of the sixth Chapter he falls upon the Doctrine of Sanctification And do but see 1 Cor. 6 11. But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified And Rom. 8.1 There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus that is to say every true Believer is justified and so likewise sanctified if we heed that which followes who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit And Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity to wit justify us and not that he might sanctify us too Yes see further and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Now we come to the Reasons or Grounds of the Point Reas 1 From the purity which is in God he will have his Elect like unto himselfe to resemble himself in Holinesse to be holy as he is holy his pity moveth him to justifie them his purity to sanctifie them Reas 2 The bloud of Christ which is not only meritorious and effectual to Justification but likewise meritorious and effectual to Sanctification as Hebr. 9.14 How much more shall the bloud of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God Reas 3. Such persons as are justified have faith now faith is a part of Sanctification Nay further where this grace of faith is there likewise are all other Sanctifying Graces But for the better conceiving of the Point in hand we propound the Questions following 1 What Sanctification is 2 Whence it is 3 The degrees of Sanctification 4 The parts of it Quest 1. What Sanctification is Answ It is a change wrought in a man or woman whereby corruption is mortifyed and the special Image of God restored A little to open this Description I say It is a change wrought in a man or woman To distinguish it from meer civility or common grace common grace only repressing and restraining corruption and reforming some outward actions We go on Whereby corruption is mortified that is to say the evil quality or disposition adhering to the several faculties of the soul and members of the body is weakened decayed purged and in the end abolished We go on And the special image of God restored We call grace the special image of God because the soul it self in a general sense is the image of God and the special image of God is restored that is to say a rectifyed and a holy quality and disposition infused and put upon every faculty of soul and member of body that holy quality renewed which in Adams fall was lost Thus we see what Sanctification is Quest 2 Whence is it Answ 1 Negatively not from earthly parents no although holy John 1.12 13. As many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that beleeve on his name which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God It is true indeed children descending of godly parents are holy in the Churches esteem and account 1 Cor. 7.14 and that the parents holiness may be an occasion and means of the childrens holiness 2 Tim. 1.5 3.15 2 We answer Affirmatively from Christ Joh 1.16 Of his fulness speaking of Christ have all we received and grace for grace And Ephes 2.10 We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus that is to say regenerated in Christ Jesus And from Christ two wayes 1 As the Author of it Revel 3 14 These things saith the Amen the faithful and true witness the beginning of the Creation of God Now he that is spoken of in this place is Christ and by Creation here we understand Sanctification of which Christ is said to be the beginner 2 As the Matter and root out of which it springs as 1 Cor. 1.30 Ye are of him in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification And hence it is that the Sanctifyed are said Ephes 5.30 to be bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh Not that we do exclude the Father and the Holy Ghost in this work the Son sanctifyeth by meriting Sanctification the Holy Ghost by working it the Father by sending his Son to merit and giving his Spirit to work it Now we come to the third Question Quest 3 What are the degrees of Sanctification Answ Although Justification hath no degrees why yet Sanctification hath And hence it is that the Apostle John 1 John 2.12 c. tells us of little children young men and fathers intimating thereby the several degrees of grace that they have who are sanctifyed Hence mention is also made of babes in Christ as in Heb. 5.13 and new born babes in 1 Pet. 2.2 Some having a greater measure and some a less and one and the same party growing from a lesser measure to a greater and they that attain to the most grace in this life are but babes in grace in comparison of the great measure of grace they shall have in the life to come As 1 John 5.21 Little children keep your selves from Idols the exhortation being general to all the Regenerate upon earth Them that before he calls young men and fathers here he calls little children to wit comparatively comparing the measure of grace they have in this world with that measure they shall have in the world to come And so we understand the Apostle Paul to compare his little measure of grace in this world with the great measure he should have in the world to come 1 Cor. 13.11 When I was a child I spake as a child I understood as a child I thought as a child but when I became a man I put away childish things And that this is the sense I have given is plaine from the Context Quest 4. What are the parts of Sanctification Ans Sanctification hath two parts 1 Mortification 2. Vivification Mortification is that part of Sanctification whereby the power tyranny and strength of Original sin is weakned and decayed and by little and little abolished the ground of this being the vertue of Christs death applyed the same power weakning sin in us which sustained him upon the Cross as Rom. 6.6 Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin Vivification the second part of Sanctification is that whereby the special image of God or inherent righteousnesse is restored and the foundation of this is the vertue of Christs Resurrection the same power raising us up to newness of life which raised him from the dead as Pilip 3.10 That I may know him to wit Christ and the power of his Resurrection Yet this we must remember that both the parts of Sanctification are imperfect in this life the godly whilst they are in this world consisting partly of flesh and partly of Spirit And hence it is that their
