunom receiving her dead sonne restored unto life fell downe at the Prophets feet and bowed her selfe unto the ground Thus receiving thy soule that was dead in sinne restored to the life of grace fall thou downe at the feet of Christ adore and worship him laude and magnifie him prostitute thy selfe and all that is thine by way of gratitude under him The blinde man whose eyes Christ opened beleeved and worshipped him Christ having opened the eyes of thy understanding to know the hope of thy calling the riches of Christ inheritance and the exceeding greatnesse of his power towards thy soule beleeve thou in Christ embrace him cast thy selfe on him have thy whole dependance upon him and worship him by an honourable apprehension of his perfections a sincere and fervent love unto his person a humble submission to his precepts and thankfull celebration of his great and glorious Name for all his mercies The lame mans feet and ankle bones receiving strength he leaped up stood and walked and entred into the Temple walking leaping and praising God Christ having healed thy affections having strengthened thee with all spirituall might rise up from the earth walke in the wayes of holinesse enter into the Temple attend Christ in his Ordinances let thy soule rejoyce in Christ and praise him for thy spirituall abilities Naaman being cleansed from his leprosie returned unto the Prophet and intreated him to take a blessing from him Christ having cleansed thee from the leprosie of thy sinne returne to Christ and render to him the blessing of spirituall and hearty thanksgiving The woman in the Gospell who had a spirit of infirmity bowing her downe being made straight glorified God Christ having raised and rectified thy heart which was altogether bowed downe to the world and the things here below Christ having inabled thee to looke up to seeke the things which are above to mind God to love his truth to hunger and thirst after the gifts and graces of his Spirit glorifie Christ for this his gracious worke The Israelites seeing the Egyptians drowned and themselves delivered from their servitude sang and triumphed Man seeing his sinnes drowned in the teares of godly sorrow and buried in the grave of Christ his soule set free by Christ from the servitude of Satan the world and his owne corruption should sing and triumph in Christ and say the Lord hath triumphed gloriously the horse and the rider Satan and my corruption hath he throwne downe together The Lord having of barren made Hanna fruitfull she said my heart reioyceth in the Lord my horne is exalted in the Lord my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies because I reioyce in thy salvation Christ having opened our hearts and of barren made our soules fruitfull in all heavenly graces our hearts should rejoyce in Christ our mouthes should be enlarged with his praises and our soules should rejoyce in that salvation which Christ hath brought unto us Man hath not greater cause of thanksgiving for any thing then for his Sanctification this worke of Christ makes him a living man puts such a life into him that the second death shall never have power over him This makes him an honourable man one of the royall seed a King and Priest to God This makes him a beautifull and comely man as the Lilly among the thornes as the Sunne Moone and Morning among the clouds This makes him a victorious man a superabundant conquerour over all temptations and afflictions This makes him a rich man the least mite of this grace is better then all the abundance of the earth as the gleanings of Ephraim were better then the vintage of Abiezer This makes him a ioyfull man regeneration is the matter and ground of the soules fullest surest and sweetest rejoycing The Kingdome of God the worke of grace the spirituall reigne of Christ in the heart is righteousnesse peace and ioy in the Holy-Ghost Therfore praise Christ for this above all his favours as Theodosius gave God greater thanks that he had made him a member of the Church then head of the Empire warme thy heart therefore with the frequent and serious thoughts of this worke of Christ and praise him for this as for the brightest Starre shining in the Firmament of thy soule as for the most rich and orient pearle in the store-house of thy heart as for the most beautifull and comely slower adorning the garden of thy inner-man O praise him for this as for the sweetest freedome the noblest crowne the choisest workmanship and liveliest evidence of his love communicable to the soule of man As this is the best