this should be framed out of its dregs after plain Gospel-Testimony is believed there being no one Saying in the Gospel declaring any such thing or that giveth ground for any such consequence and why should any of us that have received so much good in the Gospel-Testimony strain for a consequence to maintain that which the Gospel declareth not yea which stands cross to many Declarations yea Heb. 4.6 and to the scope of that very place alledged some must enter which appears to be spoken to encourage the weakest Believers to abide and go on in their Faith that they may enter the Rest or Canaan Compare ch 3. 4. with ch 6 12-20 11. See Part 3. ch 2. God hath sworn to give Abraham Isaac and Jacob and their Seed and they looked to receive it in a heavenly manner a new Earth c. which they never yet did nor shall till we all to the last that shall be called by the Gospel-Ministration come to enter together with them True God by Moses called them out of Egypt to that very promised Canaan but not at that time to receive it in that manner promised to Abraham but yet to receive it for which he gave them his promise which they not firmly believing especially after the receit of the first-Fruits all the antient Men except Caleb and Joshua that followed him fully in the faith of his Promise fell in the Wilderness and entred not not but that Moses Aaron Miriam Zelophehad and all like them even all but the rebellious shall in the Resurrection of the Just rise again and enter this promised Rest with Abraham c. So that in this they were but Types and Examples to us Those that Joshua led into the Land the Lord by Joshua gave them rest and in continuing in the Law of the Lord they might have retained it in that manner till the coming of Christ but yet the Rest as promised to Abraham was not then given no nor yet so long after as in David's time who when a King there and had both his people and his enemies subdued to him yet confest himself a stranger as his Fathers were and affirmed the promised Rest to be yet to come yet sure all that lived and died in the Faith must rise and enter when Abraham enters after God sent forth Christ for a Witness and Covenant that resting on him by Faith they might be so entring and in due time fully enter And the Gospel hereof was first preached to the Jews who for the most part refused and so entred not by by Faith and deprived themselves of a personal entrance when the time cometh yet God in his faithfulness to Abraham will preserve a Seed of Men of his Generation through all troubles that there should be found of them surviving at the coming of Christ and be brought in by him and shall enter when Abraham and all that sleep in Jesus shall be raised and enter together with them and till then none so enter for were it already so entred our hope would be cut off but it is not the rest yet remaineth for the people of God that we believing and abiding in Christ may have him for our rest and so be entring by Faith now and personally at Christ his next coming to encourage all Believers to firmness and constancy in this faith is the drift scope of the Apostle Rom. 9.19 who hath thus opened the same Methinks none should be so void of fear to affirm that as the Saying of the Holy Ghost which is given as the suggestion of an evil spirit Saying of a vain Man and so reproved Who hath resisted his Will as if none had or could which with grief I suppose true Believers will confess they have too often What other evils of dissention among Brethren c. the affirming of this devised Purpose to be both the Purpose of God and the Foundation and what other inconveniencies follow the maintaining of the last mentioned figment I will forbear to speak onely I confess for the reverence I bare to some I was a long time snared with this old fable till I experimented the evils mentioned and was brought to confess God in his Sayings true whoever be a lyar nor do I now blame any but my self who might have received good onely and not harm by what I read if I had not made Mens holiness and learning but the Scripture onely the umpire of my Faith and yet I have learned this That a Wolf in a Sheep's-Skin may for a time be imbraced and pleaded for by them that are no Wolves and so to be sober in judging yea this I farther confess That when I thought my self freed this last mentioned figment did a long time remain with me yea I was not freed of it when that my first published Tract called by the Printer The Vniversality of God's Free-Grace to Mankinde was put forth some Expressions there of it I wish were amended So that in this whole Chapter I own the blame of all the folly shewn to my self desiring of God as for forgiveness of all my Transgressions so of those in maintenance and favour of this old Fable or the last mentioned figment in Word or any Manuscript of mine desiring him that hath freed me to free others And yet I believe the eternal Purpose of God and the Foundation he hath laid according to his Purpose and his Election of that Foundation and of all in believing united to him to be verily true precious unmoveable unalterable as they are revealed in the Scripture as I have fore-declared CHAP. 12. The Conclusion about the Purposes of God to be known and believed THe Gospel as now come forth the Testimony of Christ in that which he hath suffered and done and what he is to and for them and what he doth to them that they might believe and what he will farther do to and for them believing his Father's and his own end in all this it is the Word and Minde of God yea the very opening and Declaration of the Heart Bosome Counsels and Purposes of God there is no Purpose of God cross to any part of this Testimony nor is there any Purpose that is God's but what is according to this Testimony which is the Word and Declaration of the Minde of the living God Rom. 6.25 26. Eph. 3.3 9. and called his Decree not to be doubted or waved from by any Suggestion of other secret Purposes or by feigned pretences of other meanings as if it were the Word of a Man that spake by guess or probabilities or according to appearances but to be believed and received as the word of the Almighty all-knowing God of Truth wherein the very mystery of his Will is opened to us Wherefore it becomes us neither to imagine our selves nor receive of others nor pry into any Purposes as if Purposes of God that are not declared in and according to the Testimony of Christ
ascended to Heaven and offered the acceptable Sacrifice and obtained eternal Redemption and so is the Propitiation for our sins and Grace is onely by him And Truth that is fulfilling of the Promises he being immeasurably filled with the Holy Ghost in our Nature and the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him bodily he is The Temple of God the High-Priest The Laver of Regeneration the Altar the Sacrifice The Propitiatory The Oracle c. the Truth of all figured by those is in him and so by him and had in having him and this vertuous from the beginning and so even then though in a more hidden way Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ. But now he hath come and done his first Work this mystery is manifested and the Spirit hath testified of him and this Testimony is Spirit and Life by which such as are led to believe in Christ do meet with Truth and so are said to worship him in Spirit this gracious Law opposed to that of Works and Types and in Truth acknowledging the Truth in Christ and meeting with him in believing on him as having done his first work for them Job 4.21 22 24. 1 Joh. 5.19 20. and now about the other in them and so they worship God in and through him and that they might thus do God hath done and provided all this in his Son and so made him known And so upon this account of Christ his being so full of Grace and Truth and having been so manifested also in the Nature of Man John Baptist in respect of himself and the first witnesses renders it in these words Joh. 1.14 16 17 vers 17. as the ground of that he affirmed vers 16. For of his fulness have we all received Grace for Grace other profitable senses of this noted before I onely now note this That as Moses received a Law of works and shadows to nurture the people Par. 3. ch 4. that in judging themselves for their sins by one part of the Law and looking to Christ that was to come in their use of the Types the other part of the Law they might through Christ receive Grace as all that so looked did but he having come hath abounded farther to us and we have of him received Grace a Gospel of Grace with a Law of Grace and a Spirit of Grace discovering the Atonement made and forgiveness in the Blood of Christ and Truth fulfilled in him so by the Grace of God in that Cross of Christ he suffered to shew Men the vileness of their sins the vanity of their Righteousness and yet through the same Cross to shew them the great Love Righteousness and Propitiousness of God the pardon of their sins in the Blood of Christ and the fulness of Love and Spirit in Christ to draw them in to believe assuring them in believing they shall receive forgiveness c. and so we have Grace that we may receive and declare Grace and God hath engaged himself that he will so witness of Christ Isa 42.1 8. 55.5 Joh. 3.15 16. Rom. 10.9 10 13 15. Act. 15.9 10 11. Gal. 5.6 1 Joh. 3.23 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5. 1 Ioh 1.7 9. and he shall so far proceed with Men where the Gospel comes that they shall have their eyes opened that they may see and believe and hath also engaged himself to all that where the Gospel comes do according to the Light and Power he giveth believe on him he will save pardon and enlive them and write his Law in their Hearts And this Faith working Love he putteth no farther burden or yoke on any but to believe him and love one another and he will preserve them through Faith to the Inheritance and if they fail confess their failing and through the Mediator they shall be forgiven and cleansed And thus far the New Testament is and is to be held forth to all that live under the Gospel and all the baptized in the Name of the Lord have set their Hands to this Engagement and may live in hope of having it personally made with them but yet the personal making of this New Testament with Believers is yet a farther business see how that is exprest in Scripture also 2 Cor. 3.3 Tea are manifestly declared the Epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of Stone but in the fleshly tables of the heart It is express throughout this Chapter That the Apostle speaks here of the New Testament opposed to the Old Testament and so likewise it is evident here That in preaching the Gospel as now come forth they did also therein minister the New Testament 1 Cor. 1.6 7. and so it is here also evident That when Men in believing the Testimony of Christ in the Gospel come to believe on Christ then they receive the New Testament and how they receive it and what it is see here 1. Phil. 3.3 7 8 9 In believing on Christ the Grace believed breaketh the stoniness of the Heart and taketh down the pride and stoutness of it and humbleth and melteth it and enamoreth it with Christ and so makes the Heart fleshy tender flexible fit to receive his Sayings Teachings and Impressions And then 2. His making the New Covenant with them is begun by writing his Minde Heb. 8.10 2 Cor. 4.13 2 Tim. 1.7 his Design his Epistle by his own Spirit in their so prepared Heart giving into their Heart the Spirit of Faith of Love of Power and of a sound Minde so that they have in them a new Heart a new Spirit a new Man an inward living Principle derived from the Fountain in which they believe inclining them to love God and their Brother and to live by Faith and walk in Love and so to seek the farthering of his design in seeking the Honour of God in the Salvation of Men and the Prosperity of his Church so looking and waiting for the coming of the Lord the Spirit herein springing up Love Rom. 8.28 Joy Peace c. And this is a Dispensation of a spiritual first Fruits of the everlasting Covenant made with Abraham Isaac and Jacob and no otherwise made with any since excepting David about the Kingdom but in such a begun-performance But then minding the words and the Apostles scope in this place with other places speaking of the same business and we shall see That 3. In this Dispensation of Grace by his Spirit there is made a double Engagement on the part of Christ and on the part of the Believers in which respect it is rightly called a New Testament in opposition to the Old Testament given by Moses which also in this Dispensation is written not with Ink as the Old Testament was nor in Tables of Stone as one part of that was nor in Leaves of Parchment or any such thing as another part of that was but even in their Heart that is That Jesus Christ will
