2. Who are the heirs of this inheritance 3. How God and the word of his grace doth give and is able to give them this inheritance 1. What is this inheritance It is not the riches honours and great estates here below thaâ— men are eâ—gerly seeking after and blessing themselves in the injoyment of it is not of this world Joh. 18. 36. nor to be fully and gloriously injoyed in the time of this world And this may be seen in the words It is not of this world because it is the inheritance of the Saints or sanctified ones now it 's evident that the inheritances of this world are not their peculiar portion for God gives the greatest part of these things unto those that are the men of this world they have their portion in this world their children are full and leave the rest of their substance to their babes Psal 17. 14. those that set their months against the heavens they have more than heart could wish they prosper in the world and increase in riches God fills their houses with good things Psal 73. 5 12. Job 21. 7 13. 22. 17 18. whereas generally they are the poor of this world who are rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which God hath prepared many of them are as having nothing having no inheritance here but are many times hungry and thirsty and cold and naked Jam. 2. 5. 2 Cor. 6. 10. And besides those of them that have here any inheritance they have it not as sanctified â—nâ—s but as men sâ—ns of Adam and upon a natural and civâ—l 〈◊〉 The earth he hath given to the children of men Psal 115 â—6 And this inheritance here spoken of is not fully and gloriously to be injoyed in the â—â—ne of this world because it is to be injoyed among all them that are sanctified many of whom are gone out of this world and many that hereafter will be of this number being not yet in the world but none of them shall be made perfect or perfectly and compleatly injoy this without the rest of their brethren those that have died in the faith have not received the promises and so are not made perfect without the surviving of that body and those that are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep Heb. 11. 39 40. 1 Thes 4. 15. Yea as the sanctified ones who are the heirs are more excellent than their neighbours Prov. 12. 26. so is their inheritance more excellent it is an inheritance incorruptible and undeâ—iled and that fades not away reserved in the heavens for them 1 Pet. 1. 4. and so not like the inheritances of this world which are subject to corruption and pollution and which will fade away for riches are not for ever nor doth the crown indure to all generations Prov. 27. 24. and the rich man here shall fade away in his wayes Jam. 1. 11. The inheritance then here spoken of is a glorious and eternal inheritance which all that are sanctified shall be made partakers of when those that sleep in Jesus shall be raised and the living of that body shall be changed Prov. 3. 25. Heb. 9. 15. of which having spoken so â—ewhat before I shall be the bâ—â—â—fer hâ—re and shall say 1. Thâ—y shall inherit the earth when God shall make all things new even new heavens and a new earth in which dwelleth righteousness 2 Pet. 3. 13. So it is often assured and promised they that wait upon the Lord shall inherit the earth the meek shall inherit the earth and delight themselves in the abundance of peace such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth Psal 37. 9 11 22 34. 25. 13. And this our Saviour confirms saying Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth Mat. 5 5. and therein they shall possess and inherit the Land of Canaan when it is made an heavenly Coâ—ntrey as it shall beâ— For the Lord will comfort Zion he will comfort all her wasâ— places and he will make her wilderness like Edâ—n and her desert like the garden of the Lord Heb. 11. 16. Isa 51. 3. This was contained in the Covenant which God made with Abraham c. That he would give unto him the Land of Canaan the lot of their inheritance even for an inheritance to himself and his seed which Covenant is not yet performed according as promised for he gave Abraham none inheritance in it no not so much as to set his foot on yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession and to his seed c. By faith he sojourned in the Land of promise as in a strange Countrey dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob the heirs with him of the same promise yea though David did injoy that typical rest yet he also confessed that he was a stranger as were all his fathers and so was not come to the inheritance as God promised it to Abraham Psal 105. 8 11. Gen. 13. 15. 17. 8. Act. 7. 5. Heb. 1â— 8 13. 1 Chron. 29. 15. 2. Herein they shall inherit glory Prov. 3. 25. even the Kingdom of Christ and of God when the Lord God shall give unto Jesus Christ the throne of his faâ—her David He then as King shall reign in righteousness and they as Princes shall rule in judgment Isa 33 1. He now washes them from their sins in his blood and makes them Kings and Priests and they shall reign on the earth Rev. 1. 5 6. 5. 10. they shall reign with Christ a thousand years Rev. â—0 4 6. the Kingdom and dominion and greatness of the Kingdom he saith not in heaven but under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high c. Dan. 7. 18 27. they shall judge the world 1 Cor. 6. 2. and have power over the Nations Rev. 2. 26 28. for Christ will grant them to sit with him on his throne Rev. 3. 21. 