Another parable spake he unto them The Kingdome of heaven is like unto leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened And so Psal 92.12 13 14. The righteous shall flourish like a Palme tree he shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God They shall still bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing Motive 3. If we do not grow we go back and a declining condition is very uncomfortable what with the dolours inward and the afflictions outward which attend such an estate These be the Motives Now the Means of growth that is to say some inward helps this way for as touching outward means the next Principle intreates Means 1. We must often by our faith apply Christ to Justification The more we apprehend Gods mercy in Christ unto us this way the more our hearts turn towards him in love and obedience 1 John 4.19 We love him because he first loved us And 2 Cor. 5.14 15. The love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead And that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them and rose again The more clearly we apprehend Christ our Justifyer the more we find in him to be our Sanctifyer See Eph 3.16 17 18 19. Means 2 We must often by our faith have recourse to Gods Promises in this kind The Lord hath made many gracious Promises to further us in the way of Sanctification as Hos 14.4 I will heal their backslidings And Rom 6.14 Sin shall not have dominion over you And so Mal. 4.2 Vnto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings And ye shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall Jer. 32.39 40. And Mat. 25.29 Vnto every one that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance Such Promises as these we must call to mind and be earnest with the Lord in Prayer to make them good unto us Branch 2. To exhort all such as are not sanctified to labor for Sanctification Motives Means Motive 1 No Sanctification no Salvation Heb. 12.14 Without holiness no man shall see the Lord And Mat. 5.20 Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees yee shall in no case enter into the kingdome of heaven and the Scribes and Pharisees were men very civil 2 By Sanctification we shall conforme to the holy God have his special image upon us which we had and lost in Adam Ephes 4.24 3 Sanctification is the end of our Election Redemption and Vocation The end of our Election Ephes 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy The end of our Redemption Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us that he should redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works The end of our Vocation 1 Cor 1.2 Vnto the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints 4 Sanctification is not the least part of glory and eternal felicity 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory that is from one degree of grace to another even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 5 Where there is not Sanctification there can be no true faith and if no true faith why then no Justification nor Adoption These the Motives to Sanctification Now the Means or inward helps for as touching the outward means the next Principle acquaints Sanctification we know consists of Mortification and Vivification 1 Touching Mortification 1 Weigh and perpend that either sin must die or the sinner must die eternally Rom. 8.13 If ye live after the flesh that is if sin be not mortified in you ye shall die that is to say eternally 2 Weigh and consider the great love of God in giving his Son to dye for sinners John 3.16 and wilt not thou shew love to him again by fighting against sin which he hates 3 Weigh and perpend the great love of Christ who willingly underwent that accursed death of the Cross for thy sins Now wilt thou nourish that which cost him his life Then as touching Vivification the other part of Sanctification weigh and perpend Christs Resurrection 1 The efficient cause of it to wit the Spirit of God And thus think with thy self If the same Spirit which raised up Christ from the dead dwell in me he shall raise up my soul from the death of sin to the life of grace as Rom. 8.11 If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by the Spirit that dwelleth in you and as their mortal bodies at the last day why so their souls in this world 2 Meditate upon the end of Christs Resurrection which was that death might no more have dominion over him but that he might for ever live to God which should be thy study and endeavour even to live to God in a life of holiness and Righteousnesse See Rom. 6.9 10 11. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more death hath no more dominion over him for in that he died he died unto sin once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God Likewise reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 3 Meditate upon the consequents of Christs Resurrection to wit his Ascension into heaven and his sitting at the Fathers right hand So shouldst thou labour to have thy affections above and thy conversation in heaven Colos 3.1 2. If ye then he risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God Set your affections on things above not on things on the earth And so the Apostle professeth of himselfe Philippians 3.20 Our Conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ And thus much touching the fourth Principle PRINC V. Quest What are the ordinary or usual means for obtaining of faith Answ Faith cometh only by the preaching of the Word and increaseth daily by it as also by the administration of the Sacraments and Prayer MEMB. 1. Faith cometh only by the preaching of the Word and increaseth daily by it THE fifth Principle acquaints us with the ordinary outward Means whereby faith is obtained and encreased And first the Catechisme makes known unto us the ordinary outward Means whereby faith is obtained Faith cometh only by the preaching of the word And this passage of the first Member we commend to your consideration
Philip. 1.21 23. And thus now we have done with the Common-place implyed in the sixth Principle to wit Death NOw we come to the second Head or Common place to wit the general Resurrection and receive it in this Doctrine Doct. It is a most certain truth that there shall be a general Resurrection That all the dead shall rise again with their own bodies at the last day The Scriptures are very clear and evident in this point See Job 19.25 26 27. Isaiah 26.19 John 5.28 29. Acts 24.15 The Grounds and Reasons of the Doctrine And first we will lay you down Reasons why the bodies of the godly must be raised again at the last day and then why the bodies of the wicked must be then raised Reasons why the bodies of the godly must be raised again at the last day Reas 1. Because the Lord is their God is in Covenant with the godly in Covenant with the whole man not onely soul but body This is our Saviours Argument to the Sadduces who denied the Resurrection Mat. 22.31 32. As touching the Resurrection of the dead have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God saying I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob God is not the God of the dead but of the living Our Saviours meaning is this The God of Heaven speaking to Moses Exod. 3.9 of Abraham Isaac and Jacob who being in Covenant with God but all dead long before the Lord then spake unto Moses yet speaks of them as alive thereby intimating the Resurrection of their bodies that their dead bodies should be raised again at the last day and if their bodies why then the dead bodies of all that are in Covenant with God Reas 2 Christ himself hath undertaken this to wit to raise up the dead bodies of all his at the last day John 6.39 And is not this an easie thing with him he being not only man but God See Mat. 22.29 Phil. 3.20 21. Reas 3. Christ is risen therefore the dead bodies of all the godly shall rise again at the last day This is a true and sure consequence for 1. Christ rose again that he might raise them 2. Christ is their Head and they his Members seeing then Christ their Head is risen they also his Members doubtless shall rise for the glory of the head requires this that he have his members sutable and in like condition with himself 3. The same Spirit is in them which is in Christ raised he joyneth and uniteth them with Christ and worketh the same in them which he doth in Christ But he hath raised Christ therefore he will raise them Reas 4. To this end the bodies of the Elect were made that in them as Temples the Holy Ghost might dwell for ever therefore their bodies shall rise again at the last day and live for ever Reas 5. This great truth denied that the bodies of the godly shall be raised again at the last day overturns all Religion 1 Cor. 15.12 unto the nineteenth Thus you see the Reasons why the bodies of the godly must be raised again at the last day Now we come to lay you down the Reasons why the bodies of the wicked must be raised Reas 1. Because the Scripture delivers this in plain and express termes 3 Cor. 5.10 John 5.28 29. Acts 24.15 Reas 2. The threatnings and comminations that lie against the wicked Matth. 10.28 Mark 9.43 and so to verse 49. besides divers other places Reas 3. The Justice of God requires this The wicked do not onely sin in soul but in body therefore their bodies must be raised again at the last day that so they may be punished in both Thus you see that not only the dead bodies of the godly shall be raised again at the last day but also the dead bodies of the wicked Yet observe with a double difference 1. In regard of the efficient 2. In regard of the final cause The bodies of the godly shall rise by the power of Christ their Head the bodies of the wicked by the power of Christ their Judge The bodies of the godly shall rise to eternal glory the bodies of the wicked to eternal condemnation For the further opening of this Doctrine we intend 1. To answer some objections 2. In brief to lay before you the manner or method of the general Resurrection 3. And lastly the Uses First to answer some objections Object 1. From Eccles 3.19.20 Answ 1. Solomon doth not speak here in his own person but in the person of an Epicure or Atheist 2. Suppose Solomon do here deliver his own judgement he speaks nothing here of the estate after death but onely delivers thus much That as beasts dye so men dye the one as wel as the other Object 2. From 1 Cor. 15.50 Answ By flesh and blood here we are not to understand the body simply but as it is cloathed with sin and corruption and so indeed it shall