And exhortation to them vers 6. And admonition to them that none beguile them vers 4.8 either with inticing words or Philosophy and vain deceit or by shews of humility and great knowledge intruding themselves into things they have not seen c. and so happily either pressing them to Law-observances for their perfection or to some humane and self-mortifications or to look for some particular words or some degree and condition in attainments or some secret decree of election that was of their persons before their calling or any thing what ever besides that which is discovered to them in Christ As if there were not enough in him to be received in beleeving on him And so hee warns to beware that we be not removed from him and that hope of the Gospel given us in beleeving on him Col. 1.22 23 24. For he will present us blameless if we continue in the faith c. This is the Apostles doctrine and scope as appears in this and former and following Chapters cleerly so as in all the proofs not a syllable to maintain any true faith of a second kinde nor the cause contended for but much rather that he contendeth against and more need not bee said but only to view his terms about their priviledges in the works of God passed on them which also are needful to be considered CHAP. XXII Of the terms of Gods works passed on beleevers in this Concernment OF these terms understood as is fore-shewn and some so molified as hath been shewn before in Pages 414 435 436. they may be all received As for the term Regenerated it is not used here and hath been considered where it is onely here let that place Mat. 19.28 Ye which have followed me in the Regeneration c. be considered he saith not Ye which are regenerated as speaking of a work done but a doing and it may be taken both for Regeneration and the Ministry of Regeneration in both which they were then following him Now what was the Regeneration of Christ surely he needed none of heart spirit or disposition he was holy in and from conception and knew no sin but he had a weak frail and mortal body of the seed of David Abraham Adam and how was that regenerated but through many sufferings and death in the resurrection from the dead Luke 24.26.45 46 47. Isa 53 8 10 11 Psal 2. Act. 13.33 And so he passâ—â—on through sufferings till he was truly dead and in the resurrection he was begotten there was his regeneration and such as are so raised are his generation or regenerated people whence such promises to be performing in the spirit and soul as through dying with Rom. 6 4 5. 2 Tim. 2 11. Phil. 3.9.10 11 12 13. Joh. 15 16-25 Mat. 10. 24 9-13 and for him we are conformed to his death for we need it in that and in soul and body after we are truly dead in the resurrection of the just and those that follow him so to the death shall then enjoy that promised Mat. 19.28 and such desires of conformity to him in sufferings And as for the ministration of Christ for regeneration of others it was a ministration carried an end through sufferings in which he persevered to the end and so must that ministration of his servants be also and he that perseveres in following him in that to the end shall enjoy also that promised And that regeneration is thus to be understood here for a work not compleatly yet done but in doing both in regeneration and ministration of it is evident by the Spirit in Luke mentioning the same thing so far as they had proceeded in it saith Luke 22.28 29 30. Yee are they which have continued with me in my temptations expressing that as the medium through which regeneration is here attained which minded will help to understand all the terms that are here used The term Accepted I suppose he means it to be the same with Justified because there is no other quotation for it and they may well be alike taken and they are both alike true of all that are indeed beleevers without difference in respect of their persons as such and so sons by faith yet is not this acceptation and Justification answerable in degree to that which shall be in the resurrection of the just when their persons as Sons and all their wayes as becoming Sons will be alike accepted and justified but not altogether so yet yea in this life even beleevers in whom the faith is may be in that respect accepted and justified as Sons and yet some words or act and so a way of theirs rejected and condemned and they in that not accepted or justified but both reproved and corrected No doubt but Moses and Aaron aboad in the faith Numb 20.12 and were accepted as the Saints of the Lord yet their failing in an act of faith and not honouring the power and freeness of Gods mercy before the people was reproved and they corrected for it No doubt but Peter aboad in the faith and love of his Master Maâ— 16.22.23 and was accepted as a true disciple yet not acting rightly in his faith his carnal counsel is rejected as proceeding from some suggestion of Satan to whom Christ as in Mat. 4. saith Depart and Peter sharply reproved 1 Cor. 11.30 32. No question but those corrected with weakness sickness and some with death for so gracious an end were true beleevers and so accepted but their demeanor not suitable to their faith was deeply reproved and chastened And the same I conceive of David Psal 32. though at one time foulely faln yet not utterly departed from the faith and his beleef in God and adoration of him for then what caused that great grief and disquietness of heart nor yet wholly out of favour of God in respect of his person as the Lords servant but in respect of his evil way disallowed 1 King 15.5 reproved and sorely afflicted And this I conceive because David is affirmed not to have turned aside c. all the dayes of his life it is not said save onely in that time in which sure were many other matters but save onely in the matter of Vriah Rom. 3.22 25. 5.8 3.25 4 5. 10 9 10. c. And the word Accepted thus understood is safe and good for all beleevers and so the word Justified also But for the rest there are quotations to be viewed Rom. 5.1 The Apostle had before discovered what true faith is in respect of the object Christ as having dyed rose c. And the true beleeving begot by the discovery of this object which is therefore called faith first in the beginning bringing to and closing with him namely an hearty beleeving That this Jesus is the Christ and that he dyed for our sins and rose for our justification and is the Lord of all and the propitiation for our sins this is the
and this is the refreshing c. And that it was this is evident vers Act. 10.36 39 40 42 43. Joh. 3 14-17 Luk. 24.45 46 47 48. Joh. 15.4 5 6 7. 16. and the same commanded by him to the first Witnesses of Christ to the same end 2. This also was both appointed and practifed by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in his own personal Ministration yea he affirms plainly That as no Man in any spiritual good so Ministers for bringing any Fruit to God in their Ministration without him they can do nothing 3. This also of Christ having once died Joh. 15.26 27. Act. 5.31 32. and being risen and offered himself a Sacrifice to God for us all and being accepted of God and so displayed in the Gospel ministred is that by and of and with which the Holy Ghost restifying of Christ doth both convince teach and lead c. 1. He thus convinceth of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgement Joh. 16.7 8 9 10 11. 1 Joh. 5.9 10 11. Isa 55.4 Joh. 5 37-40 15.22 Of Sin because they believe not on him that died for their sins and made peace by his blood in whom God hath given us Eternal Life of whom God hath born witness and through him testified his Love that men might believe and in believing have Life Of Righteousness That all compleat Righteousness is in him Heb. 9.7 12 14 10 1-11 12 14. and all other Righteousness of Men vain seeing all other High-Priests entring the holy of holies came forth again still to offer with Blood and Sacrifices again but he having approached to his Father with that one offering it is so accepted that he comes forth no more to suffer and offer himself a Sacrifice propitiatory again but is set at the right hand of God an evident demonstration of Righteousness compleated in and by him and the vanity of all other Righeousness besides Of Iudgement because the Prince of this World is judged already Christ having by death overcome him that had the power of death Meb 2.14 Col. 2.14 15 16. Col. 2.3 16. Mat. 28.18 Joh. 5.27 29. having spoiled Principalities and Powers and made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it So that he is rightful Lord of all and all Judgement is in his hands both for discerning appointing and sentencing To which acknowledgement of all this if Men yield not now Isa 45.21 22 23. Phil. 2.9 10 11. 2 Thes 2.10 in these his gracious convincements they shall at the last day be brought to it by his irresistable Force when they shall be left without excuse and justly condemned because they did not receive his convincements when in acknowledgement they might have been saved 2. He also even thus and by this foresaid teacheth the convinced Believers and so leadeth them into all Truth not by a speaking of himself giving immediate Light Inspirations Motions and Dictates without any Ground or Bottom from the Sacrifice of Christ nor by an Exaltation of his own Shines or Inspiration to bottom the Believers on them or lift them up by them nor doth he take of the things of the Believers as they are Heirs either their Righteousness their Changes their Visits or any thing wherein they are better than others to ground their Faith on nor doth he discover to them any secret purpose counsel or election of God concerning them preceding the Death and Oblation of Christ Joh. 16.13 14 15. 14.26 15.26 27. with Luk 24.46 47. 10.3 7 9. purchasing the same and as the Fountain of the same to them But he speaking not of himself but of what he receives from the Father and the Son from whom he proceeds and in bringing to minde his sayings he taketh of the things of Christ his Death Resurrection Sacrifice-offering Peace mad â—nd the Father's Acceptance and Exaltation of him and so of his Sonship Election Fulness and Priviledges and so glorifying him doth lead Believers into all Truth 3. This also the Apostles and first Witnesses of Christ Act. 2 32-38 3 15-26 10 36-43 13.23 47. 2 Cor. 13 14-21 according to the Command of God and Christ and the Spirits guidance practised in their Ministration preaching this Oblation and by and with it all their Reproofs Exhortations Instructions and Consolations yea they determined in their Ministrations to the People not to know own 1 Cor. 2.1 2. approve or make use of any thing save Jesus Christ and him crucified not any other Doctrine Counsels Works Learning Wisdom of Words or Excellency of Speech among their Hearers whence their whole preaching is called 1 Cor. 1.18 19 20.24 The preaching of the Cross and that said to be the power of God to us which are saved though to unbelievers foolishness and a Stumbling-block such fulness they saw in this Oblation of Christ and such use did they make thereof in all their Ministration 4. This Death and Sacrifice of Christ the Purgation made thereby Mat. 28.19 Mar. 6.15 with Iuk 24.46 47 48. Rom. 4.11 with Col. 2.11 12. Rom. 6 3-8 1 Cor. 12.13 Gal. 3.13 14 27. and the Essicacies thereof is that which Baptism with Water in the Name of the Lord in its way and as an addition to vocal preaching of the Gospel doth preach and witness and into which we also are baptized when and as we are spiritually baptized into Christ 5. This also is that the continual remembrance whereof we are to celebrate and shew forth in our use of the Supper of the Lord till he come again 1 Cor. 11.23 24 25 26. 6. It is this and this only in and by which is opened for us the new and living way for all our approach to God Heb. 10.18 19 20. Joh. 10.7 9. 14.6 Eph. 2.13 18. and into union and fellowship with him and his people and acceptable service of both So that this Doctrine of the Oblation of Christ for us all is that with which the Ministers of the Gospel are to do all their work in their Ministration and so doing and so speaking Prov. 14.7 1 Pet. 4.11 1 Joh. 2.20 21 27 28. 2 Tim. 2.15 they shall speak with the Lip of Knowledge and as the Oracles of God and teach as the anointing Believers have received teacheth and so divide to every one their Portion and answer all the cavilling Objections of the Adversaries that pretend contradictions in the Scripture for in holding forth this Oblation as is shewn they shall cleerly shew how Jesus Christ was before all things and yet as the publick Man after Adam and so how he was both before and after Adam Abraham David and how the Lord and yet the Son of David and how equal to the Father and yet was in the flesh inferiour to the Father how as the great Sacrificer he died and offered himself a Sacrifice and Ransom for all Men and also as the faithful and persecuted Shepherd laid down