3. In this glorious place and Kingdom they shall inherit all things and God himself shall be their God gloriously their temple their light their salvation and their portion for ever Rev. 21. 3 7 21 23. So they are said to be heirs of God and coheirs with Christ Rom. 8. 17. And Christ saith The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance even of his people whom he hath chosen for an inheritance Psal 16. 5. with Psal 33. 12. he will then dwell with them and gloriously manifest himself unto them they shall see his face and inherit eternal life in the perfect knowledge favour of God and fellowship with him yea they shall reign for ever and ever See the explicite declaration of the testimony of Christ pag. 157 173. 2. Who are the heirs of and shall be counted worthy to obtain this inheritance All them which are sanctified consider here 1. What it is to sanctifie and who they are that are sanctified 2. By what means they are
the Lamb that was flain to enjoy it yet then gloriously of his fulness shall they receive and grace for grace They shall not then need those Mediums for their help that now they do whether they be Prophecies they shall fail whether there be tongues they shall cease whether there be knowledge it shall vanish away for we know in part c. 1 Cor. 13. 8 9. All those gifts of Apostles Prophets c. shall then cease for they are given from on high to continue till we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4. 8 13. they shall not then â—each every man his neighbour and every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know him from the least to the greatest Jer. 31. 27 34. Heb. 8. 11. and it appears this perfect knowledge they shall have through the sight of him Now in looking to him they are lightned Psal 34. 5. But Oh! how shall they then be inlightned when they shall see him as he is Hence their knowing now and hereafter is put as the effect and consequent of their seeing 1 Cor. 13. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part but then shall I know even as also I am known signifying that according to the sight of him whether darkly or clearly such is and will be our knowledge And from this sight and knowledge of him they shall be filled with love to him and God in him and with love and charity one to another for charity never faileth 1 Cor. 13. 8. their hearts shall then be ravished with him from that clear and open discovery of his love and loveliness their love now to him which is in part is begotten and increased through the understanding of his we love him because he first loved us every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God for God is love in this was manifested the love of God towards us because he sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him whom having not seen ye love 1 Pet. 1. 8. but when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away and they shall compleatly love him and delight themselves in and be abundantly satisfied with his love 1 Joh. 4. 7 10 19. 1 Cor. 13. 10. and shall be filled with divine love one to another yea and with all heavenly vertues when they perfectly know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge even all discovery and manifestation of it vouchsafed for it is greater than is contained in any revelation of it and therefore it exceeds all our knowledge and perception of it they shall be filled with all the fulness of God Eph. 3. 19. and so they shall be like to the Angels that do his commandments hearkening to the voice of his word Luk. 20. 36. with Psal 103. 20. his will shall then be done on earth as it is in heaven Mat. 6. 10. And in seeing and beholding him they shall appear with him in glory then shall the righteous shine forth as the Sun in the kingdom of their Father Mat. 13. 43. When Moses was in the Mount seeing and beholding the similitude of the Lord his face shone that the children of Israel were afraid Exod. 34. 29 30. with Numb 12. 8. yet he could not see his face or glorious appearance so no man hath seen him nor can see him but then they shall see his face and his name glory and dignity shall be upon their foreheads the Lord shall arise upon them and his glory shall be seen upon them Rev. 22. 4. Mat. 5. 8. Isa 60. 1 2. 35. 2. 6. In this glorious condition they shall then together keep an everlasting Sabbath in that rest or keeping of Sabbath which remains for the people of God Heb. 4. 9. and together shall they then sing for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion Isa 52. 8 9. they shall then sing Hallelujah salvation and glory and honour and power unto the Lord our God Rev. 19. 1 7. they shall sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb Rev. 15. 3. in which they shall with thankfulness and rejoycing remember the infinite grace of the Son and of the Father in him in what he hath done and is become in what he is now doing and in what he will then do all summed up in that new song of the four Beasts and four and twenty Elders mentioned in Rev. 5 9 10. to wit That the Lamb was not is slain and is raised again in that same body in which he bare our sins on the Tree and hath destroyed all our enemies by himself in the name and authority of the Father his own right hand and his holy arm hath gotten himself the victory he hath purged away our sins overcome and abolished death destroyed the devil and obtained all glory into himself in our nature and for us this is the song of Moses in the type The Lord hath triumphed gloriously thy right hand O Lord is become glorious in power thy right hand O Lord hath dashed the enemy in pieces Exod. 15. 