not inherit the Kingdom of God but as it is immortal and glorious it shall Object 3. From 1 Cor. 15.44 So then it may seem our bodies at the last day shall rise Spiritual bodies and not consisting of flesh and blood Answ The Apostle doth explain himself verse 53. There shall not be a change in substance but in quality The bodies of the godly shall then be immortal incorruptible not needing means of corporal nourishment nor subject to infirmities but nimble strong and impassible void of all deformity and uncomliness of perfect stature glorious c. The bodies of the wicked then shall be immortal also and incorruptible but passible to endure the punishment inflicted upon them Object 4. That bodies resolved to dust and ashes should rise again is not this impossible Answ Luke 18.27 Gen. 18.14 Luke 1.37 The Almighty God that made all things of nothing is not he able to restore the body although turned to dust burnt to ashes or devoured by wild beasts The manner of the Resurrection The next thing we promised is to lay forth in brief the manner or method of the genâ—ral Resurrection 1. In the first place when the last day of the world is come Christ on a sudden in the same visible form he went to heaven will come in the Clouds with his Angels and the souls of his Saints departed Acts 1.11 Judges 14.15 2. The Trumpet of God shall then sound the voyce of the Arch-angel shall then be heard Christ shall command and call upon the dead to rise and come to judgement 1 Thess 4.16 John 5. 28 29. 3. Immediately presently upon this the souls of all the godly deceased shall enâ—er into their bodies and then their bodies rise to life eternal and so the souls of all the wicked deceased shall return into their bodies and then their bodies rise to eternal condemnation John 5.28 29. 4. Such as shall then be alive shall have a change on a sudden in stead of death and Resurrection 1 Cor.
onely pretend our selves to have faith but make sure it be as a justifying so a sanctifying faith for so a justifying faith ever is To rise in soul we must make sure that is to say from the death of sin to the life of grace Rev. 20.6 Rom. 8.11 5. And lastly we should earnestly endeayour to live as the children of the Resurrection Luke 20.36 as those that believe a glorious Resurrection heavenly harmlesly and fruitfully 1. Heavenly Philippians 3.20 21. 2. Harmlesly Acts 24.16 17. 3. Fruitfully 1 Cor. 15.58 Thus we have done with the second Member of this Principle as we reckon Of the day of judgement THe second Common-place being finished we come now to the third which we lay forth in this Doctrine Doct. 3. Immediately after the general Resurrection shall be the last Judgement Or thus It is a most certain truth that there shall be a day of judgement The Scriptures are very clear and abundant in proof of this point Begin we with that antient testimony alledged in the Apostle Jude Jude 14.15 See Dan. 7.9 10 Eccl. 12. v. last Matth. 12.36 Acts 17.31 Rom. 14.10 2 Cor. 5.10 The Reasons of the Point Reas 1. Gods Decree Heb. 9.27 As the Lord hath appointed the former so the latter Reas 2. The particular judgements the Lord inflicts in this life upon persons and places as the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah the drowning of the old world the plaguing of Aegypt and the desolation of Jerusalem did not all these typifie the general judgement Luke 17.26 c. Reas 3. The consciences of men and women even the least inlightned and awakened tremble at this great truth and so prove it Acts 24.25 Reas 4. The justice and goodness of God The justice of God requires that it should go absolutely ill with the wicked the goodness of God requires that it should go absolutely well with the godly but neither of these come to pass in this life and therefore there must be a day of judgement that both these may be effected Reas 5. The fifth and last Reason This is the end of the general Resurrection to wit the general Judgement Men and women must be raised again that they may be judged But here we meet with an objection Object May some man say The whole world consists of Believers and Unbelievers But as touching Believers it is said John 5.24 that they shall not come 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in judicium to judgement Answ The meaning is not to the judgement of condemnation and so indeed the last translation renders it Object And then as touching Unbelievers so remaining it is said of them John 3.18 that they are condemned already Answ It is true so they are 1. In Gods Decree 2. In Gods word 3. In their own consciences But yet the manifestation and finishing of this judgement is reserved unto the last day But for the opening of so weighty a Doctrine we intend to answer the questions following 1. How this judgement is distinguished from other judicial proceedings 2. When the day of judgement shall be 3. Who shall be the Judge 4. And lastly What shal be the manner of proceeding at that day Quest 1. The first question is How this judgement is distinguished from other judicial proceedings Answ This we may let you see in divers Epithets given to this judgement as 1. It is called the last judgement so the Catechisme entitles it And so it is for after it there shall be no other the sentence passed then can never be reverst there can be no appeal from that Judge and judgement 2. It is called the general judgement God judgeth men and women in this world and that both in life and death He judgeth them whilst they are living by correcting his people for their scapes and infirmities by punishing the wicked for their transgressions and rebellions