them and extending to some Revelation Demonstration and making known his minde and goodness to them and also dealing with Men from and for God in opening their Eyes and moving their Hearts to turn to God and look to him and be saved and again still dealing with God for Men for patience pardon and means still to be extended to them that so they might come to Repentance and Faith and that he in his Father's way may freely give it to them By which means and in which patience he is striving with Men in opening their Eyes and moving at their Hearts that they might believe and so from the prevalency of his Mediation by vertue of his Oblation he is giving them Faith and Repentance and such a Mediator he is for all Men yea so set to be of his Father and hath himself accepted to perform this Office also and is furnished for it with the vertue of his Oblation and Immeasurable fulness of the Holy Ghost being faithful able and constant in performance and so in respect of his receiving from the Father and so from God dealing with the people calling and making known God's minde being full of Spirit Love and Faithfulness he calls enlightens moves and so strives with all 2 Isa 42 1-7 45.22 49.6 8. 55.5 61.1 2 3. Joh. 1.4 5 7 8 9 10 11. Rom. 2.4 5. as hath been foreshewn a. And whereas men closing their Eyes which he hath opened c. not owning and receiving his reachings and motions which is the sin of the world he yet by vertue of his Blood and Oblation once offered so intercedes with God as to procure such forgiveness that they are not cut off presently for these transgressions but that longer time and patience and more mercies and means be extended towards them and farther strife with his Spirit that they might yet repent believe and be saved A gracious Mediator intimated to us in the Parable of the Vine-dresser Luk. 13.8 9. Lord let it alone this yeer also till I dig about it and dress it and if it bear fruit well if not then after c. If any say This is meant of the Church the Vineyard of the Iews I answer However meant it is spoken of particular Trees therein of some of which our Saviour saith Ye are of this World Joh. 8.23 Joh. 1.29 but it is plain express by Iohn Baptist Behold the Lamb of God which taketh or beareth away the sins of the world In which it appeareth evidently he speaketh of more than the Atonement and Purgation made and so of the sins taken away from before the Face of God at once by that one Oblation of his once offered yea he speaketh of a continued act by vertue of his Oblation in Mediation he taketh that is spoken of a present and continued business he taketh or beareth away the sin of the world that is his Office and his continued work That he is faithful in doing and how he doth it was long before prophesied Isa 53.12 He poured out his soul unto death and he was numbred with transgressors and he bare the sins of many And then speaking of another and farther business done by vertue of the former he faith also And made intercession for the transgressors A little of which we may see fulfilled in Christ's praying for them that crucified him Father forgive them they know not what they do Luk. 23.34 And this Prayer of his was answered yea in as full a sense and farther degree than that of Amos and they so forgiven this great Transgression that they were not presently cut off Amos 7.2 3 4 5 6. Luk. 24.47 Act. 2.38 3.26 5.31 32. but patience and forbearance and more and greater means extended and used towards them yea the Gospel after the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ first preached to them and Remission of sins c. according to Christ his Order so rendered and given to them And many of them did believe and receive the same And in like manner he procured patience and long-suffering for other great Transgressors even for the same gracious end That they might repent 2 Pet. 3.9 Rev. 2.21 2 Pet. 3â—â—5 whence we are willed to account That the long-suffering of the Lord is salvation Yea we are instructed into the knowledge of this Mediation of Christ by the Types of old the Truth of all being fulfilled and found in Christ Heb. 9.28 For Christ was once offered to bear the sins of man and unto them that look for him he shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation It is evident in this place That more is here spoken of and meant than bearing of sins in his Oblation-offering 2 Pet. 2 24. Col. 2.14 Rom. 4.25 Heb. 9.14 1 Ioh. 2.1 Rom. 6.9 for those he bare in his Sufferings and Death and nailed them to his Cross so as he did them all away in his Resurrection and then by the eternal Spirit offered himself a spotless Sacrifice to God in the Heavens nor can there be any more sin so imputed to him or so born by him he is just and can die no more but his bearing sins now is his taking them away and keeping the punishment of them off from us And this was also figured to us in the two Goats one slain for a sin-offering figuring out the Atonement made by the Death of Christ the other a living Goat Levit. 16.9 10 20 21 22. 1 Cor. 15.17 Rom. 4.25 over whom was confess'd all the iniquity of the Children of Israel and he bare them away into a Land of separation where no man dwelt to be charged with them So figuring out the Resurrection of Christ for our Justification and bearing away our sins the forgiveness whereof men perceive and receive in confessing and believing on him and yet a farther bearing away of sins was here typed 1 Joh. 1.7 9. in that it was of sins confessed after the Atonement was made over the live Goat that carried them away c. But I will not urge that but come to that which is more full and plain for this purpose Aaron the High-Priest did bear the names and the Judgement of the Children of Israel Exod. 28.29 30. when he went into the holy place continually and he with his Sons the Priests were to bear the iniquity of the Congregation to make Atonement for them before the Lord Levit. 10.17 and this was besides the Atonement made in the holy of holies once in the yeer And what bearing of iniquity this was may be cleer to us not that the iniquity of the people was imputed to the Priests and confess'd over their heads and they to suffer the judgement and punishment due to the peoples sins and to be offered in Sacrifice for them not so But as skilfull Hebricians say The word signifies and the Greeks translates so to bear and take away yea Numb 18.1 2
of which is spoken in many places a Deut. 18.18 Psal 16.10 40 6-9 Isa 53. 1-10 Zach. 9.9 Psa 68.18 and so he is already come and hath compleared that Work done in his own Body and can die no more nor will offer any other or more Sacrifice but liveth for ever in that glorious Body once offered in Sacrifice remaining still a continual Mediator and High-Priest by vertue of that Oblation 1 Joh. 4.3 2 Joh. 7. 1 Joh. 42. and he that denieth and confesseth not this and doth not in the belief thereof worship God is led by the Spirit of Antichrist The true Spirit confesseth this And of this coming is spoken in the former two Heads of his Oblation and Mediation by vertue of his Oblation all his stretching forth his power in providential Comings in Mercies and Judgements and in gracious Visitations or spiritual Comings are the effects and fruits of his Oblation and Intercession in his Administration in his bodily Absence But the second and next personal and bodily coming of Christ is in Glory and to take unto him his great Power and Raign and to receive to himself to raign with him all that have believed on him and suffered with him b Col. 3.4 Rev. 11.17 18. And this is the coming again of Christ which is here to be treated of in this Head and this his personal coming in Glory is that which was also spoken of by the Prophets Zachary The Lord my God shall come and all the Saints with thee c Zach. 14 1-5 Malachi The Son of Righteousness shall arise with healing c. d Mal. 4.1 2. Isaiah of the encrease of his Government and Peace no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom c. e Isa 9.7 And upon the first coming of Christ even before he had actually offered his Oblation this was declared in his personal Ministration by himself both to his Disciples saying For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels f Mat. 16.27 and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory g Mat. 24.30 Mar. 13.26 Luk. 21.26 and I will come again and receive you to my self c i Joh. 14.3 And also to his Crucifiers Hereafter ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hard of Power and coming in the clouds of Heaven k Mat. 25.64 Mar. 14.62 Luk. 22.69 And so it was likewise declared by the Angel The Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David and he shall raign over the house of Iacob c. l Luk. 1.32 33. And again upon his Ascension the Angel said This same Iesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven m Act. 1.11 And the same hath been also taught by the Apostles And he shall send Iesus Christ c. n Act. 3.20 21. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout c. o 1 Thes 4.16 Unto them that look for him he shall appear the second time without sin unto Salvation p Heb. 9.28 And this is testified to be the Promise of Christ and the Desire of those led by the Spirit of Christ q Rev. 22.20 Whence all unfeigned Believers are said to wait for his coming r 1 Cor. 1.7 Phil. 3.20 21. 1 Thes 1.10 And the Crown of Righteousness to be given at that day to them that love his appearing s 2 Tim. 4.8 And concerning this his next personal coming there is declared in the Gospel and Testimony of Christ these three things First The manner of his coming Secondly The Ends of his coming Thirdly The Time though not the day and hour of his coming Let us consider what the Scripture saith of each of these and first of the first point The manner of his coming It is expresly said 1. It will be sudden in an hour not known before he come Mat. 24.27 44. Mar. 13.36 1 Thes 5.2 3. Rev. 16.15 1 Cor. 15.52 even to his own and as a snare to all the Inhabitants of the World in a moment in the twinkling of an eye as a flash of lightning 2. It will be visible openly and discernable to every eye yea all the Believers those that are asleep Mat. 24.30 Mar. 13.26 Luk. 21.27 Rev. 1.7 Mat. 24.27 and those that are at that time living on the earth not one before another but them that are asleep being first raised then all at once together shall see him 1 Thess 4.15 yea every eye and all the kindreds of the earth shall see him it will be as visible as the lightning that shines from the East to the West 3. It will be with Power and great Glory 2 Thes 1.7 Zach. 4.5 his mighty Angels and all his Saints meeting and coming together with him And in such a sudden visible and glorious manner will Christ come CHAP. 17. Of the second Point The Ends of the coming of Christ. THe Ends of the next coming of Jesus Christ is for the fulfilling his Word and Promise in doing those things he hath said and that are testified of him to be then done by him which I may comprehend in the naming under these four Heads that is to say 1. To raise the Just that sleep in the Lord and change and make immortal the surviving Believers that have suffered with him 1 Thes 4.14 15 16. this is affirmed as necessarily included in the belief of all that do indeed believe Jesus to have died and rose again if we believe this then this also That even so them also which sleep in Iesus will God bring with him For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord That we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep for the Lord himself shall descend c. And the dead in Christ shall rise first that is before we which live shall see him then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up c. being in the very moment of their raising 1 Cor. 15.52 53. 1 Cor. 15.23 24. changed and for the Resurrection it is said Every man in his own order Christ the first Fruits that was in his personal Resurrection who is now ascended afterwards those that are Christ's at his coming And then speaking of another Time he saith Then the End when or then cometh the End and when is that End when he shall have delivered up c. As it is given out with an Oath That there should be Time no longer Rev. 10.6 7. Rev. 8.2 6 Rev. 11.15 1 Cor. 15.24 25. but in the dayes of the voicē of the seventh Angel which Angel is to found the last Trumpet which beginneth in Christ his beginning to Raign and endeth in Christ