1 12. God is gone up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a trumpet sing praises to our God sing praises sing praises to our King sing praises Psal 98. 1. 47. 1 6. and this the song of the Lamb that God hath brought him out of the horrible pit out of the miry clay and set his feet upon a rock c. And put a new song into his mouth praise to our God who hath so delivered him and made him triumph over all our enemies sin death hell Devil c. Psal 40. 1 3. 22. 19 25. This is the Psalm or song for the Sabbath day I hat God hath made Christ glad through his work in delivering him and us in him from all our enemies and exalting his horn like that of an Unicorn and anointing him with fresh oyl with the oyl of gladness above his fellows this is the day which the Lord hath made they shall then for ever be glad and rejoyce in and for it Psal 92. 1 4 10. 118. 21 24. And that he hath redeemed them unto God by his bloud in discovering the preciousness of it in his testimony and testimonies of his goodness out of every kindred and tongue and people and Nation when they were sometimes of them and so of the world children of wrath by nature even as others yet then God who is rich in mercy for the great love wherewith he loved them when dead in sins quickned them together with Christ as Eph. 2. 1 5. for this they are now instructed to sing Allelujah Psal 135. 1 4. Praise ye the Lord c. for the
will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness And Isa 43. 2 5. When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee fear not for I am wiâ—h thee So Hag. 2 4 5. Hence the Psalmist saith Though I walk in the valley â—f the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me namely I will fear no evil of or concerning thee I will not be jealous of my Shepherd and so I will fear no evil no adversity whatsoever for thou art with me to uphold and strengthen me with strength in my soul Psal 23. 4. 138. 3. This comforted the Prophet when in great affliction and inderision daily I heard the defaming of many fear on every side report say they and we will report all my familiars watched for my halting peradventure he will be inticed and we shall prevail against him and we shall take our revenge on him By the way they signifie that unless they could intice him or turn him aside they could not take their revenge on him but saith he the Lord is with me therefore my persecuters shall stumble and they shall not prevail Jer. 20. 10 11. And so He will preserve their souls from the design of Satan and his instruments that nothing shall be able to separate them from the love of God in Christ that love him and keep his word Rom. 8. 35 39. he will not deliver them unto the will of their enemies Psal 41. 2. He is faithful who will establish them and keep them from evil 2 Thes 3. 3. He will not suffer the feet of those that trust in him to be moved he that keepeth them will not slâ—mber behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep the Lord is their keeper the Sun shall not smite them by day the Lord shall preserve them from all evil he shall preserve their souls c. Psal 121. 97. 10. 1 Sam. 2. 9. My sheep saith our Saviour hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand c. Joh. 10. 27 30. Oh! what incouragement is given us herein to trust in him and not be afraid not to fear any of those things we may suffer but though bryars and thorns be with us and we dwell among Scorpions and our souls are among Lions and Wolves even amongst them that are set on fire whose teeth are spears and arrows and their tongue a sharp sword yet to walk in the strength of the Lord God and to make mention of his righteousness even of his only Yea He will cause all things to work together for good to them that love God who are the called according to purpose so as that in all the tribulations he is ordering they shall be mâ—râ— than conquerours through him that hath loved them and given himself for them Rom. 8. 28 37. and they shall be gainers by their losses and have occasion with thankfulness to acknowledge that it was good for them that they were afflicted Psal 119. 62 71. for his end in ordering the afflictions of the Gospel is for their profit that they might be partakers of his holiness Heb. 12. 10 11. he is refining them but not with silver he is chusing them in the furnace of affliction Isa 48. 10. Zech. 13. 9. Every branch in the true vine the Husbandman purgeth continually that it may bring forth more fruit Joh. 15. 2. and by all tribulations he is preparing them for glory and more glory for them Our light afflictions which are but for a moment work for us a far more exceeding eternal weight of glory while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen saith the Apostle for which cause they fainted not 2 Cor. 4. 16. 18. yea death is theirs and to die gain and the Lord knoweth how even by this means to deliver the godly out of temptation 1 Cor. 3. 22. Phil. 1. 21. 2 Pet. 2. 9. and their manifold temptations the tryal of their faith through which now for a season when need is they are in heaviness shall be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 6 7. And now in the multitude of their troubles and thoughts within them his comforts shall delight their souls Psal 94. 19. He is the God of all comfort who comforteth them in all their tribulations and as the sufferings of Christ abound in them so their consolation also aboundeth by Christ He is one who comforts them that are cast down and restoreth comfort to the conâ—â—ite one and his mourners by creating the fruit of his lips in his Gospel peace peace unto them 2 Cor. 1. 