He judgeth every man and woman at death But then shall be a general judgement of all 2 Cor. 5.10 3. It is called a manifest and open judgement And so it shall be for the proceedings then shall be in the eye and view of all the world 4. It is called a sudden judgement And so it shall be in regard of the wicked Even as the flood came upon the Old World when they were wantonizing and deriding that preacher of righteousness 5. And lastly It is called an eternal judgement Not that the Judge shall sit for ever sifting matters and debating causes but it is so called from the effect for the issue will be this The eternal weal and happiness of the godly and the eternal woe and misery of the wicked Quest 2. The second question When the day of judgement shall be Answ In likelihood it is not far off if we compare some Texts and our times as Luke 18.8 Matth. 24.37 c. 2 Tim. 3.1 c. The truth of it is were but Rome ruinated and the Jew called what should hinder that great day And in how little time can the Lord effect these two great works But touching the precise day see Mat. 24.36 But why doth the Lord conceal this day Answ 1. That he might hereby bridle our curiosity Acts 1.7 2. That the wicked might not defer their repentance Psalm 95.7 8. 3. That the godly might be occasioned to continual watchfulness Mark 13.33 c. Quest 3. The third question Who shall be the Judge Answ God All the Persons in the Godhead Father Son and Holy Ghost All the three Persons shall judge as touching their consent and Authority but the particular execution of this judgment is committed to the Son it is he that shall execute this vengeance and as he is the Son of man John 5.22 27. 2 Tim. 4.1 Acts 10.42 and 17.31 Object 1. But the Apostles shall judge the twelve Tribes of Israel Mat. 19.28 Answ It is true the Apostles shall judge the twelve tribes but how to wit by their Faith and Doctrine the example whereof wil take away all excuse from the Israelites 2. They shal be as Justices on the Bench and consent to Christs judgements Object 2. The Saints shal judge the world 1 Cor. 6.2 Answ It is true 1. As sitting with the Judge and approving of his sentence as the Apostles before 2. As they are Members of Christ the Judge and 3. As their example shall be alledged to condemn the wicked Quest 4. The 4th and last question What shal be the manner of proceeding at that day Answ That we may the better resolve this question we are to consider 1. The Preparation to this judgement 2. The judgement it self The Preparation is twofold 1. Of the Judge 2. Of them to be judged The Preparation of the Judge consists in four things 1. In the Commission he hath from his Father John 5.27 which then shal be manifested to all the world 2. In the cloathing of his Humane Nature with a wonderful Majesty and glory Matth. 25.31 Matth. 16.28 compared with Mat. 17.1 c. 3. In his
thundring and powerful Ministry Vse 2. A call to repentance unto all such as are in the estate of nature as ignorant persons Swearers Cursers Profaners of the Sabbath Whoremasters Drunkards Oppressors Usurers Greedy Earth-worms Contemners of the Gospel Despisers of Gods Ministers who all proclaim themselves to be in the estate of nature O that such would consider the woful case they are in To be under the Curse as the unregenerate person is is no little misery To be subject to all outward calamities in this life nay to have many Spiritual plagues upon them as blindness of mind hardness of heart and many times terrors of conscience even the flashes of hell fire in their consciences and when by temporal death the soul goeth out of the body the wrath of God to press it down to the pit of hell and there to be in unspeakable nay unconceivable torment until the day of Judgment and then when the soul and body shall be again conjoined to appear and stand before 1. Such a Judge as cannot be deceived through ignorance 2. Such a Judge as cannot be forestalled by favour 3. Such a Judg as cannot be overswayed with power 4. Such a Judg as cannot be moved with pity for then the time of pity is past to such 5. Such a Judge as cannot be corrupted with gifts Lastly Such a Judg as cannot be overcome with Arguments and so the Sentence to be passed upon them Mat. 25.41 Go ye Cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Divel and his Angels And then to be for ever separated from Gods comfortable presence to be for ever restrained and enforced to the society of the Divel and his Angels both soul and body to be in unspeakable and unconceivable torment and that for ever every faculty of soul and member of body to be in this torment and that for evermore O consider this ye that forget God lest he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver Psal 50.22 2 Cor. 5.11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we perswade men saith the Apostle So we perswade you to see and to be sensible of your condition that in the use of all good means you would labour to get out of your present estate as it is Ephes 5.14 Awake thou that sleepest and stand up from the dead and Christ shall give thee light Take heed of fore-slowing the time If death seize upon thee before thy Repentance and Regeneration ah wo be unto thee that ever thou wast born And know thou hast no lease of thy life remember that secure fool Luke 12.20 Thou fool this night shall thy soul be required of thee This day hear Gods voice and do not harden thy heart for to morrow thou art uncertain of it Thus far touching mans misery by nature We proceed to the third Principle PRINC III. Quest What means is there for thee to escape this damnable estate Answ Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God being made man by his death upon the Crosse and by his Righteousnesse hath perfectly alone by himselfe accomplished all things that are needful for the salvation of mankind MEMB 1. Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God HErein we have the Redeemer of mankind described by three of his Titles 1. Jesus 2. Christ 3. The Son of God this last illustrated by this Epithete eternal The eternal Son of God Of these three Titles in order and first of the Title Jesus This Title is a Title of benefits it signifying an Author of safety our Saviour as we may observe the Angel to interpret speaking to Joseph Matth. 1.21 Thov shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Obj. But may some men say There was others called by this name besides the Redeemer of mankind Ans It is true but take notice of the difference betwixt him and them 1. They had his name imposed on them by the will of men but he had his name given him by an Angel from God 2. They were but typical Saviours he the Saviour indeed 3. They were but temporal and outward Saviours he a Spiritual Saviour 4. They were but Instrumental Saviours he the Author of all good things Temporal Spiritual and Eternal Obj. But the Father and the Holy Ghost are Saviours also Ans It is true but the difference is in their manner of saving The Father saveth by the Son the Son saveth by paying the Ransome and price of salvation the Holy Ghost saveth by a particular applying of this Ransome Two Questions following to be answered and then we come to Application 1. Whom this Jesus saves 2. From what Quest 1. Whom Ans The Angel tells us whom in the place forecited Matth. 1.21 Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people And the Apostle Paul Ephes 5.23 calls him The Saviour of his body to wit of all the Elect. Quest 2. From what Ans The Angel tells us that too in the former place He shall save his people from their sins to wit all their sins the guilt and dominion of them Vse The Application may be to inform us two wayes 1. Touching our miserable lost estate by nature for so much a Saviour implies And the truth of it is we can never rightly and comfortably acknowledg this Saviour until we be sensible this way Many speak of this Saviour as their Saviour but when were they dejected and cast down with a sight and sense of their own misery by nature The Son of man is come saith our Saviour himself Matth. 18.11 to save that which was lost that is to say those that were sensible of their lost estate and condition but divers very ignorant and insensible this way wil yet cal him their Saviour 2. To inform us touching the great mercy of God to mankind Satan and his Angels fell but have no Saviour man falls and the Lord deviseth and affordeth a Saviour Now to this Saviour seeing and feeling our misery let us fly saying and praying with the Disciples Matth. 8.25 Lord save us we perish and with David Psal 35.3 Say unto our souls Thou art our salvation Considering that comfortable Text he himself preach'd upon the truth of which he came into the world to make good Luke 4.18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath annointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted to preach deliverance to the Captives and recovering of sight to the blind to set at liberty them that are bruised And in ver 21. He began to say unto them This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears Now we come to the second Title Christ which is a Title of Office and signifies Annointed There were three sorts of persons annointed in the time of the Old Testament Prophets Priests and Kings who were all types of this Annointed of this Prophet Priest and King That we may the better understand this Title we intend to answer the Questions
been to exhort every one of us much to think and often to meditate and that seriously upon our own death which as you may perceive will not be a little advantageous in our Christian course 2. The second part or branch of this Use is to exhort us every one of us seeing death is unavoidable cannot be avoided that we would labour to prepare and fit our selves for death But before we come to hold forth the means we will propound some Motives Motive 1. Now the first Motive we have in the Doctrine it felf death is unavoidable Motive 2. This is the main errand of our life God did not send us into this world to sin and â—o glut our selves with the creature but to bring him some honour and then to dye The Factor is not imployed to take his pleasure abroad but to negotiate for his Master and then to return home Motive 3. Death is but once and that stands in need to be well done which can be but once done Heb. 9.27 once and no more An Hour-glass when it is run out may be turn'd again but in this case it is otherwise Motive 4. When death hath done with thee then God will begin with thee Thou must once dye and after this come to judgement Heb. 9.27 Then no more praying no more fasting no more any Prophet to come unto thee in the Name of the Lord thou shalt not lye a few years in flames of wrath and then get leave to come out that thou mayest amend thy life Oh no! if once there for ever there Motive 5. Lastly consider with thy self it will be as much as thou canst do to do the work of death therefore prepare and get all thy other work done before Then haply thy friends about thee loath to part with thee and thou with them will disquiet thee extremity of pain will be upon thee and perplex thee Satan busie with thee thy conscience active and stirring It is no little no easie work