21.27 Then the Law shall go forth of Sion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem then shall Jerusalem be the praise of the Earth and the Name of the City shall be from that Day The Lord is there yea in Jerusalem are set the Thrones for Judgement the Thrones of the House of David there shall the twelve Apostles sit on twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel all being but the Throne of Christ who overcoming through sufferings is now set on the right Hand of God and so set with his Father on his Father's Throne And when he comes to take his own Throne Luk. 1.32 Rev. 3.21 Rev. 22.14.19 Gen. 13 14-17 Heb. 11.9 1 Chron. 16.16 17 18. Psal 105.8 9 10 11. Isa 14.2 Zech. 12.6 14.10 Isa 61.7 the Throne of his Father David that God will give unto him he promiseth likewise to him that overcometh to grant to sit with him on his Throne so that all such shall have their part in this holy City Jerusalem which Jerusalem shall be in the Land of Canaan in which Abraham sojourned and where David though a sojourner also yet raigned there shall Ierusalem be and be again inhabited and resorted to even in her own place So as for the shame they have undergone c. they shall rejoyce in their portion therefore in their own Land they shall possess the double and everlasting joyshall be upon them 3. The extent and largeness of this Kingdom Dominion and Raigning it shall be over all Nations over the whole Earth Zech. 14.9 and so it is said And the Lord shall be King over all the earth in that day there shall be one Lord and his Name one And Psal 72.8 9 10 11. he shall have dominion from Sea to Sea and from the River to the ends of the earth They that dwell in the wilderness shall how before him and his enemies shall lick the dust The Kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts yea all Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him And so in Vision seen Dan. 7.14 27. And there was given him Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages shall serve him his Dominion is an everlasting Dominion and the Kingdom and Dominion and greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all Dominions or Rulers shall serve and obey him Rev. 2.26 And so the Promise And he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end to him will I give power over the Nations and he shall rule them c. even as I received of my Father Again Do you not know that the Saints shall judge the world 1 Cor. 6.2 4. The manner of this Kingdom in the beginning of it and till Christ deliver up the Kingdom to the Father it shall be Davidical his Regiment Providential among Men hath from the beginning been and till his next coming will be by wordly Governours which by a Divine power he raiseth up and putteth down and changeth by means and Instruments as and when it pleaseth him His Spiritual Regiment is and hath been and will be till his coming again by his Holy Spirit in and with his Word of Grace in the Hearts and Consciences of his Saints on Earth which is also so far Divine that he makes them Partakers of the Divine Nature though not all Raigners but sufferers in this world But his own Personal Regiment as Man and Son of David shall be Davidical though exceeding that of David as Truth is in all things and ever exceeding the Types in which also are some dissimilitudes as hath been foreshewn yet ever fulness in the Truth to answer all that by similitudes was typed or figured And so 1. Jesus Christ shall have the Kingdom of his Father David 1 King 8.18 19 20. 2 Sam. 7.12 16. Psal 132. 11-18 sit thereon and rule that House and Kingdom suitable to and excelling that said of and by Solomon the Type in which shall be fulfilled that promised 2 Sam. 7. according to his Oath mentioned Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy Throne c. and according to that prophesied I will raise unto David a righteous Branch and a King shall raign and prosper Jer. 23.5 6. and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth In his dayes Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is the Name whereby he shall be called Jehovah our Righteousness And this 〈…〉 this is 〈…〉 or Jer. 33.14 15 16 17. For 〈…〉 on the Throne of the House of Hyael And â—o by another 〈◊〉 phet In 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 be established and he shall sit 〈…〉 Isa 16.5 Isa 9.6 7. yea more 〈…〉 Counsellor The Mighty 〈…〉 Prince of peace of the 〈…〉 of David to order it c. And this 〈…〉 Apostle and by the Angel Act 20.30 31. Lub 1.32 Act. 〈…〉 13.36 37. 3.19 20 21. 〈…〉 to him the 〈…〉 not in the 〈…〉 raise the 〈…〉 sit on 〈…〉 Throne of David 〈…〉 in the 〈…〉 and Affairs of Men 〈…〉 shall the 〈◊〉 be and so and in that 〈…〉 2. In the Kingdom of David 2 Eam 8.18 1 Chron. 27.23 〈…〉 33 34. 〈◊〉 8.1 29.6 Isa 61.5 14.1 2. there ws both Rulâ—â—â— Subjects and 〈…〉 of degrees in both 〈…〉 also 〈…〉 some also of 〈…〉 over his substance for Land and Cattel and others for 〈◊〉 Affairs of the Kingdom even so in this Kingdom of 〈◊〉 The Inhabâ—â—â—â— of the twelve Tribes of 〈…〉 all parts of 〈…〉 own I and 〈…〉 Mat. 22.30 Mar. 12.25 Luk. 20.35 36. Rev. 5.10 1.6 1.10 2 Tim. 4.8 for ordering and Catrol 〈◊〉 such-like 〈…〉 Men but the Children of the Resuâ—â—â—â— on that are the compleat spiritually born Sons of God 〈…〉 shall be the chief these neither marry nor are given in 〈◊〉 riagâ—â— but are as the Angels of God these for the 〈…〉 of the Kingdom 〈◊〉 chiefest 〈…〉 King and 〈…〉 that shall 〈…〉 and to upon Thrones 〈◊〉 him 1 Cor. 15.41 42. Mat. 20.23 Mar. 10.40 〈◊〉 17.5 6. 〈◊〉 105 9-14 Heb. 11.10 c. and have the Growns of Kighteousness and Life 〈◊〉 among these 〈◊〉 there will be degrees one excelling anoâ—â—â—â— It is ordered for some 〈◊〉 on his right Hand and 〈…〉 his left 〈…〉 shall have the 〈…〉 King so he a Prince among them Dan. 12.13 Hag. 2.23 Mat. 19.28 Rev. 2.26 1 Cor. 6.2 Luk. 19.17 19. Mat. 25.21 23. Ezek. 34.23 24 and 37.24 25. Daniel shall then stand up in his Lot Zerubbabel shall be there as a Signet c. The Apostles shall there sit on twelve Thrones c. The victorious Saints shall sit with him on his Throne ruling the Nations All the Saints judging the World as Sampson
at his coming will be compleatly fulfilled as according to all this vision Nathan spake to David yea God spake the same in vision to David Psal 89. 1 Chron. 17.15 Psa 89.19 20 29 30 37. how he would exalt him and there brings in Christ under his Name as he had before done to Abraham and shews how he will beat down his Foes and make him higher than the Kings of the Earth how his Seed shall indure for ever and his Throne as the dayes of Heaven yet here in this Life if his Children forsake God's Law and walk not in his Statutes he will visit their Transgressions with the Rod and their iniquity with stripes but his mercy he will never take from him nor suffer his faithfulness to fail his Covenant he will not break c. once he hath sworn c. he shall have his Seed still and his Seed shall endure for ever and his Throne as the Sun before him it shall be established for ever 2 Sam. 23.3 4 5. and of this he speaketh Psal 132.11 18 and also in 2 Sam. 23.1 5. where mentioning the Ruler what a one he shall be and the excellency of his Raign David confesseth his house in his own personal Raign was not so with God nor in his natural Race did the Lord make it so to grow yet saith he He hath made an everlasting Covenant with me he saith not with my house as then it was but with me ordered in all things and sure and professeth for himself this is all my salvation and all my desire And David by the Spirit filled with the Knowledge of this Kingdom of Christ God did still by inspiration of his Spirit reveal to him and he by that Spirit spake of Christ the Anoynted the true David and Solomon the Son of David the Son of God the great King of him he saw and foretold The great opposition and raging conspiracies that would be against him in his first coming in the flesh Psal 2.1 2 3. Act. 4.25 and spiritual evidencing thereof to draw men in to him and this by Jews Gentiles Rulers and People The great sufferings that he should undergo by great and small Psal 22.7 18. 69.12 21. their laughing scoffing shaking the head at him piercing his hands and feet parting his Garments giving him Gall and Vineger to drink c. The Treason of Judas Psal 41.9 109.2 3 4 8. Act. 1.20 one of his chosen Apostles and the overthrow of that Traitor that rewarded evil for good His Death and Resurrection Psal 16.8 9 10 11. Act. 2.31 and 13.33 His doing the whole will of God and so ascending to Heaven Psal 40.7 8 9 10. 110.1 68.11 18 20. Heb. 10.5 6 14. Act. 2.33 and offering the acceptable Sacrifice and then sitting at the right hand of God receiving immeasurable fulness of Spirit in the Man and for Men and so extending thereof to the rebellions that he might dwell with them and to that end raising up many Preachers to declare his Name c. His coming again Psal 2.6 9. 149.4 9. and sitting upon his Throne and raigning and the coming of his Saints to raign with him and the great overthrow he and they all shall give to all the worldly Powers that stand against him and then the flourishing Estate of his Kingdom in Jerusalem and over all the Earth and this largely in the last Psalm which he sung and committed to the Church Psal 72.1 16. and most probable at the same time with that 2 Sam. 23.1 5. Yea Psal 102.16 the time of this his building up Sion and raigning to be even then when he shall appear in his glory All this and much more with the gracious requirings and operations of this Grace believed was revealed to David and he being filled furnished with the Holy Spirit hath declared the same and left it upon record in the Book of Psalms and so I leave it and the residue for such as desire the same to read there And so there was now a great explicite and cleer Revelation in which also was opened and interpreted to them the meaning of and the Truth typed by their Sacrifices and other figures and shadows yet it pleased God still to give more revelation of Christ and to explicate the Testimony in particulars more CHAP. 5. Of the fifth Revelation of Christ and the things of Christ IT pleased God by his holy Spirit to be still revealing Christ and the things of Christ in and to the following Prophets 1 Pet. 1.11 12. 2 Pet. 1.20 Luk. 1.70 Act. 26.22 and by them to Israel and Judah and that so fully both of his first coming and second coming that there is nothing of the things of Christ as then to come but it was revealed to and by them as to instance some 1. The Messenger that should go before his face or in his presence to prepare the way before him Mal. 3.1 Mat. 11.10 Isa 40.3 8. Joh. 1.16 20 23 29. Mar. 1.2 3. and the Doctrine in crying down all flesh and exalting the word of the Lord by which he should do it and the sudden coming of the Lord on the appearance of this Messenger which is now evidenced to be John Baptist. 2. His own first coming and living among men his Ministery Sufferings Victory and Works in each particular Isa 9.6 Luk. 2.11 Jer. 23.22 Gal. 4.4 Isa 7.14 Mat. 1.23 Isa 11.1 Luk. 1.27 c. Mic. 5.2 Mat. 2.5 Ioh. 7.42 Jer. 31.25 Mat. 2.16 17 18. Isa 61.1 2 3. Luk. 4.18 Psal 69.9 Ioh. 2.14 17. as to say a little his birth into the world of a woman a Virgin of the House and Seed of David his birth in Bethlem-Ephratah in Judah yea his flight into and return out of Egypt Hosea 11.1 Mat. 2.15 and the slaughter of Rachel's Children on that occasion in Bethlem His return to Nazareth and manner of living among men Isa 53.2 3 4. Mat. 2.23 Luk. 2.51 Joh. 1.46 7.52 Mar. 6.3 His Ministery his Miracles and Patience Isa 42.1 8. Mat. 12.1 18. His Parables Psal 49.1 4. 78.2 Mat. 13.35 His Zeal for purging the Temple Zach. 11.12 13. Mat. 26.15 27.3 9. Isa 53.7 8 10 11 12. Isa 7.14 Mat. 1.23 His Meekness and riding on an Ass and a Colt the Fole of an Ass Zach. 9.9 Mat. 21.1 10. His being sold for thirty pence the scattering of his Disciples from him Zach. 13.7 Mat. 26.31 56. His being scourged and crucified between two Thieves Isa 50.6 53.12 Mat. 27.26 38. Yea his Death Burial and Resurrection and his Sacrifice offered his being filled with knowledge and his Mediation on that account or by vertue thereof yea his being God-Man in one Person Emmanuel God with us 3. That in respect of all this which he hath suffered and done Isaiah 28.16 1 Pet. 2.5 6. 2 Cor. 5.19 1 Cor. 3.11 Act. 4.11 Isa 49.6 45.22 1 Joh.