and most soule-reviving influence of Christ into the heart of man so for this pursue and follow Christ Jesus with free and frequent cordiall and joyous gracious and everlasting praises for without this we are strangers to Christ to the number of his faithfull servants to all the Prerogatives and priviledges which God ministers to his children even aliens to the common-wealth of Israel CHAP. VIII Shewing how all Gods people are but one THe second Alienation expressing the misery of men in their corrupt and carnall estate an Alienation from the Common-wealth of Israel Israel were once the peculiar people of God set apart by a holy Covenant unto God to be his people above all the people of the
and his owne lusts as the Israelites knew Joshuah vanquishing and treading upon the necks of the Kings of Canaan he knowes not Christ sanctifying and cleansing his soule as Naaman knew Jordan washing his leprosie from him he knowes not Christ ministring the fulnesse of God unto him as the people of Egypt knew Joseph ministring to them and supplying their wants Carnall man is very ignorant of Christ far from sweet acquaintance with him and comfortable experience of his soule-saving ministrations There is a way of spirituall poverty and self-denyall wherein a man walks humbly with his God ceasing from himselfe from his owne wisedome will reason purpose and affection abased below the dust in the apprehension of his owne uncleannesse emptinesse and unworthinesse renouncing himselfe his owne gifts abilities and performances going cleane out of himselfe unto Christ labouring to be found in Christ and not in himselfe making Christ all in all unto him seeking his whole salvation from Christ and prostrating himselfe with all that is his under Christ this is a way in which the carnall man treads not he is still full of himselfe he dreames of a self-sufficiency at home and looks not beyond himselfe he stayes in his legall righteousnesse and is shamefully guilty of self-love and self-seeking There is a way of new obedience and true holinesse in which the carnall man walks not he wanders like an erring traveller from this path and stumbles like the blinde their feet saith the Prophet run to evill and they make haste to shed innocent bloud their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity wasting and destruction are in their paths the way of peace they know not and there is no iudgement in their goings they have made them crooked paths whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace He that runs not the race hath no hope to obtaine the prize he that fights not the battell hath no hope to win the crowne he that sowes not his field hath no hope to reape it he that runs not the race of Gods Commandements he that fights not Gods battels hath no hope to win the prize which is eternall life nor yet to weare the crowne of glory He that sowes to the Spirit doth of the Spirit reape life everlasting but he that sowes to the flesh doth of the flesh reap destruction CHAP. XIX Shewing the vanity of prophane Mans hope of salvation THe carnall mans estrangement from the hope of salvation discovers and layes open the vanity and deceitfulnesse of prophane mens hopes of having life and glory by Christ Though they have no true and saving faith in Christ though they have no experience of the espousall of their souls to Christ though they have no fervent and unfained love to Christ no evidence of Christs living in them no knowledge of Christs holy and gracious working upon them no fence of Christs love to them yet they hope Christ will save them Haman hearing that King Ahasuerus had a purpose to honour some man concluded presently that himselfe must be the man whom the King delighted to honour though the issue crost his expectation Carnall man hearing of Gods mercy Christs merits and the Lords purpose to exalt and honour man presently feeds and fils himselfe with hopes that he shall be the man presumes that God will honour him though in the end he meets with Hamans portion a gallowes in hell instead of a crowne in Heaven As the foolish man in the Parable built his house upon the sand so doe all the carnall men in the world build their hopes of salvation upon some sandy and rotten foundation which at length sinks and suffers them to fall shamefully fearefully finally as the house did which was built upon the sand Now if you aske what those false and deceitfull props and pillars are upon which carnall men usually build their hopes I answer 1. Some build their hopes upon superstitious