to do the work of death Thus much for the Motives Now to come to the Means whereby to prepare and fit our selves for death Means 1. We must make sure to repent of all our known sins that is call them to mind unfainedly bewail them heartily confess them earhestly crave pardon of them purposing by Gods help to forsake them all Such as dye impenitently dye in their sins and that is a woful and a lamentable dying as our Saviour tels the Jewes John 8.21 24. Means 2. We must make sure of Christ that Christ is ours that we are clothed with his Righteousness 1 Cor. 15.56 57. If thou hast got Christ into thine armes by faith thou may'st boldly look death in the face Rom. 8.36 37. Phil 1.21 Having a good Christ thou may'st be confident of a good death Luke 2.28 c. Means 3. If we would be sitted and prepared for death we must make sure to have renewed natures such being onely fitted for the Bridegrooms coming as have Oyl in their Lamps An outward prosession will not serve the turn unless we have that we make profession of See Revel 20.6 and Revel 22.17 The Spirit and the Bride say Come If a man have got the Spirit the sanctifying graces of Gods Spirit into his soul to beautifie it as the Bride is with her Ornaments why then he may say to Death Come and to Christ Come Lord Jesus come quickly Means 4. That we may be prepared for death we must learn to bear and that willingly and patiently the crosses and troubles wherewith the Lord is pleased daily to exercise us see Matth. 10.37 38. Luke 9.23 And so the Apostle saith of himself 1 Cor. 15.31 that he did dye daily his meaning is that by his patient and willing bearing of those daily crosses he was subject unto he learned every day to dye So think with thy self If I cannot endure a little how shall I endure more If I cannot endure a light cross a small affliction how shall I bear the pangs of death when they come As Agamemnon first overcame the Lacedaemonians by wrastling and then by fighting And Bilney the Martyr first burned his finger in the Candle that after he might the better endure the burning of his whole body at the stake Means 5. We must labour for heavenly-mindedness sit loose to the creature have in us a holy indifferency concerning all things sublunary That which the Apostle saith of the love of money 1 Tim. 6.10 that it is The root of all evil and the cause why many are even pierced thorow with many sorrowes the truth whereof is never more seen then on their death-beds may be likewise said of the love of any other worldly thing the over-love which is the Apostles meaning in the place cited and therefore the counsel is good Psalm 62.10 Matthew 6.19 and 1 Cor. 7.29 c. Means 6. If we would be preprared and fitted for death we must walk sincerely Prov. 10.9 2 Kings 20.3 Means 7. If we would be prepared for death we must walk fruitfully Eccles 9.10 Galatians 6.10 1 Timothy 6.17 c. Luke 16.9 Means 8. Lastly such as have Families and outward estates that they may be the better â—â—â— pared for death should set them in order Isaih 38.1 And although I mention this the last to do this before sickness in time of health will be great wisdome By doing this they will not dye more quickly but more quietâ—y And thus now we have done with the second branch of this Use 3. The third branch of this Use is to exhort so many as are in some good measure prepared for death although the Doctrine contain a most certain truth yet not to be dâ—smayed nor too much discouraged and this upon the grounds following 1. Because it must be but once done Heb. 9.27 Let me dye saith Seneca a heathen man and what hurt comes by that I can be bound no more I can be sick no more I can dye no more 2. Because death is a conquered enemy Christ overcame this enemy and not onely for himself but for all his Isaiah 25 8. Hos 13.14 1 Cor. 15.57 3. Because this battel being fought we shall be freed from that which hath troubled us all our life long to wit sin Death is the Funeral of our vices and the Resurrection of our graces Death was the daughter of sin and in death shall that be fulfilled The daughter shall destroy the Mother 4. Because then they shall be freed from all their toyl and labours It is a difficult thing to pray the execution of the particular calling not easie but see Revelations 14.13 5. Because then immediately after this battel fought they go to God ever to be with him and to have a Crown of glory put upon their heads by him 1 Thess 4.17 2 Tim. 4 8. 6. And lastly because divers of Gods people heretofore were so far from fearing of death as that they desired it Gen. 49.18 Luke 2.28 c. Rom. 7.24
15.51 52. 5. The Angels shall then gather the Elect and chase in the Reprobates from the four Windâ—s of heaven and present them before Christ Matth. 24.31 and 25.31 32. Now we come to the last thing the Uses Vse 1. For Confutation 1. To confute as the old Sadduces so the Atheists of our time who imagine the soul to dye with the body and so an end of both That this was the opinion of the Sadduces see Mat. 22.23 Acts 23.8 That this is the opinion of the Atheists of our time is very evident by their lives and conversations 2. To confute such as not distinguishing betwixt a Spiritual and corporal Resurrection do deny that the body shall rise again at the last day They confess the soul to be immortal but they acknowledge no other Resurrection but Regeneration the souls rising from the death of sin to the life of grace the bodies Resurrection they utterly deny Of this wicked opinion Hymeneus and Philetus seem to have been the Authors 2 Tim. 2.18 3. To confute the Anabaptists who deny that the very