writings we may discern that all the Sriptures testifie of Christ CHAP. 6. Of the next and sixth Revelation of Christ his person and personal coming in the flesh THe next Revelation of Christ was of his person and personal coming in the Flesh who he was what a one he was and wherefore come c. and this was first to Zacharias by an Angel Luk. 1.13 14 15 16 17. declaring his Son that should be called John to go before him in the Spirit and Power of Elias c. him before whom he should go the Angel called The Lord their God then by the Angel to the Virgin Mary her self declaring his conception and birth and who Luk. 1.26 27 35 Luk. 1.41 42 43 48 55 67 68 69 79. Mat. 1.20 21 23. Luk. 2.10 11 14 16 17. and what a one he should be and that he should have the Kingdom of his Father David then by the holy Ghost in the Prophecy of Elizabeth my life of Zacharias then by the Prophecy of the Virgin Mary the Mother of Jesus then by the Prophecy of Zacharias being filled with the holy Ghost then by an Angel to Joseph the espoused Husband of the Virgin Mary then to Shepherds by an Angel with a multitude of Angels confirming the same declaring his birth with the day and place thereof and that he is the Saviour even Christ the Lord and this tidings of great joy which shall be to all people And then by the Shepherds when they had both heard and seen unto others then by old Simeon who had it revealed to him and was inspired by the holy Ghost Luk. 2.25 28 32 35. and came and took him in his arms and declared him to be God's Salvation which he had prepared before the face of all people a light to enlighten the Gentiles and to be the Glory of his people Israel Luk. 2.36 38. And then by one Annah a Prophetess And after all this by certain wise men that came from the East to Jerusalem being directed to him by a Star Mat. 2.1 2 9 10 11. who declared him born King of the Jews and worshipped him and offered him gifts And after all this to John the Son of Zacharias declaring this Jesus to be The He Joh. 1.31 33. Luk. 3.1 2 3. The Christ c. to which John the Word of the Lord came at that time mentioned Thus and in many things now came to pass according to fore-prophecies Christ was declared to be already begun to be come in the Flesh and to be the Son of God and the Son of David the King of the Jews and the Saviour of the world the great Prophet and Messiah promised and that this very Jesus that was born in Bethlem of the Virgin espoused to Joseph and seen of the Shepherds and taken in the arms of old Simeon and witnessed to by Zacharias and John his Son even this very Jesus is he even the Christ c. and ready to set on his work And now the person of Christ thus come and thus witnessed and pointed out who he is and that he was personally on the earth and ready to set on his great business doing and that that very Jesus is he is more than ever was so revealed and manifested before and the beginning both of the performance and the more cleer opening of all the prophecies that have been of him from the beginning and so light began to shine forth more cleerly And now in this Revelation of Christ and for making him known according to this Revelation Isa 40.3 4 6 7 8. Mal. 3.1 Luk. 1.13 14 15 16.17 76 79. 3.15 16. Joh. 17.20 23. Luk. 1.15 44 76 78 79. Luk. 1,17 to prepare men that they might come into the acknowledgement of him it pleased God to chuse in Christ the Messenger of the Father and his own Messenger also fore-purposed and now declared to be his immediate Fore-runner to go before his Face to prepare his way and him he approved for this Ministration And for this blessed Ministration he was abundantly furnished in that he was filled with the holy Ghost from his Mothers Wombe and was confirmed by all the Declarations and Prophecies fore-mentioned given to him by the Spirit in the Prophecies and Instructions of his Father and was himself indued with the Spirit and Power of Elias to go on in his Ministration before the Lord and had the word of the Lord came to him revealed and inspired by God into him both in the Doctrine he had to teach and how to apply it to his hearers and also commission to testifie the Truth of it by baptizing with water And in this receit of the Word of the Lord that came to him he received his Commission to set on the business of preaching and babtizing and so did set on it in the fifteenth yeer of the raign of Tiberius Caesar Luk. 3.1 2 3 4. when Poutius Pilate was Governour of Judea and Herod the Tetrach of Galilee and Annas and Caiaphas High-Priests and what his Testimony and Doctrine was appears in that which is recorded of what he taught and delivered to be 1. That Jesus Christ is the Word that was in the beginning with God that was God and that was with God Joh. 1.1 2 3 14. Gen. 3.15 by whom all things were made that are made and that this same Word was made Flesh and dwelt among them Emmanuel God with us in our Nature and for us even he that was promised and manifested to do that great work for taking away our sins and destroying the works of the Devil 1 Ioh. 3.5 8. Ioh. 1.4 7 8. 9. so that in him is Life and the Life is the Light of Men and he is the true Light that enlightneth every one that cometh into the World 2. That he is the onely begotten Son of God and yet very Man full of Grace and Truth and being in the heart Joh. 1.14 16 18. minde and bosome of the Father knowing all his counsels and being one with him in his will and design and so in all his decrees and purposes and as Man having commission from him he hath revealed and declared him so as in knowing him his minde is to be known 3. That he the Man Jesus Christ being the Son of God Joh. 1.11 and perfect Man the Mediator between God and Man full of Grace and Truth declaring the Father he is so loving to Man and so bountiful to all that receive his Declaration and so believe on him that he giveth them of his own Priviledges even to be the Sons of God and so dispenseth to them of his own fulness so that as the Law discovering sin and sentencing to death and that part of it also which by types and figures in Sacrifices and purifications shadowing out a better hope to be looked to in Christ to come though afar off came by Moses even so Grace and free favour in forgiveness of
these Promises to be spoken of this is taken as granted without question they are Believers and have Faith already to whom these following Promises are made so as here is no condition required to be sought or brought but onely the use and exercise of that which of it self is working and fore-freely given not an ear but the use of an ear to hear given not an eye but the use of an eye to see freely given not a mouth but the use of a mouth given not a hand but the use of a hand given not simply life from death but the exercise of life freely fore-given So that here is fitness capacity and furniture as well as interest to receive these Promises and onely usefulness of that given which apts also to usefulness required for receiving these Promises which are not made to all Men nor to any Men simply as sinners and under no other consideration or qualification yea they are not directly made to any unbelievers upon condition of believing but onely so propounded that whoever believeth in Christ shall in that believing receive that grace which will interest them in them all so as they then appertain to him being a Believer and not before for the Promises to be spoken of are made to Believers the Disciples and Scholars of Christ and these may be ranked into four sorts 1. To Believers in several spiritual frames and exercises 2. To Believers abiding in their Faith Confidence and Love 3. To Believers for their abiding c. 4. To Believers for receiving after they have lived and died in the Faith CHAP. 2. Of Promises to them that are indeed Believers two sorts of Promises 1. THe first sort as I name them of Promises made to Believers are the Promises made to them in spiritual frames fellowship exercises and temptations in spiritual frames of poverty of Spirit mourning Mat. 5.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Luk. 6.20 21. meekness hungring and thirsting after righteousness mercifulness purity of heart gracious promises to every one of the Disciples in all these frames It 's evident these Promises were made onely to Christ his Disciples though in the hearing of the multitude to allure them to become his Disciples that so in becoming his Disciples they might enjoy them but to the Disciples they were expresly made and given neither were they given to those frames and qualifications nor upon a condition of having them but expresly to the Disciples already so framed and under such qualifications though in some sense they were sinners still And this is cleer in comparing the places where they are recorded together though here one of them and there another be in divers places of Scripture beside In spiritual fellowship when Believers are drawn together by and in the Name of Christ for Fellowship in the Gospel and Ordinances thereof there are gracious Promises to them of his presence and blessing * Psal 36.8 9. 65.4 92.12 13. Mat. 18.20 also there are gracious Promises to the Believers in their spiritual exercises as of Meditation a Psa 37.30 31 Prayer b Joh. 16.23 24 hearing reading and preaching of the word c Rev. i. 3. Mat. 28.20 Mar. 16.15 and also gracious Promises are made to Believers in their sufferings for righteousness and the Gospels sake Mat. 5.11 1 Pet. 4.13 14. d 2 Tim. 2.12 Mat. 19.29 Mat. 10.19 20. 1 Cor. 10.13 Isa 43.1 2 3. Heb. 12.5 11. yea even when they are tempted by Men or Satan opposing the Truth that is in them yea though as need is God's own correcting hand be upon them yea even in their bodily death Rev. 14.13 and many-like gracious promises these I onely quote for the Reader to search because I know not of any opposition by Brethren to these 2. The second sort of Promises are to Believers abiding in their faith confidence and love and so persevering in their faith love and noliness to the end and so not to any condition but to them that have faith already and enough in and from the Lord to keep them with him he promiseth them in their abiding in and with him many gracious things to be so received Gen. 31.3 32.9 2 Chron. 15.2 Mat. 28.20 Jer. 42.10 11 12 13 14. Hos 6.2 3 Heb. 3.6 14. 10.35 38. 1 Pet. 2.3 4 5. Eph. 2.22 4.12 16 Joh. 15.4 8 9 10 11. Psal 81.6 8 9 10. Rom. 6.11 14. 8.11 12 13 14. Gal. 5.16 Col. 1.22 23. 2.6 7. Mat. 24.13 Rev. 2.10 2 Tim. 4.7 8. as to instance a few first That the Lord is and will be with them that is on their side to assist and deliver them and do them good much like that to the Apostles an illustration whereof we may have in another business in our types and also That these revived Believers in following on to know shall know the Lord more fully yea also in this fast holding of and abiding in their Faith they are and remain his house and partake more of Christ and shall be built more upon him and grow up more in him unto an holy Temple yea and yet farther in this abiding they shall bring forth much fruit and glorifie God yea they shall abide in the love of Christ and his joy be in them that their joy may be full yea if they attend still to hearken to his voice the Commandments shall be turned into Promises to them so as he will so write his Law in their hearts That they shall have no other God but him and shall open their mouth wide and he will fill it and though they have flesh yet lusting in them yet it shall not have dominion over them nor shall they fulfil the lusts of the flesh but grow rooted and stablished in Christ yea not onely all this but enduring and abiding faithful unto the end even to death they shall be saved with an everlasting Salvation and have the crown of life Are not here gracious Promises Is there not enough in the Promiser and in him in whom all the Promises are Yea and Amen And in his spiritual presence and in the Spirit of faith love power and a sound minde given them and the tastes of the first fruits of his graciousness dispensed to them to allure hold and keep them with him yea to make them break forth and say with Peter Joh. 6.68 Lord thou hast the words of eternal life and we know and are sure that thou art the Christ c. whither should we go from thee yea with contentment and hearty desires Psa 73 23 24 25 26. to say as David Lord who have I in heaven but thee c. And whereas the flesh will be bogling Are not all the threats and curses denounced and annexed in the Demonstration of God's Minde against departure a good and gracious help for Believers to view and therewith to oppose terrifie and silence all the reasonings of the flesh And when the Wisdom