observations they receive for Doctrines the commandements of men the traditions of their superiours and predecessors In the observation of these they are very full and frequent very precise and punctuall and hereupon they promise themselves salvation Thus Paul before his conversion after the strictest sect of their Religion lived a Pharisee and was very zealous and thought himselfe alive when he was dead perswaded himselfe he was in the state of grace when he was in the state of damnation a childe of God when he was one of Satans brood a friend of God when he was an adversary of the Lord a pillar when he was a destroyer of the Church The observers of humane Doctrines are very full of miserable blindnesse possest with an overweaning opinion of the goodnesse of their condition shamefully mistaking their estate perswading themselves that that doth much endeare them and highly commend them unto God which makes them a very abomination before the Lord. 2. Some build their hopes upon a formall profession of Christ and Christian Religion Micah had great hopes that God would blesse him because he had gotten a Levite to his Priest though he continued an idolater Many men promise themselves great peace and glory because they have the Gospell heare the Word receive the Sacrament are called after the name of Christ though they live in all prophanenesse The foolish Virgins were very secure and promised much unto themselves from their lamps though they were empty lamps Many a vaine and foolish man is secure and consident of his salvation by reason of his profession though an empty one though he be an empty vine bringing forth all his fruit to himselfe doing all for himselfe and nothing for God and Christ professing as the Apostle saith that they know God being the meane while disobedient and reprobate to every good worke This is the common foundation on which all carnall Protestants build their hopes like the Pharisees boasting that they were the children of Abraham though they did the works of the Devill being like the Locusts in the Revelation which had outwardly the face of a man and the haire of a woman but within the teeth of a Lyon and behinde the tayle of a Scorpion Thus these men have outwardly the name of Christians a profession of Christ but as savage and indomitable as the Lyon as full of all sinne as the Scorpion of venome and what a fond thing is it for a man to build his hopes upon an empty profession Will a husband delight himselfe in his wife because she professeth him to be her husband living the while in adultery with strangers Will the King honour a man for professing him to be his King not ceasing to plot treason and act rebellion against him Is there any hope that Christ will take pleasure in a man or honour him because he cals him Husband Lord and King in the meane space committing fornication with the world plotting spirituall treason and acting open rebellion against him Surely such men
Note 4. The Lord Jesus ought to be the prime and compleate Obiect of mans ioyfulnesse ib. Note 5. Blessed is that person that knoweth the way and manner of Christs spirituall and gracious comming p. 6. CHAP. II. Declaring the ioyfull receiving of Christ p. 6. Doct. Christ comming in his Gospell and spirituall Kingdome ought to be received with much thanksgiving and reioycing ib. 5. Grounds hereof p. 9. 1. Cleare and comfortable Revelation of God in Christ 2. Spirituall Liberty by Christs comming 3. Heavenly Victory 4. Spirituall peace 5. Soule-refreshing Communion with God obtained by Christs comming p. 9 10 11 12 13 14. CHAP. III. Relating their miserable Condition to whom Christ is unwelcome p. 15. 5. Grounds of Christs unwelcomnesse 1. Ignorance 2 Earthly mindednesse 3. Vnsensiblenesse 4. Contrariety to Christ 5. Infidelity p. 18 19 20. CHAP. IV. Perswading to a ioyfull entertainment of Christ p. 22. Manner how Christ must be entertained 1. Spiritually 2. Speedily 3. Cordially 4 Cheerfully 5. Humbly 6. Chiefly 7. Fully 8. perpetually p. 24 25 26 27 28 29 30. CHAP. V. Prescribing meanes disposing and inabling man to receive Christ ioyfully p. 31. The meanes 1. Full deposition of what is contrary to Christ as sin the world our selfe 2. Holy preparation to heare Christ in the Gospell 3. Gracious interest in Christ 4. Cleare discernement of Christs worth 5. Holy making use of Christ in the Gospell 6. Heavenly sence and experience of Christs worke upon our soules p. 34 to 39. CHAP. VI. Inducements to a ioyfull entertainment of Christ p. 39 6. Inducements 1. The Condition