3 5 7 7. 5. Isa 57. 18 19. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Christ because the Lord hath anointed him to preach good tydiâ—gâ— to the meek To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion to gâ—ve unto them beauty for ashes the oyl of joy for mourning c. Isa 61. 1 3. He will then especially and abundantly cause them to prove the sufficiency of his gracâ— 2 Cor. 12. 7 10. that having access by faith into that groce wherein they stand even that grace that while we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly they may rejoyce in tribulations also Rom. 5. 2 3 6. Jam. 1. 2 5. He will give unto them his good Spirit to bring to remembrance the sayings of Christ to glorifie him and enamour their hearts on him and to teach them all things and so to be a spirit of grace and supplication unto them to teach them how to pour out their hearts unto him in what manner and for what things and in what incouragement Joh. 14. 27. 16. 13 14. Likewise the Spirit also heâ—peth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we oâ—ght but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be â—ttered Rom. 8. 26 27. and so to teach them how to answer adversaries and opposers This is the promise which our Saviour promised his Disciples when he sent them forth as Lambs in the midst of Wolves to preserve them from carefulness and thoughtfulness what to answer But when saith he they deliver you up take no thought how or what ye shall speak either as to the manner or matter for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak for it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your father which speaketh in you Maâ— 10. 16 20. And hence our â—aviour admonisheth them to settle it in their â—eaâ—ts not to mediâ—are before what they shall answer for he assuâ—es them in so doing he will
LIGHT IN DARKNESS OR A CONSIDERATION OF A Comfortable and Instructive Resignation OF THE Church of God By an Eminent and Faithful Watchman upon his Departure OCCASIONED By the sad loss of that Faithful and painful Labourer in the Lord Mr. Thomas Moor Junior By C. P. Look away from me I will weep bitterly labour not to comfort me because of the spoyling of the daughter of my people For it is a day of trouble and of treading down and of perplexity by the Lord God of hosts in the valley of Vision breaking down the Walls thereof c. Isa 22. 4 5. Rejoyce not against me O mine enemy When I fall I shall arise when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him until he plead my cause and execute judgment for me he shall bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteousness Then she that is mine enemy shall see it and shame shall cover her which said unto me Where is the Lord thy God c Mica 7. 8 9 10. London Printed in the Year 1669. To the Reader Christian Reader WHAT the occasion of the following Discourse is thou mayest see before viz. the death of one that laboured abundantly in the Work of the Lord yet not he but the grace of God that was with him whom the Lord in testimony of high displeasure to the survivers took away to himself in the midst of his dayes and Work and thereby hath occasioned and increased mourning and lamentation in the daughter of his Judah Oh! that while he is thus lifting up his hand we may see wherefore he is thus contending with us that we may turn to him that smiteth and seek the Lord of hosts lest his wrath further break forth as fire and devour and there be none to quench it He was one that was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for he knew that it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth and therefore he determined to know nothing else in and unto all things save Jesus Christ and him crucified as he is evidently therein set before us and pourtrayed unto us and did not preach himself but Jesus Christ the Lord nor was his zeal exercised about indifferent things or lighter matters for he was well assured that the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink and so not dayes and times and places and gestures and circumstances and such things as perish with the using but righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost and therefore did in these great things of God's Law serve Christ and so was acceptable to God and profitable to men he was even set for the defence and confirmation of the Gospel and that was to him the joy and rejoycing of his heart and he had all his confidence begun and strengthned from the kindness and love of God our Saviour to mankind and his feeding upon the flesh of Christ that was given for the life of the World and the grace of God therein commended by which Jesus Christ tasted death for every man and in the vertue of his blood is raised again in that same body in which he bare our sins on the Tree this was the beginning of his confidence and not some secret thing with him or peculiar manner of love to him the reason of his hope the answer of his good conscience towards God the foundation of his faith and hope the argument by which he was reconciled to God and strengthned to look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life and where-through his heart was purified and principled to the unfeigned love of the brethren and to the love of all men yea of his enemies from hence his hearts desire and prayer to God for them was that they might be saved The love of Christ did constrain him to perswade