and Love of God hath so set them forth even to Believers for their good were it not sinful Jer. 23.16 17 27 32 33 34. by any dreams or colourable pretext to steal away the Word of the Lord in this respect from his People counting this part of his Word a burthen Surely it was not well done of Mr. Owen to alter the Words of the Apostle Heb. 3.14 in stead of For we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginnings of our confidence stedfast unto the end Pag. 429. to put in Those onely are made partakers of Christ c. and then to add words of his own viz. And for the rest they are not c. The Apostle not using that Language it is not well done of any to use it to take away the word in the force of the Spirits caution joyned with his consolation from Believers and that is something worse to give out as if that said 1 Sam. 12.22 were not the consolation given to all the people to whom Samuel spake to encourage them to obey his exhortation 1 Sam. 12.20 21. and the threat vers 25. a warning not to them all to deter them from disobedience but the consolation to one part of them as godly and the threatning to another part of them as wicked and that Men might believe this to make the one part of them like those spoke of Jer. 31. which speaks neither to nor of such a peculiar people as was then in being though Mr. Owen would have Men conceive so but of a Generation of that Nation that shall be left of the Sword Jer. 31.1 2 3 4 5 31 32 33 34. and found surviving when the judgements of God have been executed on that Nation that then after those dayes shall be made such a peculiar people so it was wrongfully concluded hence by him that the threatnings such as in that 1 Sam. 12.25 are onely to the wicked and not to the Saints but to acquaint them with the terror of the Lord how he hateth wickedness and the Promises onely to the Saints and not to the residue of the people that the wicked may know his love of goodness how this will stand with his two Sayings before twice mentioned of the Promises made to sinners as sinners c. I need say nothing but of that he saith elsewhere viz. That the Saints are only wrought on and perswaded by the love promises of God but not by the terror of the Lord and that is it they hold forth only to the wicked affirming the same of Paul 2 Cor. 5.11 This is not right neither for the very word in that Text with that went before 2 Cor. 5.8 9 10 11. includes the judgement also in which the terror is as that which was also in the motive of his own and other Believers being perswaded to diligence yea intimates it also to have had some prevalency with the Corinthians And plain it is there also 13 14 15 19 20. That he held forth chiefly and mostly the love of God in Christ even to perswade unbelievers and not the terror without it nor but for the contempt and refusal thereof but no need to strive about that is so cleer who can read that profession of Job so oft expressing it and concluding For destruction from God was a terror to me Iob. 31.1 23. and by reason of his highness I could not endure Psal 119.120 And of David My flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy judgements And of Levi that not onely feared the Lord Mal. 2.5 but also was afraid before his Name And of Habakkuk Hab. 3.16 who when he heard the voice of the judgements his belly trembled his lips quivered at the voice rottenness entred into his bones and he trembled in himself that he might finde rest in the day of trouble Yea hath not God promised to look to him Isa 66.2 5. 28.13 and appear to his joy that trembleth at his word when shame shall befal those that by devices labour to put it from themselves as not having any thing to do with them yet the Spirit saith expresly Prov. 28.14 Happy is the man that feareth alway but he that hardneth his heart shall fall into mischief yea was not Moses thus led for Israel Num. 22.6 15. Iosh 22.15 22. 1 Cor. 9.27 10.1 6 11. and Phinehas yea Paul in respect of himself and also directing all Believers to the same So that this fear in such as believe the Promises is no desperate but a hopeful fear as well standing with confidence as godly sorrow and mourning doth with rejoycing in the Lord as is seen in Job David c. So that this was rashly affirmed and yet worst of all that Affirmation of this Saying Pag. 221. God to be with us while we are with him is a cursed liberty left Men of departing wickedly from God it had not been well so to affirm of that saying of David to Abiathar 1 Sam. 22.2 â— Abide thou with me fear not for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life but with me thou shalt be in safety But when God in Christ Jesus hath called people to himself spoken peace to them in the Blood of his Son free'd them from the charges of the Law from the Accusations of sin and the tyranny of the Devil and terrors of death and filled them with the consolations of his goodness and promised them eternal life and also told them of the malice of Satan and the World and how they seek to devour them giving them this counsel and comfort saying I am with you and for you abide you in me and with me and I will be with you for ever and with me you shall be in safety but if you abide not in me you will be forsaken and lie open to all danger Shall any call this a cursed liberty c Surely Methinks if they could not see the goodness of it yet they should forbear reviling it knowing it to be the very Saying of the Holy Spirit in the Prophet 2 Chron. 15.2 8 9 10 11 12 13 14. to a good King and good People The Lord is with you while you be with him and if ye seek him he will be found of you but if you forsake him he will forsake you And this they counted not a cursed but a blessed liberty and it had as good a fruit in them Ioh. 15.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. And such-like Language used by our Saviour to his chosen Disciples who surely would have shunned it as blasphemy to call it a cursed liberty left Men of departing wickedly from God they knew it tended and the fruit of it in Believers was to keep Men both humbly and confidently to God If the saying startled and enraged him because it could not be answered yet so odious a censure trenching on God's own words might
perdition and destruction of ungodly Men yea of all that then will not serve Christ and his people yea all the Saints with him shall have this honor To execute vengeance upon the Heathen to binde their Kings c. as is said 3. Jer. 3.17 18. Ezek. 30.24 37.21 22. Isa 52.8 Jer. 33.7 8 9. Isa 19.24 25. Jer. 48.47 49.6 7. Rom. 11.15 26 27. Psa 126.1 2. Heb. 8.10 11. Jer. 31.31 33 34. 32.38 39 40 41 Ezek. 37.24 28. Yea they shall also be with him and see the natural Seed of Abraham that are at that time found surviving of the whole twelve Tribes of Israel from all the utmost parts of the World come into their own Land yea then will that be fully performed that is promised 2 Sam. 7.10 13. Isa 11.11 16. Jer. 31.8 9. And they shall not onely see this but they shall also see of other Nations come in together with them to worship God as Egypt and Assyria and of Moab and Ammon and Elam yea of all Nations that shall be left living upon the Earth Psal 66.4 and 89.9 O joyful sight what can this be to such as love God less then life from dead and ravishing and satisfying joy and yet this is not all for then also being with the Lord they shall themselves receive of the Lord the full of the Covenant and Testament he in the day of grace was for and to them being the Mediator of that Testament in their behalf the Minister thereof giving in a spiritual first fruits to their Spirits but now openly making it in performance both to Soul and Body and they shall also see it made with the whole house of Israel as it was fore-made for them with their Fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob yea in a fuller sense because not to be looked and waited for by Faith then but to be enjoyed in performance both to their Fathers and them so as they shall then all know the Lord and there will be no more any remembrance of their sins by him they shall have no more any hunger thirst pain or any sorrow 4. Then also shall they see Jerusalem that great City Psa 128.5 Isa 33.20 66.13 Jer. 3.17 Isa 9.7 24.23 Luk. 1.32 33 Dan. 7.14 Psa 72.8 9 10 11. 106.5 Isa 65.17 2 Pet. 3.13 Isa 9.6 7. 11.1 9. Psa 72. 75.1 2 3. Heb. 2.8 Psal 8.4 5 9. Rom. 8.21 22. the praise of the Earth the Throne of the Lord a quiet Habitation yea then and there shall they see Jesus Christ in his glorious Body The Son of David The King in his Beauty and Glory sitting upon the Throne of David his Father and ruling before his Ancients gloriously in Jerusalem and over all the Nations and Kingdoms of the Earth under the whole Heavens then shall they see the good of his chosen and rejoyce in the gladness of his Nation and Glory with his Inheritance for then they shall have a new Heaven and new Earth wherein dwells Righteousness the Creation restored to its purity the light of the Sun as the light of seven dayes the Earth bringing forth plentiful encrease and all Creatures at peace among themselves the people among them all righteous and not one suffered to live among all Nations that shall rebel against them all Righteousness and Peace and Prosperity streaming among them through the blessed Restauration by and Government of the Lord Jesus Christ the King 5. The Tabernacle of God Jesus Christ in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily and the holy City Rev. 21.1 5. 1.6 5.10 2 Tim. 2.12 Mat. 19.28 29. Luk. 19.17 19. which are these that have died in the Faith being risen and meeting the Lord in the Air comes down from Heaven in which God then dwelleth with Men having made all things new and now shall these Children of the Resurrection be Kings and Princes and chief Rulers in the Commonwealth of Israel and shall judge or govern the World and rule the Nations and so raign in this flourishing Kingdom with Christ on whom they have believed and with whom they have suffered yea now the Lord Jesus the King of Kings as he hath secured them from any hurt by the second death Rev. 2.11 20.6 3.5.21 2.7 17. 22.14 Mat. 10.41 42. Luk. 14.14 Mat. 29.29 Rev. 7.13 17. 11.18 so he will give unto them to sit with him in white raiment on his Throne and give them a new white Stone with a new Name even of Victory in it and to eat of the hidden Manna and of the Tree of Life yea also Rewards according to all their services and sufferings for his sake yea the Kingdoms under the whole Heavens shall be given to the people of the Saints Dan. 7.27 Rev. 21.24 6. Isa 66.10 23. Psal 72. Their exercise shall be a joyful and continual Sabbath-keeping with the Lord in singing Hallelujahs and new Songs of praise and all Nations shall acknowledge them The beloved and blessed of the Lord Isa 60.3 14. 61.9 1 Joh. 3.2 1 Cor. 13.12 Phil 3.20 Col. 3.4 yea they seeing Christ as he is and as they are seen they shall be like him but how glorious this estate will be is not yet manifested and so beyond our conceptions but onely that we know that we are now Sons and that in a measure we shall be then like him in glory And all these things may be seen more at large before in Part 2. ch 18. III. For the Promises to be performed to them when Christ shall have finished the work of the Davidical Regiment raised and judged all the Serpentine Seed and cast the Devil and his Angels and all the Enemies the wicked into the Lake of Fire and then delivered up the Kingdom to God even the Father the Promises to be then performed I finde no other but an Ascension or encrease of this happiness and glory in God being All in all onely this I finde That the Kingdom shall never end Dan. 7.14 27. Isa 9.7 60.19 20. 61.7 Luk. 18.30 1 Cor. 15.28 Psal 16.11 never pass to another people they shall be ever with the Lord and everlasting joy shall be upon them and they shall be in everlasting life for ever and for ever only the administration of the Government is exalted or ascended higher so as God is All in all in whose presence is fulness of joy and at whose right Hand are pleasures for evermore that this is and that so it shall be is exprest and so most certain and sure but what manner of glory it will be is not yet revealed nor will be till Jesus Christ come and take unto him his great Power and Raign And these be part of the Promises made to Believers to be performed to them 2 Tim. 4.8 after they have finished their course and at the coming of Christ and if Believers do well minde these Promises Rom. 8.18