of the Creature without Christ being empty uncomfortable inthralling and polluting 2. A through view of mans estate without Christ 3. The terrible apprehension of God without Christ 4. Frustration of all Gods Ordinances Christ not entertained 5. Excellency and utility of Christ received giving life light health honour riches prosperity sweetnesse comfort satisfaction and abiding substance 6. Fastening thoughts on brevity of life p. 39. to 51. CHAP. VII Manifestations of Christs welcome p. 52. Christs welcome manifested 1. By opening the heart to him 2. By garnishing the heart for him 3. By offering our selves to Christ 4. By exalting Christ 5. By faith and love to Christ conformity with Christ and acquiescence in Christ p. 52 53. Want of ioyfull receiving of Christ shewes want 1. of knowledge 2. Of Love 3. Of Faith 4. Of prizing Christ 5. Of relishing Christ p. 54 55 56. Joy in Christs comming perswaded p. 57. CHAP. VIII The necessity and excellency of advancing Christs Gospel and Kingdome is demonstrated p. 58. Doct. It is the duty of all people unfainedly to desire and earnestly to endeavour the welfare promotion and advancement of Christ his spirituall Kingdome and Gospell ib. 5. Grounds hereof 1. The Covenant between Man and Christ 2. The Relationâ— 3. Christs interest in Man 4. The Subversion of Satan 5. The glory and crowne of the Church p. 62 63 64 65 66 67. CHAP. IX The impiety of three sorts of men is opened p. 68. 1. Non reâ—arders of the welfare of the Gospell 2. Opposers of the Gospell 3. Grievers at the prosperity of the Gospell p. 68 69 70. Grounds of not regarding the welfare of the Gospell p. 69. Grounds of opposing the Gospell p. 70 71. CHAP. X. The setting up of Christs Kingdome and Gospell is perswaded p. 72. Parties by whom Christs Kingdome and Gospell is to be exalted Magistrates Ministers Masters of families private persons p. 73 74. Inducements to the exaltation of Christs Kingdome and Gospell 1. The honour of a Christian 2. Love to Christ 3. The perill of not endeavouring the welfare of Christs Gospel 4 Christs withholding of nothing which makes for the exaltation of man 5. The blessing which attends the exaltation of the Gospell CHAP. XI Proposing meanes to frame and worke the heart of man to advance Christ and his Gospell p. 79. 4. Meanes hereof 1. Distaste of sin 2. Holy feare 3. Sence of the necessity of Christ 4. Inabling and raising the heart to a spirituall temper p. 80 81 82 83. CHAP. XII Christs being furnished with authority and ability to minister salvation is handled p. 84. Doct. Christ is furnished with authority and all divine abilities to minister all peace and salvation to Gods servants p. 85. 4. Grounds hereof 1. Christs power 2. Christs exaltation above all 3. Christs repletion of all 4. Christs proposing his Fathers glory p. 88 89 90. CHAP. XIII The dispensation of salvation by Christ is shewed p. 91. 4. Evils of leaving Christ and betaking our selves to humane traditions 1. A derogation from Christs authority 2. Self-exaltation and Presumption 3. Disparagement of Christs wisedome 4. Perill of the soule p. 93. 94. Christs authority and ability presseth to 4. Duties 1 Subiection 2. Dependence 3. Love 4. Acquiescence in Christ p. 95 96 97 98. CHAP. XIV Gods dispensing of blessings by his Ministers is fully evidenced p. 99. Note Holy and saithfull Ministers are the instrumentall Causes of great blessings to Gods Church and servants p. 99. Note It must be the care of Ministers so to demeane themselves in their function that they prove a blessing to the people p 100. Note The labours of Gods Ministers prove a blessing onely to such people as rejoyce in and endeavour the advancement of the Gospell ib. Doct. God by his holy and faithfull Ministers dispenseth very great sweet and heavenly blessings to his Church and servants ib. 3. Grounds hereof 1. Gods communication of Christ to the soules of men by the labours of his Ministers 2. The evils from which God delivers man by the labours of his Ministers 3. The blessed estate whereinto God puts man by the Labours of his Ministers p. 104. 6. Communications of Christ by the Labours of Gods Ministers 1. The Knowledge of Christ 2. The Faith of Christ 3. The Life of Christ. 