self-same bodies which we now have shall rise again but affirm that God at Christs second coming will make new bodies new bodies not onely in regard of quality but in regard of substance Vse 2. For Terrour to all such as live and dye in their sinnes as live and dye unrepentant Consider that even that body which thou hast used as a weapon and instrument to pride to swearing to prophaning of the Lords day to drunkenness uncleanness lying and the like shall rise again And as thou hast done in it that which thou shouldest not so thou shalt receive in it that which thou wouldest not that hand those feet those adulterous eyes that blaspheming tongue shall rise again to receive condign punishment thou shalt no sooner peep out of thy grave but thou shalt see him come to judge thee whom thou hast pierced dispised disobeyed If the wicked might cease to be after this life and dye as the beast doth O then it would be well with them because then there would be an end of their misery but the wicked must after this life rise again to condemnation which is the accomplishment of their eternal woe and wretchedness A ruful and doleful case to consider and yet it is the condition of all impenitent sinners If a man were bidden to go to bed that after he had slept and was risen again he might go to execution it would make his heart to ake within him yet this nay a thousand times worse is the state of all impenitent sinners they must sleep a while in the grave and then rise again that a second death may be inflicted upon them both in body and soul which is the suffering of the full Wrath of God both in body and soul eternally The case being thus that counsel of the Apostle Peter would be considered of by the wicked and before it be too late Acts 3.19 Vse 3. For Comfort and Consolation to all the godly The Apostle Paul traversing this Doctrine of the bodies Resurrection 1 Thess 4.13 c. observe his close verse 18. Although the dayes of this life be dayes of woe and misery yet the day of the Resurrection shall be unto all the godly a time of refreshing and felicity Acts 3.19 Those hands that have been lfted up in prayer and stretched out to relieve the poor Saints those feet that have been forward to go to Sermons those eyes that have wept for the sins of the times but first and principally for thine own sinnes that have wept again and again for the offence of a good and gracious God that tongue which hath glorified God that body which hath suffered for Christ shall rise again to be partaker of all his glory Upon this ground the godly heretofore in their greatest miseries have comforted themselves See Job 19.25 26 27. and Isaiah 26.19 This was the comfort of the poor Jewes under Antiochus Epiphanes they looked for a better Resurrection the remembrance whereof was as sugar to relish the bitterness of the Cross Heb. 11.35 Nay upon this ground see the Apostle Paul triumphing over death 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. And see what he saith Phil. 3.21 Six things shall befal the body of the godly at that day 1. Immortality so as they can never dye again 1 Cor. 15.53 2. Incorruptibleness they shall never be inclined to putrifaction or any corruption 1 Cor. 15.53 3. Spiritualness 1 Cor. 15.44 and that in divers respects 1. Because they shall be possessed fully by the Spirit of God so as they shall be both governed by the Spirit and be subject to the Spirit wholly 2. Because they shall live as the Angels in Heaven do without meat or raiment or any other bodily helps or sustenance 3. Because they shall be for nimbleness as it were spirits 4. The fourth thing that shall befal the bodies of the godly at that day is Power for of bodies full of weakness and subject to many calamities and distresses and paines they shall be raised in power that is strong able and impassible 5. Perfection for they shall be free from deformity unhandsomness lameness c. and become most beautiful and comely neither infancy nor old age hindring them but shall appear in full age and beauty 6. Shining and Splendor as the sun or stars in the Firmament the body being cloathed with a Celestiâ—l glory and Divine light Dan. 12.3 Matth. 13.43 Thus much for the Use of Consolation Vse 4. For Instruction or to point out unto us divers duties 1. If we believe the Resurrection of the body we must be moderate in mourning for our Christian friends deceased Our Saviour Christ did weep for Lazarus And when Stephen was stoned to death some that feared God buried him and made great lamentation for him and therefore mourning for the dead is not altogether unlawful yet remember we must what the Apostle saith to the Thessalonians 1 Thess 4.13 2. This Doctrine of the Resurrection should teach us to have the very body in honour and not to transgress against it Seeing our bodies must be raised again at the last day we must take heed of polluting and defiling them by Gluttony Drunkenness Uncleanness and the like 1 Cor. 6.13 14. 1 Thess 4.3 4. 2 Cor. 7.1 Rom. 12.1 3. The consideration of this great work of the Resurrection of our bodies should teach us to trust God in other matters and believe his Promises though there be never so great unlikelihood of the accomplishment in respect of the outward means and appearance Rom. 4.17 to the 22. 4. We should be very careful to get assurance that our bodies shall rise gloriously have a glorious Resurrection And that we may be assured we must make sure of a justifying faith such a faith as will rightly apprehend and lay hold on him who is the Resurrection and the life John 11.25 And then we must make sure of the first Resurrection not