calleth them that they may turn to him believe and live and that whoever cometh to him in this his Call Joh. 6.35 37 40. he will not cast out but receive them and give them eternal Life and raise them up at the Resurrection of the Just at the last Day 3. Upon the part of the Father again to Christ That he shall sit at his right-Hand till this Ministration be accomplished Psal 110.1 2. Isa 53.10 11. Joh. 3.35 36. 14.21 17.23 and that he will beat down his Foes and Enemies and make them his Foot-stool and he shall see his Seed and the VVork of the Lord shall prosper in his Hands and he will accept and love all his Seed that believe in him and love them even as he loveth him and that though the Devil with all his Serpentine Seed oppose his Ministration and hold out many from coming in to him Psa 2.9 22.27 28. 72. and seek to delude and turn aside such as are coming and raise up Persecution against him in the World yet his Ministration shall be effectual in many and he shall see his Seed and of the travel of his Soul and shal overturn and judge all his Enemies and then all the ends of the Earth shall remember and turn unto the Lord and come and serve and worship him and then he and all his Seed shall have a new Heaven and a new Earth and shall have the Kingdom and be in his presence with everlasting joy for ever and ever as is shewn before in the Testimony of Christ and Purposes and Promises And this is the everlasting Covenant confirmed in Christ for him and all his spiritual Seed Psa 89.19 37. Joh. 6.56 58. Gal. 3.16 17. Rev. 22.16 Mat. 22.43 44. Rev. 1.8 11. 2.8 3.7 14 21.6 7. and stands fast with him for them for evermore This was confirmed in Christ that spiritually was before Abraham before made to Abraham and so before the Covenant made with David for Christ also is the Root and Lord of David and indeed the Covenant made and as made with Christ is the onely original Covenant and that out of which all Covenants are derived that are for the good of Mankinde or Believers yea without this none could have been for the good of fallen Mankinde and the happiness of Believers And for the right understanding of all and every Covenant of God this is first to be understood The differences between the two publick Men the natural and the spiritual The Covenant under which the first fell and under which the second was made and having satisfied upon that account the Covenant both of Grace and Glory made with confirmed in him and so in respect of the business done 1 Cor. 15 21 22 45 46 47 Rom. 5.14 Mr. O. p. 9. the firmness of the Covenant made in viewing the publick Men oppose the second publick Man to the first publick Man and the spiritual Seed come into the second to the natural Seed come forth from the first and so what we have from the one to what we have from the other and not in such business oppose the first Adam to the Saints but to the King of Saints of whom he was a figure But now I will endeavour to say what I finde of Covenants derived from this made with Christ and through him made with Mankinde or with Believers and so to begin next with Mankinde CHAP. 2. Of the Covenant of God made through Christ with Mankinde VVHat that Covenant is That God hath through Christ made with Mankinde was not so cleerly opened in the beginning when first made as since and yet still it is not so cleerly express in any one place of Scripture as to be plainly there read but in searching and comparing divers places together it is to be found and so this we finde 1. Jer. 5.22 24. Job 36.24 33. 37.3 4 24. That the mercies of God extended to Mankinde through Christ the preservation and upholding the Heaven and the Earth and the Creatures in both and ordering all so sweetly by his providence for the good of Men yea the hinting and rumour of a Saviour extended through whom all this mercy is shewn All this doth still and more oblige fallen Mankinde Psal 104. all even all Men to adore and acknowledge this infinite Wisdom Power Mercy and Justice Love and Goodness of God and so to fear love and trust in him with all their Hearts Minde Soul and Strength and to love their Neighbour as themselves and to walk in this fear and love doing whatever the Lord hereby requireth of them and there is no natural Son of Adam Rom. 3.10 11 19. 2.19 that can free himself from being under this Law since the fall of Adam nor yet fulfil it and though God in and by Christ and so Christ doth not set Men free from being under this Law in themselves till his season nor will judge them in justifying or condemning them by it Rom. 2.24 15. 3.19 20 21. 5.20 Act. 14.17 17.26 27 28. yet there is an usefulness of it that is good in his sight and profitable for Men to which his mercy obligeth and that is that by the effects of this Law upon their Hearts requiring and excusing and accusing they see and acknowledge their sinfulness and the vanity of their best doings and so their need of a Saviour and Mercy through him that they may so seek after God and finde Mercy and free-Favour with him and this sense and use of this Law is also a part of his Covenant But to proceed 2. In the rumor of Christ to come at the beginning Gen. 3.15 1 Joh. 3.5 8. Heb. 11.6 Lam. 3.25 26. there was testified the Love Graciousness and Propitiousness of God in providing such a Saviour through whom Remission of sins and Life is to be had so as this engaged to believe him to be gracious a Forgiver of sins and a Giver of Grace and Life to such as seek him 3. Act. 14.17 17.26 27 28. Psa 19.1 6 Rom. 10.18 2.4 Psal 145.8 9 17 18. See Part 3. ch 1. The Mercies of God extended unto Men in his Works of Creation and Providence do witness forth the Truth of that-first rumored namely That there is some Atonement and Propitiation with God and that he that is so true and righteous is therethrough gracious and merciful which witnessing of his Goodness to Men engageth them in acknowledgment of their own short coming and inability to answer that Obligation in which they are naturally bound to love God c. in this acknowledgement to believe his Graciousness and therethrough to believe in him for life and in that Belief as a Testimony of Love and Thanks to him according to Light and Strength given to live to him and wait for his coming By all which considered we may understand That the Covenant of God
his Sufferings Victory Ministration and Raign and the Raign of his Seed with him and so of the Holy Ghost to be the Teacher and Leader of his Seed after his Suffering from his Ascension till his personal coming again And thus God planted them a right noble Vine Jer. 2.21.3 Hos 9.18 Psal 147.19 20. wholly a right Seed and so Israel was Holiness to the Lord the first Fruits of his encrease and he found theâ—â— thus of his own planting and bringing forth like Grapes in the Wilderness and as the first ripe in the Fig-Tree And thus were they preferred before all Nations in the World whom though he yet continued to them the means at first given and Covenant at first made with Mankinde through Chrst and so excluded them not so from Salvation Act. 10.34 Rom. 2.4 6 15. but that if any of them repented and believed according to the means vouchsafed they should be saved yet in respect of this knowledge of Christ and of any true outward form of worshipping God and enjoyment of the Priviledges of this Commonwealth of Israel they were strangers and though in coming to them and being circumcised Epb. 2.11 12 15. they might partake with them yet without that none of any other Nation could which was for the time a Law of Ordinances and Hand-writing against them so highly then did God prefer this People of Israel that in respect thereof Psal 114.2 135.4 136.11 14. Hos 11.1 Exod. 4.22 Ezek. 20.5 18 19 20. Josh 22. See for all said more par 3. ch 3. Jer. 2.5 21.22 Ezek. 20.7 26. Jona 2.8 Rom. 3.2 3. 9.5 8. they were his Sanctuary and his Dominion yea his chosen and peculiar Inheritance that he had redeemed out of Egypt yea his Son his first-born whom he led to and set in Canaan In all which we may observe That in this was the first literal performance of the Covenant made with Abraham Isaac and Jacob and that these Covenants and Promises and Priviledges were given to whole Israel in which they all had now more means then any other Nation to become of the true spiritual Seed being in respect of the worship set up among them and therein the outward Adoption and means of the inward wholly a right Seed and the Promises in that respect alike to all yet such as contemned and turned aside from these degenerated into a strange Plant and lost their own Mercies and such as in cleaving and attending to these were born of the Promise they were the true spiritual Seed And thus much of the Covenant once made with Israel the natural and proselyted Seed of Abraham that they might become a spiritual Seed c. and we finde this Covenant once made to stand firm in all Generations for every one of Israel till Christ came without making it over again to the whole Israel or to particulars and when Christ came and suffered for all the sins the Law could charge with and fulfilled in Truth that which was typed out in their Order of Priesthood Tabernacle Laver Altar Propitiatory Sacrifices and Washings then was the Law fulfilled and Truth found in him who is the end of the Law for Righteousness and yet there was among Israel another literal performance of a part of the Covenant made with Abraham viz. And Kings shall come out of thee Gen. 17.6 Psa 78.70 71 72. when he chose and gave David to be their King in Israel to feed and govern Israel and then we finde not onely a reviving of the Covenant made with Abraham but in respect of that part of it which concerns the King and Kingdom that shall be enjoyed in the promised Inheritance more opened and again made with David for him and his Seed which is to be considered also CHAP. 5. Of the Covenant made with David concerning the Kingdom promised to him for him and his Seed WHat the Covenant made with David was is express in 2 Sam. 7.10 17. See also par 2. ch 18. and 1 Chron. 17 9-15 and Psal 89 20-37 full and large and hath been before explicated in Part 3. Chap. 4. there read it And I will here onely add a few Observations about it as a Covenant I. That this Covenant in the outward and literal form and manner of making it 1 Sam 7.13 23.2 3 4. Psal 89.30 31 32 39. and in the Declaration and Ministration of it as to David and his natural Sons it was under the Law and Covenant made by God in Moses Ministration with Israel and so had many terms suitable thereto so that by their breaking Covenant they might fail and come short of this for a time and this appear as if failing them II. 2 Sam. 23.5 1 Chron. 17.10 14 That this Covenant was in it self and in the spiritual making of it with David for him and his supernatural and enduring Seed and his House promised absolute free everlasting ordered in all things stablished and sure the same and as made with Abraham III. That this Covenant was confirmed with an Oath as to Abraham before The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David Psal 132.11 89.34 35 36 37. he will not turn from it Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy Throne saying My Covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips Once have I sworn by my holiness That I will not lie unto David his seed shall endure for ever and his throne as the Sun before me it shall be established for ever as the Moon and as a faithful witness in heaven Selah IV. That this Covenant being a part of the Covenant foremade with Abraham Isaac and Jacob is no other but what was first made with and confirmed in Christ and then in and through Christ confirmed and made to Abraham Isaac and Jacob and now in like manner for this part of it explicated made to and with David for him and his Seed and for the good of all Nations that shall be joyned to them what manner of Kingdom and where I leave the Reader to see in the Texts Par. 2. c. 18. Par. 3. c. 4. 1 Chron. 16.15 19. Psal 105.8 11. and that fore-written Hence this Covenant is included in and minded in minding that made with Abraham Isaac and Jacob V. That this being of the same Covenant made with Abraham Rom. 4.1 5 6 9 11 12 13. to which was added the outward sign of Circumcision and given to the circumcised and under the Law given to the Circumcision and Circumcision abiding in its force and use until Christ came and that the Circumcision of the flesh was compleated in his sufferings here needed no other outward Token or Sign and Seal to be added in this new making of the Covenant it having that very Sign and Seal before and then remaining VI. That as the former making of this whole Covenant with Abraham Isaac and Jacob was 2 Sam.