4. The Love of Christ 5. The Peace of Christ 6. The whole treasury of Christ p. 104 105. Deliverance from 5. evils dispensed by Gods Ministers 1. From spirituall death 2. From blindnesse 3. From bondage 4. From uncleannesse 5. From soule-tortures p. 106. Man put into a condition of 6. Excellencies by the industry of Gods Ministers 1. Of Wisedome 2. Of Sanctification 3. Of Freedome 4. Of Exaltation 5. Of Satisfaction 6. Of Duration p. 107 108. CHAP. XV. Opening mans unhappines not enioying Gods Ministers p. 109. Mans estate without the Gospell an estate 1. Of Death 2. Of Darknesse 3. Of Servitude 4 Of Emptinesse 5. Of Vncleannesse 6. Of Sorrowes p. 110 111. The folly of Estrangement from the Gospell with the grounds and evils of it p. 112. Cure of Non-estrangement from the Gospell urged Evils of Estrangement opened p. 113 114 113. Gospell not to be â—leighted worthy of full and honourable embracement p. 115. A TABLE of the chiefe things contained in this Treatise on Galathians CHAPTER 2. VERSE 20. CHAP. I. Illustrating the state of man by
Christ worth i Isa 53.1 2. k Cant. 5. l Mat. 8. 5. Holy making use of Christ 6. Experience of Christs saving worth m Cant. 1.4 Inducements to entertaine Christ joyfully 1 Condition of creature 1. Empty n Gen 41.20 21 2. Uncomfortable o Exod. 15.25 p Ioh. 20.22 q Ecel 5.12 r Psal 127.2 Å¿ 1 Tim. 6.9 10 3. Enthralling Gloria regnoruÌ„ splendida servitus est Antigonus Rex Macedonum Iust 16. u Mat. 6.24 w Rom. 16.18 4. Polluting Gen. 34 2. Laâ—ro spiritualium honorum Basil x 1 Tim 6 10. y Isa 59.7 Psal 10.6 Fallax suavitas infructuosus labor perpetuus timor periculosa sublimitas initium sine providentia finis cum paenitentia Aug. 2 Throgh view of mans estate without Christ 2 Cor 1.20 Rev. 3 17. z Isa 20.4 a Isa 57.20 Mans apprehension of God without Christ terrible b Rev. 6.16 4. Frustration of Gods Ordinances not entertaining Christ c 2 Sam. 3.17 d 2 Cor. 11 2. e Gen. 42. f Hag. 1.6 5. Excellency of receiving Christ Christ received giveth 1. Life g Phil. 2.16 h 1 Ioh. 5.11 1â— Isa 9.3 2 Light 3 Health i Mal. 4.2 k 1 Ioh. 5.5 4. Honour l Ioh. 1.1 5. Riches m Eph. 3.8 6. Prosperity Ioh. 3.2 n Gen. â—9 2 7. Sweetnesse Exod. 15.25 8. Comfort o Isa 25.6 p Heb. 6.15 2. Thes 2.16 9. Satisfaction 10. Abiding substance q Isa 9.6 r Hos 2.19 Å¿ Ioh. 13.1 Rom. 11.19 Ioh. 3.9 Ioh. 4.14 6. Fastening thoughts upon brevity of life u Exod 9.19 Christs welcoÌ„e manifested w Psa 24.7 By opening and elevating the heart x Mat. 9.24 2. By garnishing the heart y Exod 26.36 37. 3. By offering our selves to Christ z Mat. 2.10 11. a Rom. 12.1 4. By exalting Christ b 1 Sam. 16 1â— 5 By Love Faith conformity and acquiescence Want of joyful receiving Christ shewes 1 Want of knowledge o Prov. 2.10 2. Want of Love d Psal 122.1 e Psal 71.23 f Psal 42.4 g Psal 119.14 h Iudg. 16.15 3. Want of fâ—ith 4 Want of pricing Christ 5. Want of relishing Christ k Gen. 27.4 l Cant. 1.3 m Mar. 14.3 Ioh. 12.3 Ioy in Christs comming perswaded n 2 Sam 16.17 Welfare and exaltation of Christ and his kingdome desired Doct. o 2 Saâ— 6.15 p 1 King 6. q Psal 72 9. r Rev 4.10 Å¿ Isa 60.5 t Mat. 6.10 u 2 Thess 3.1 w Psal 45.3 x Psal 122.9 1. Grounds of this truth 1. Covenant y Mat 28.19 z Ier. 37.39 a 2 Sam. 3. 2. Relation b 1 Sam. 11.12 c 2 Sam. 18.3 d 2 Sam. 15.15 3. Christs interest in us e 1 King 20.3 4 f Isa 43.1 g Deut. 32 9. h Ioh. 17.7 i Rev. 19.8 k 1 Chr. 12.8 l 1 Cor. 6.20 2 Cor. 5.15 4. Subversion of Satan m Luk. 10.18 n Act. 26.18 Acts â— o Rev. 16.20 p Rev. 12.8 q Ioh. 12 3â— r 1 Sam. 4.23 Å¿ Psal 26 8. t Isa 11.10 u Isa 60.7 15. Impiety of three sorts opened 1. Non-regarders of welfare of Gospell w Iob 39.6 7 8. x Psal 24.4 y Psal 23.2 z Psal 41.4 a Isa 5.12 Grounds of this evill b 1 Kin. 18.27 c Mat. 12.30 d Rev. â— 16 2. Opposers of Gospell 2 Sam. 3.1 d Luk. 19.14 e Psal 2.2 Grounds of opposing the Gospell f 1 Sam. 18.29 19.1 g Act. 19 24. h Mat. 2. 3 Grievers at prosperity of the Gospell i Neh. 2.10 k Psal 112.10 l Hâ—st 5 13. m 1 Sam. 5.4.5 n Act. 4.1.2 o Rev. 10.10 Admonition to set up Christs Kingdome and Gospell p 1 King 1.44 45 46 47. Magistrates q Psal 82.1 r Isa 44 28. Å¿ Isa 49.23 t Psal 49 7. u Psal 1.12 Ministers Masters of Families Private persons w Mic. 4 1. Isa 60. x Eph. 1 23. Inducements to exalt Christ 1 Honour of a Christian 2. Love to Christ 3. Perill of not endeavouring welfare of Christs Gospel y Prov. 18.9 z Iud 5.23 4. Christ withholding nothing to exalt man a 2 Cor. 8 9. b Phil. 2 7. Nil debemus Christo preponere quia nec nobli ille quicquam praeposuit 2 King 4.13 c Eph. 5 1. d Rom. 12.1 e Psal 22.6 f Eph. 1. 5. Blessing attends the exaltation of the Gospell g 2 Sam. 6.11 h Luk 10.23 i Psal 33.11 k 1 Sam. 6.12 Meanes disposing man to advance the Gospell 1 Distaste of Sin 1 Sam. 5. l Mar. 6. m 2 Sam 3.8 10 2. Holy feare n Hest 9.5 w Psal 2.11 12. x Ier. 32.40 y Act. 2.43 3. Feeling of the necessity of Christ z Iudg. 11.11 Mar 5. 4 Elevation of the heart to a spirituall temper a Ier. 22. b Luk. 15. c Dan 2. d Mal. 3. e Ezra 1.5 f Ioh. 11. g Ezek. 1. h 1 Sam. 10.24 i 2 Cor. 5.17 18 Rom. 12.2 k Heb. 5.4 Christ commeth in the name of the Lord in 6. respects 1. Ordination l 1 Pet. 1.20 Rev. 13.8 2. Preparation m Col. 1.19 Ioh. 3.34 3. Calling n Isa 49.1 o Mat 3 17. 4. Doctrine p Ioh. 5 43. q Ioh. 12.49 50. 5. Benediction r Act. 3.25 26. Eph 1.3 6 End Å¿ Ioh. 8 50 54. Doct. t Gen. 37.13 Mat. 9 15. u Zach. 14 9. w Psal 2 6. x Col. 2 3. y Ioh 10. z Heb. 2 14. a Psal 72. b Isa 42 6. c Isa 6â— 1 d Isa 42. â— e Mal. 3.1 f Isa 28 16. g Ier 30.21 h Zach. 13.1 i Mal. 4.3 k Mat. 15. â—4 Mar. 9 37. Luk. 4.18 43. l Gal. 4.4 5. Col. 2.9 4. Grounds of Christs authority and ability to minister salvation 1. Power 2. Exaltation m Eph. 4.21 n Heb 1.3 o Heb. 7 1â— 3 Impletion p Eph. 4.10 4. Proposing Gods glory q Ioh. 5.30 Ioh. 7.18 r Ioh. 17.4 Salvation dispensed by Christ Å¿ Heb. 7.25 t Mat. 4.12 Danger of stepping our from Christ to humane traditions Evils hereof 1. Derogatory to Christs Authority 2. Argues great pride and presumption 3. Dispaâ—agement of Christs wisedome 4 Perillous to the soule u Isa 8.20 w 1 Cor. 10.10 21. x Deut 31.21 22. Christs Authority and ability pressing to â— duties 1. Of SubjectioÌ„ Properties of Subjection 1. Spirituall 2. Filiall y Luk. 1.74 75 3 Universall 4 Speedy z Psal 119 60. a 2 Sam. 18. 5. Free 6. Steadfast 2. Of Dependance b Isa 50.10 c Isa 32.2 3. Of Love 4. Of Acquiescence and contentation Note Note Note Note Doct. d Gen 39.5 c Isa 19.19 f Iudg. 17.13 g 1 Kin. 10.8 h Psal 65. â— l Isa 30.19 GrouÌ„ds hereof 6. Communication of Christ by Gods Ministers 1. Knowledge of Christ k 2 Cor. 4.6 l 2 Cor. 3.18 m Col. 2.3 2. Faith of Christ n 1 King 13. o Rom. 10.17 1 Cor. 3. 3. Life of Christ p Ioh. 11.44 q Ioh. 5.25 4. Love of Christ r Cant. 7.12 Å¿ 2 Cor. 11.3 t 2 Cant. 2 4. 5. Peace of Christ Isa 9 6. u Act. 10 30. 6. Whole
to give themselves over to lasciviousnesse h Rev. 7.1 i Rev. 12 4. Their pride opened who dreame of ability in themselves to restore themselves to spirituall life Mans nâ—bility to this worke opened 1. No principle of grace left Rom. 7.18 Col. 2.12 2. Vtter blindnesse Luke 19 41. Isa 5.21 3. Declination of meanes Psal 58.5 4. Enmity against the ministery Rom. 8.7 Iohn 3.19 Gal. 4.16 5. Sweenesse of sin Iob 20.12 6. Grace and holinesse dishonourable in their eye Iob 21 14. Comming unto Christ for spirituall life perswaded being as dead me without Christ 1 For Ignorance Eccl 9.5 Isa 59 10. 2. Vnsensiblenesse Eph 4.19 3. Weaknesse 4. Vncomfortablenesse 5. Exclusion from Christ 6. Growing worse Mans best works without Christ are dead works 1 They proceed not from a Principle of spirituall life 2 Morall not spirituall formall not powerfull 4. Services tending to base ends The glory of spirituall life due to Christ Isa 9.6 l Eph. 2.10 m Acts 12 7. n Iohn 1.9 Iohn 9. o Mal. 3.3 p Isa 49.9 Isa 61.1 2. q Iohn 1.16 2 Cor. 5.19 r Eph. 1 6. Å¿ Col. 1.11 t 1 Cor. 15.45 Doct. u Ezek. 1.20 w 2 King 4.34 x 1 Iohn 5.12 y 1 Iohn 5.11 z Iohn 1.4 a Iohn 14.6 b Col. 3.4 c Iohn 10.10 d 1 Iohn 5.20 Grounds of Christ living in us 1. By way of Originall e Iohn 15.1 f 1 Cor. 15.45 2 By way of Conjunction g Rom. 11.24 h Iohn 15.5 1 Pet 2.5 3 By way of influence i Mâ—l 4.2 k Phil. 3.10 l Rom. 6.4 m Eph. 1.19 4. By way of Gubernation n Luke 17.21 o Psal 40.8 p Psal 110.3 5. By way of preservation q Iohn 17.12 r 1 Pet 5.10 Christ living in man described Å¿ Rom. 6.11 t Rom. 6.8 u Rom. 6.4 w Rom. 14.8 Manner of Christs living in Man 1. By awakening Man x Acts 12.7 y 2 King 6.20 z Rom. 7.9 a Eph. 5.14 2. By humbling Man b Rom. 6. c Acts 9. d Acts 2.37 e Isa 30.22 f Iob 20.15 2 Sam. 13.15 3 By putting a restlesnesse into the heart of Man g Psal 4â— 1 h Psal 62.8 i Mar. 5. 4. By a Revelation of Christ in Man k Gal. 1.15 l 2 Cor. 4.6 5. By changing Man m â— Thes 1.5 n Iud. 14. o Iohn 5. Vse A Christians life the most noble life p Eph. 4.18 q 2 Pet. 1.4 Christian life honourable 1. Originall r Ioh. 6.63 Å¿ Ioh 4.14 2. Nature t Rom. 6.4 u Ezek. 11.19 w 2 Cor. 5.17 3. Rarity x Ier. 3.14 y Rev. 3.1 4. Pleasantnes 5. Exaltation 6. Lownesse of mans estate without this life z Pro. 23.5 Phil. 3.8 a Numb 14.24 Heb. 1â— b Dan 3. 7. Honourable walking Gal. 5.25 d Mat. 6.24 e Rom. 16. f Ioh. 8.44 g Rom. 14.8 Living to God what Causes of the obscurity of holy life opened h Col. 3. i 1 Ioh. 3.1 2. Mat. 6. 