7.19 24 29. 1 Chron. 17.17 27. even so this part of it now made with David is so made that it might have divers times and degrees of fulfilling as is also expresly to be found written The first fulfilling was according to the Letter 1 King 8.15 20. 2 Chron 6.1 10 1 King 11.36 suitable to the Covenant given by Moses that they were under and this began when Solomon was setled on the Throne of David and had built the Temple as is confest plainly yea and after a great breach yet a continuance of fulfilling avouched The second fulfilling is spiritual Luke 1.31 32 33 69 70 71 74. Joh. 1.49 Act. 5.31 32. 1 Pet. 3.23 Heb. 7 8. Psal 110.11 Col. 1.12 13. and that began when God sent forth Jesus Christ and he had suffered and overcome Death and offered up the acceptable Sacrifice and sate down on the Right-Hand of God and received all fulness of Spirit in the Man and sent forth thereof to Men to convince the Rebellious and lead Believers into all Truth and so by that Spirit rule in the Hearts of his People while they as he was are strangers and sufferers here and this is plainly confest and the continuance likewise The third Rev. 5.10 1 Thes 4.14 15 18. Psa 102.16 Heb. 11.13 40. Rev. 11.18 last and compleat fulfilling is That which shall be both spiritual and literal if I may use that term because it shall be on Earth though the Earth renewed and to Soul and Body though both spiritual c. and to all Israel yea this shall be to Abraham Isaac Jacob and all the twelve Tribes of Israel and all the spiritual Seed together even all that sleep in the Lord and all that are surviving at his coming when Jesus Christ will personally and visibly appear and come and take unto him his great Power and sit upon the Throne of David in Jerusalem and raign in Jerusalem and over all Nations of the Earth and all Kings fall down before him all Nations serve him And the Covenant thus fulfilled Heb. 11.14 15 16. 1 Chron. 16.15 19. Rom. 4.16 Gal. 3.7 8 16 26 29. 5.5 Levit. 26.44 45. Deut. 4.31 Psal 105.8 9. 1 Chron. 16.15 16. and this settlement and Kingdom is that which is promised and which all the Fathers waited for through Faith and which all the spiritual Seed are to wait for as Abraham's Seed to whom through Promise it is sure by Faith and they have professed so to wait for it the time place manner prosperity and duration of it being foreshewn and that God for performance of this and the whole Covenant made and as made with the Fathers Abraham c. hath confirmed for and will perform it to their Seed according to his Promise he doth for this remember this Covenant as made with them and wills us so to heed and minde and wait for it as sure in Covenant as made with them and directs us not to look for another personal making of it to us to make it surer to us to whom it is sure enough in that first making in Faith whereof we wait to receive and enjoy it and not for any other making but the making in performance The first fulfilling is past as confest to begin with Israel and Solomon and if any conjecture It was made again with Solomon it is cleer it was not made with him 2 Chron. 7.18 6.16 2 Chron. 7.16 22. 6.15 16. 1 Sam. 12.20 25. as with Abraham Isaac and Jacob nor as with David but as both David and Solomon was under the Law given by Moses and so God did graciously minde Solomon of the Covenant fore-made with David as he often doth Believers now without so making it over again with him and so Solomon understood it and he promised Solomon the continuance of the Kingdom in that manner he had received according to his keeping of that Covenant given by Moses and not otherwise and so he understood it and such was the promise to all Israel for the continuation both of King and Land and so the everlasting Covenant is fully and surely already made and other makings of it I have not to treat of nor other Covenants to be made but as they are Branches of this and made in some performance of this Covenant And so I shall mention three things in this business according to the performances of the Covenant made with Abraham and that is first In his sending forth and giving Christ the promised Seed displayed in the Gospel so he hath given him for a Covenant to be received by Faith Secondly In the Dispensation of his Goodness and Spirit through Christ he hath given by Christ a New Testament for the nurture and guidance of Believers and Receivers to the Inheritance And lastly In the coming again of Christ the making the Covenant by a compleat Performance I shall confider each of these CHAP. 6. Of Jesus Christ being given for a Covenant GOD promised Isa 42.1 6. 49.8 and according to his Promise hath given Jesus Christ The Seed of Abraham of David The Saviour of the World and Propitiation for the sins of the whole World The Lord of all and Head of the Church that hath satisfied the Law and is full of the Holy Ghost The Heir The King The Son of David and The Son of God for a Covenant to Believers the People that are his Seed so that he is The Messenger of the Covenant and he with whom the Covenant was first made and in whom it was confirmed to Abraham Mal. 3.1 Gal. 3.16 17. Heb. 9.16 23. 13.20 Psal 89.28 2 Cor. 1.20 Heb. 8.1 2 6. and hath confirmed the Covenant with his own Blood and with him the Covenant stands fast for ever so that all the Promises of God in him are Yea and in him Amen and he is The Minister of the Covenant by whom God will perform all that is in it And so I shall here onely in what is implied or exprest in this saying That God hath given him for a Covenant consider what I am helpt to underdand 1. That he is given for a Covenant implieth That he is given or made to appear in the Gospel Joh. 1.18 Mat. 11.27 2 Cor. 4.6 Heb. 1.2 3. Isa 42.1 6. 49.6 Gen. 3.15 1 Ioh. 3.5 8. Gen. 12.3 1 Ioh. 2.2 4.14 Isa 42.7 49.9 that he may teach and Men in beholding and minding him may know the Covenant and so be brought in to him to enjoy it which is a new and cleer and more alluring and powerful way of teaching it and bringing to it then ever was before so he is affirmed to be given for a Light to the Gentiles and to shew forth judgement to them and be God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth And this must needs be so when he is set forth who is the promised Seed that came to take away sins and destroy the works of the
same Spirit and Covenant yet there is as much difference between this given and that promised as between a handful or first Fruits of the Corn and the whole fulness of the Harvest which is in this making of the Covenant now treated of in which it appears they shall all be made sinless and righteous perfect in the love of God and one another compleat in all true holiness II. And I will be their God and they shall be my people Jer. 31.33 30.22 32.38 Ezek. 11.20 Exod. 3 4 6 20. Psal 120. And this appears in that which went before in verse 32. and several places to be spoken emphatically to be understood in a higher sense and after a more eminent manner then ever before for he was their God and they his people when they were afflicted in Egypt and in more manifestation when they were in the Wilderness and still more appearingly when they were setled in Canaan and his Worship setled among them and of these remaining while Jeremiah prophesied among them and still more manifestly in special manner Rom. 9.24 25 26. he is our God who believe in Christ and receive of the first Fruits of the Spirit and we his people but here is cleerly more implied to be done after those dayes and here and elsewhere exprest as namely That he will multiply his wonders among them and his favours on them so as he will make himself known to all Nations to be their God Ezek. 36.36 37.28 Isa 60.14 Ezek. 37.26 27. and make them known to all Nations to be his peculiar People when the Heathen shall know That he is the Lord and That he doth sanctifie and build Israel and shall acknowledge them The City of the Lord The Sion of the holy one of Israel yea he will set his Sanctuary in the middest of them for evermere yea he saith My Tabernacle also shall be with them yea I will be their God and they shall be my people And so he hath opened his own meaning And what this Sanctuary and Tabernacle is and from whence it comes and where it shall be he hath told us viz. Jesus Christ The Son of God The Son of Man The Man in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwels bodily he that is in the Father and the Father in him he is the Temple and Sanctuary and no other like the old Temple or new formed Church-Governments under the Gospel in this City for the Lord God Almighty Rev. 21.22 Ezek. 37.22 24 25. 34.23 24 30. and the Lamb are the Temple of it and he the Son of David shall sit on the Throne and be the mighty King and Governour among them and Christ also coming with his Saints those that in Spirit are now in Heaven the Jerusalem that is now above these shall come with their Lord and Master down from Heaven and receiving their Bodies glorified the great City the Holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God having the Glory of God upon her Of which it is said I saw the holy City Rev. 21.2 3. new Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying The Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them their God Thus we have it cleerly opened so that these Saints this spiritual Seed Dan. 7.14 27. Ezek. 48.35 See Part 2. chap. 18. shall be Princes among the people and sit upon Thrones with Christ raign with him And all the Kingdoms under the whole heavens shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High and all nations shall serve him and the name of the City shall be from that day The Lord is there Thus will God be with them their God and they shall be his people Thus owned by him III. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them Jer. 31.34 saith the Lord. To know the Lord is both to understand and know That he is Jehovah and that he is infinite in Wisdom Power Goodness c. and to know that is acknowledge Jer. 9 24. Joh. 17.3 love and adore him as the Lord as he doth discover himself such a one in and by his Son Christ and thus to know the Lord every Man except Jesus the Son of God that hath lived or doth live upon this Earth in their several Ages have needed and do need to be taught this knowledge and it is the part of every Man Exod. 18.16 Deut. 4.34 39. 6.11 7.9 Joh 5 27. 11.16 1 Chron. 28.9 according to his understanding and Faith to teach and receive teaching from his Brother saying Know the Lord. But because in respect of some this is confest of all I forbear further proof onely because some conceit established Believers past this need since Christ came I shall consider the place alledged for it which is 1 Joh. 2.20 27. Ye have an unction from the holy One and ye know all things The anoynting which ye have received of him abideth in you and you need not that any man teach you but as that anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is noâ—ly and even as it hath taught you you shall abide in him This place being a sweet needful instructing Truth crosseth nothing here foresaid for the Apostle speaks here of a first fruits of that promised spiritually dispensed Jer. 31.34 Heb. 8.6 10.1 Joh. 5.20 Rom. 8.22 23 24 25. Heb. 11. 13 40. Heb. 11.1 and not of the Harvest as a pears in his former after-Discourse for as he that receiveth Christ receiveth all things with him but still according to his receiving either by spiritual discerning and believing or by open sight and enjoyment so he that knoweth Christ knoweth all things but still according to the manner of his knowing either through a Glass dimly by Faith or else in open view seeing as he is seen Paul confesseth the first to be now in this life but the later 1 Cor. 13.12 1 Joh. 3.1 2. at the time we are speaking of and so this Apostle confesseth the former to be now but the later not to be enjoyed till the time of the visible appearance of Christ And so he saith not Ye need not that any Man teach you saying Know the Lord for that anoynting teacheth you of all things but that he saith is Ye need not that any man teach you 1 Joh. 2.27 but as that anoynting teacheth you of all things c. that is as the Spirit in the Testimony of Christ in that Doctrine of Christ in which he hath helped you to believe in Christ and by that Doctrine teacheth you of all things do ye