2. Ignorance k 1 Cor. 2.14 l 2 Pet. 2.12 3. Reproach m Man 12. n Mat. 5. o Rev. 9. 4 Corruption remaining p 2 Cor. 1â— q Iam. 1.26 Mis-judging r 2 Sam. 10. 1 Sam. 17.28 6 Base out-side 1 Cor. 1. 2. Life of Gods children a cheerfull life Luk. 2.10 1 Sam. 4 5. Acts 8.8 Where Christ lives is joy of 1. Life Luk. 15. 2. Light Mat. 2.10 3 Liberty Iohn 11.44 Exod. 15. 4. Victory 5. RegeneratioÌ„ 6. Riches Luke 15. 7. Peace Grounds or cause of sorrow in Gods children 1. Remaining corruption 2. Aberrations Psal 51. 3. Satans assaults 4. Impieties of others 2 Pet. 2.8 Ps 119.136 Ezek. 9.4 5 Foresight of future calamities Prov. 2â— 3 Psal 57. â— 1 King 18.43 44. Hâ—b 3.18 6. Sence of Churches misery Mat. 27. Amos 6. Amos 6. Heb. 13. 1. Purity Ier. 31.33 Rom. 6.11 2. Invinciblenes 1 Iohn 4.4 1 Iohn 5.18 Rom. 8.37 3. Preservation from sinne and the world Rom. 6. Gal. 5. 1 Cor. 6. 4 Expulsion of what is contrary to Christ 5 ImbracemeÌ„t of what suites with Christ 6 Thriving by ordinances 2 Tim. 3.7 2 Pet. 3 18. Rom 15.14 7 Sweetnesse of Christ to soule Cant. 2.3 Cant 5.16 Cant. 5.13 8. Heavenly heate 2 King 4. Luke 24.321 Ier. 20.9 Mat. 3.11 9. Christ prized Iob â— 4 2 Sam. 18. 10 Care to keep Christ Rom. 8.38 Care to see Christ living in us Scope of the Apostle Analysis 5. fold alienation 1. From Christ 1. Alienation 1. Tempus Note 2. Subjectum Note 3 Terminus à quo Doct. a Mat. 25. Alienation from Christ illustrated b Iude v. 12. c Io 15.6 d Rom. 7.18 e Iam. 4 4. f 1 Pet. 2.25 g Isa 30.1 h Psa 58.3 i 1 Ioh. 1.6 k Eph. 2.13 4. Grounds or demonstratioÌ„s of this Alienation l Gal 3. 2. 2. Subjection under sinne m 2 Pet. 2.19 n 2 Tim. 3.6 o Ier. 5.31 Prov. 7. 2. Vncapablenes of Christ Mundus neque duos soles Asia neque duos Reges simul capere potest Causes of this uncapablenesse p Ioh. 1.5 q 1 Cor 2 14. r Ezek. 33.31 Å¿ Iohn 5 44. u Col. 2.13 t Iohn 1.11 w Rev. 2.17 3 World hath full possession in carnall man x Mat. 6.24 y Luk. 14 15. z Mat 22.12 a Mat. 19 21. b Phil. 3.8 4 Repugnance against Christ c Psal 2. d Mar. 5. e Iob 41. Dolefulnesse and danger of carnall mans estate f 1 Sam. 4.22 g 2 King 4. h Col. 3. i 1 Iohn 5.12 k Eph. 2 1. Unhappinesses of this estate 2 Cor 4.3 l Eâ—el 9.5 m Psal 6.5 n Psal 31.12 o Ier. 2.32 p Eph. 4.10 q 1 Tim. 4.2 r Psal 141.1 3. Gen. 41. Å¿ 2 Cor 2.14 t Phil. 3.19 Iohn 11. u Hos 7.11 w Iohn 16 3. x Eph. 5.8 2 Kin 5. y 1 Cor. 1.30 y Luk 2.32 z Eph. 5.8 a Rev. 3.17 b Isa 20.4 Luk. 16. c Prov. 24. â—0 d Ier. 20.4 e Ier. 4.22 f Phil. 3.21 g Isa 51.12 h Iob 30.8 i Isa 9.6 k 2 Cor 5 19. l Act. 10.36 m Eph. 2.14 n 2 Kin. 9 22. Cause and matter of humiliation How carnall man is without Christ o Isa 29.11 p Rom. 6. q Jud. 16.1 2. r Num. 11.5 Å¿ Isa 53.2 t Cant. 5.9 3. Cause of undervaluing Christ u Jer. 2.13 2. No taste of Christ w 1 Pet. 2.3 x Eccles 11.7 y Isa 25.6 z Cant. 2.3 3. No love to Christ a Cant. 5.10 1 Cor. 16. b 2 Sam. 1.26 c 1 Joh. 2.15 Amor Dei si est operatur magna sioperaâ— renuit amos non est Greg. 4. No pleasure in Christ d Mat. 2.2 e 1 Sam. 5 4. f Col. 2.6 g 1 Sam. 17. h 2 Sam. 1. i 1 Pet. 2.8 k Ier. 6.10 l Mat. 13.57 m Deut. 21.14 5. No longing after Christ n Iob 21.14 1 Sam. 23.15 Gen. 30.1 2. o Ioh. 6.34 p Cant. 1.2 q Cant. 2.5 Ioh. 11.44 r Cant. 5.9 How man is in Christ Å¿ Rom. 9.6 7. Characters of man being without Christ
Rev. 9. w Isa 29.13 Luk. 18. Isa 58. Iam. 1. Prov. 15.7 x Mat. 23.27 28. 6. Sinisterly y Ios 9 12 13. Gen. 34. â—5 Mat. 2.8 1 King 21 9. 7 Vain-gloriously Mat. 6.2 5. z Mat. 23.5 a 1 Cor. 13 3. 8. Temporarily b 1 King 21.29 c Isa 58.5 d Dan. 4.14 15 e 2 Pet. 2.22 f Iob 27 9 10. Ruth 1. g Isa 29.19 b Rom 7. â—3 Comforts in the work of Self-denyall against remaining lusts 1. Troublesomes of Lust i Iudg. 2.2 3. k Rom. 7.23 24. l 2 Cor. 12.8 2. Godly griefe for remaining lusts m Iudg. 2.3 n Psal 38.17 3. Holy Contestation against lusts o Gal. 5.17 Exod. 17. 2 Sam 3.1 4. Humiliation for want of humility p 2 Sam. 15.30 5. Fervent prayer against pride and self-love Exod. 17.11 Act. 12.5.7 Self-seeking very dangerous q Phil. 2. â—1 r Iâ—â— 6 Å¿ 2 Chron 12.13 14. t Numb 15.39 1 Evill properties of Self-seeking 1. Insatiable Gen. 41. u Ecâ—ll 1.8 w Pro 27 20. Isa 9.20 Mica 6.14 x Eccl 4 8. Isa 55. 2 Hypocriticall y 1 Kin. 14.5 z Rom. 16 18. a Rev. 13.11 b Mat 23.14 Joh. 6. c Gen. 34 2â— 23 24. 3. Polluting d Joh 4 4. e Num 15 39. Ioh. 2. f 2 Kin. 5.22 27 g Lu. 16.14 h 1 Sam. 18.25 Hest 3 6. i Ioh. 11.42 Psal 49 11. Ier 48. â— Psal 52.7 Ier. 13.25 4 Alienating k Psal 58. Ier 5.23 l Psal 14. m Psal 10. n 1 Ioh. 2.15 Cant. 2.3 o Iob 6.6 7. p Rom. 16.18 Mat 6.24 q Hos 10.1 Ioh. 8.44 1 Ioh 4.5 r 1 Ioh. 4.6 2 Cor 11.13 Iud. 9. Å¿ Isa 8.6 t Amos 6 13. Mat. 2. 5. Full of unlawfull means u Neh. 13 15. w Prov 20.25 x Mic. 6.11 12 Amos 2.6 y 2 Sam. 3. 2 Sam 15. z Lu. 15. a Gen. 16.3 30.3 4. 1 Sam 15. Ios 7. 6 Discontented b Eccles 4. â— c Prov. 17.25 Eccl. 5 12. d Ps 127.2 Eccles 2.23 e Num. 11.5 Gen. 3. 7. Attentive to evill counsell f 2 Sam. 20.2 g Joh. 5.43 h 1 Joh. 4.5 i Rev 13.3 1 Kin 21.20 k 1 Kin. 22.22 l Gen. 3. m Ioh. 13.2 8. Servile and abasing n Mat. 6.24 Mat. 8.8 o Lu. 14 1â— p Phil. 3.19 9. Idolatrous q Iudg. 7.6 Gen. 49.14 15 r Rom. 1.25 Å¿ Rom. 6.16 10. Self-losing t Psal 10.4 u Job 39 16. w Gen. 35 16 17. x Hab. 1. y Hos 8.7 z 1 Tim. 6.9 Gen. 4.12 Ps 127.2 11. Undervaluing holy things a Jam. 4.4 b Gen. 25.32 c Jud. 9 9. d Joh. 12. e Isa 53.2 3. f Mat. 13. g Mat. 8.34 12. Seven evill branches of this unhappy root 1 Imbondagement h Lu. 10. Enmity 3 Cruelty i Gen. 27.42 4. Causles jealousies k Ex. 1.10 5. Soule-torturing grief l Ps 127.2 m 1 Kin 21. n Ps 112.10 6. Unsuccessefullnesse o Gen. 27.15 p ver 42 43. q Gen. 16.2 3 4 r Gen. 13.10 11. Å¿ Gen. 14.12 7. Losse of the comfort of present havings t 1 Kin. 21 4. u Hest 5.13 Self-seeking lust how to be handled 1. Self-admiration very dangerous w Ro. 12.16 x Pro. 3.5 7. Six evils of self-admirations 1. Ignorance y Ro. 7.9 z Rev. 3.17 2. Non-apprehensivenesse of Gods Christs perfections a Iob. 42.6 b Isa 6.1 Ps 10.4 c Dan. 10.8 9 3. Ingratitude and sacriledge d Hab 1 16. e 1 Sam. 17.45 4 Uncapablenes of Christ Å¿ Pro. 29.20 Ioh. 9.41 Pro. 27.7 g Luk. 1.53 5. Alienation from God h 1 Pet. 5.5 i Pro â— 5 6 7. 6. Shame and confusion 1 Sam. 17. Dan. 4.30 31. Cure of self-admiration Danger of self-exaltation opened and disswaded l Gal. 5.26 m 1 Sam. 2.30 Evils of self-exaltation 1 Root spring of foule impieties n Hâ—b 2.5 Pro. 13.10 Psa 10.2 Psa 119.69 Psa 123.4 Superbia est omnium peccatorum initium sinis causa quum non solum peccatum est ipsa superbia c. 2. Patron of all vices Pro. 3.7 Tolle boc vitiuÌ„ ut nolint homines apparere hominibus sine labore omnia vitia resecantur 3. Most invincible of all vices o Pro. 16.32 p 2 Sam. 23 12 Cum bene pugnaris cum cuncta subjecta putaru que post intestat vincenda superbia restat 4. Corrupter of all gifts q 2 Kin 4.40 r Ex. 15.25 5. Spirituall barrennesse s 1 Tim. 6.4 t Ioh. 5.44 u Hos 10.1 w Iam. 4 6. 6. Abasement of God x Ps 2.2 7. Self deceitfulnesse 8. Shamefull abasement of man 9 Alienation from heaven Grounds of mans pronenes to self-exaltation 1 Mans ignorance of his base estate y Eph. 4 19. z Isa 49.9 a Ro. 7.18 Lev. 13. b Rom. 7.9 c Phil. 3.8 d 1 Cor. 2.2 2 Inconsideratenesse of receivings e Iam. 1.17 f 2 Cor. 3.5 g 1 Chron. 29. h Dan. 4.30 i Hab 1.16 k Deut. 32.15 3. Forgetfulnesse of mans place station l Luk 16 2â— m Mat 25 23. 2 Cor. 8.14 n Isa 49.23 o Iudg 9.9 4. Misprision of Mans glory p Rom. 14.18 q Joh. 12.42 5 Vnsensiblenes of the unhappy fruits of Self-exaltation Cure of Self-exaltation 1. God makes the difference 2 Well using of gift honour of receiver 3 Gifts puffing up a curse 4. A mans tenure a tenancy at will 5. Christ mans glory and fulnesse 6 Issue of all dependant upon Gods All-disposing hand 7. Vnexpected change Prerogatives and benefits of Self denyall 1 Full comfort He possession of Christ r Isa 17.15 2. Invinciblenesse Å¿ Phil. 3.8 t 2 Cor 1.9 u Phil. 4.13 w Gal. 6.14 x Isa 29 10. 3. Endearemet of man to God y Isa 66.2 y Isa 66.2 z 1 Pet. 3.3 4. Exaltation of man a Luk. 14.11 b Iam 4 6. c Psal 10.17 d Psal 25.9 14. e 2 Sam. 6.22 f Num 12.2 Heb. 11. Mat. 3. g Mat. 18.4 5. Sweet and blessed freedome h 2 Cor. 3.17 i Prov. 11.2 Psal 25.9 k Rom. 7.18 〈…〉 l Iam. 3.17 7. Fruitfulnesse in all graces m Ioh 6.27 n Mat. 6.19 20. Ephes 5 17 18. Note o â— Cor. 13.5 p 1 Ioh. 5.20 q 2 Kin. 4. r Ioh. 9. 2 Kin 5. s 1 Cor. 6.9 The ground hereof Mans life of holines of Christ t 1 Pet. 1.3 u Ioh. 1.12 13. w Eph 4.19 x 2 Cor. 5.17 y 1 Cor. 3.6 No experience of new life no child of God z Ioh. 3.6 Doct. a Ioh. 5.21 b Ioh 17.2 GrouÌ„ds hereof 1. Mans alienation from the life of grace 2 Christs ordination to minister life c Eph. 1.6 3 Insufficiency of any created power to minister the life of grace 4. Excellency of spirituall life d Col. 3. e Eph. 4.18 5. The Medium of this life Conjunction with Christ by faith 6 Opposition against the working of spirituall life Sin opposeth spirituall life 1 By ignorance f Eph. 4.18 19. 2. By hardnesse of heart Acts 7.51 g Ier. 5 3. 3 Bâ—â—siblenesse 4. By cusing them