men and pray them to be reconciled to God and receive his grace to purpose whether he were looked upon as one besides himself or as a sober man because he thus judged that if one died for all then were all dead and he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live to themselves but to him that died for them and rose again In preaching the word he was instant in season and out of season and was to that end that Christ might be magnified and therein mens good indeavoured and especially the profit of the houshold of faith pursued in journeying often in weariness and painfulness in watchings often c. Who was weak and he was not weak Who was offended and he burned not And in preaching Christ he did warn every man as he had opportunity and teach every man in all wisdom that he might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Whereunto he did also labour striving according to his working which wrought in him mightily He hath fought the good fight he hath finished his course he hath kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give to him at that day and not to him only but also to all them that love his appearing Doubtless God in such strokes is signifying his great displeasedness with us in removing so untimely one so much framed to a like mindedness with himself in Christ whose heart was fixed to indeavour the good of all men especially of them that believe sutable to the mind of the living God who is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 4. 10. As if he were hereby beginning to rise up out of his wonted place of mercy and to for sake us and wo will be to us when he depart eth from us Oh! that we may consider his work and the operation of his hands lest he destroy us and not build us up In this day suâ—ely the Lord God of hosts is calling to mourning and to weeping and to baldness and to girding with sackcloath Oh! that there may not be beheld among us joy and gladness slaying Oxen and killing sheep eating flesh and drinking wine But O daughter of Zion let tears run down like a River day and night give thy self no rest let not the apple of thine eyes cease Arise cry out in the night in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord lift up thine hands towards him He hath trodden under foot thy mighty men for this thou hast cause to weep that thou shouldst procure such testimonies of displeasure to thy self and that thine eye thine eye should run down with water because the Comforter that should relieve thy soul is far from thee Oh! that we may yet turn again to the Lord. We have still a Lord to turn to when the servants are removed the great shepherd to direct our eyes and hearts to when under-shepherds are taken away And to
care And now Brethren I commend you to God c. In which resignation we have 1. The time of it Now. 2. The persons whom he resigns Brethren 3. The resignation it self I commend you c. 1. The time when he thus solemnly resignes them Now namely 1. When they were full of heaviness and sorrow had filled their hearts because of his departure from them for ever as to any further personall visiting of them or being visited by them he did not cease or fail from among the children of men as our Brother the removall of whom was the occasion of this discourse doth but was so taken away from them that he should be no more of any personal usefulness to them as to his bodily presence amongst them for they should see his face no more Oh this is a time of wailing and heaviness when God is taking away faithful ones in the midst of their dayes or work a day of trouble and perplexity by the Lord God of Hosts in the valley of vision Where the vision of all even the vision of all visions and that in which all may see themselves concerned the testimony of Christ in which especially and fundamentally in the first branch of it there is declared tidings of great joy to all people hath run and flowed abundantly like a River in low places to the causing fatness and fruitfulness Isay there a day of perplexity breaking down the walls that his judgements may break in threatning to plaâ—t his vine in a dry and thirsty ground this is a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation as Ezek 19. 13. 14. And the Lord God of Hosts in this day is calling to weeping and to mourning especially those that are devout persons fearers of him Isa 22 4 5. 12. Acts 8. 2. And thus were these exercised to whom the Apostle speaks as ver 37. 38. They all wept â—ore and fell on Pauls neck and kissed him sorrowing most of all for he words that he spake that they should see his face no more it might have occasioned heaviness though he had departed but for a season but they sorrowed most of all because they should see his face no more and because hereby a way was made not only for Gods anger to break forth more immediately but for evil men and seducers to come in amongst them as ver 29. 30 Isa 57 1. 4. 5. Psal 12. 1. 4. And now they might with sadness remember how they had failed in shewing forth Love to him so as his hands had ministred to his own necessity and those that were with him Yet now when they were thus full of grief he thus resigns and commends them to God c. To signifie That when faithful and eminent watchmen and instruments of help are taken away and sorrow is thereby greatly occasioned this is now proper to moderate our grief that we sorrow not as those that have no hope That he that keepeth Israel shall never slumber nor sleep the Lord liveth and is faithful to keep our souls supply all wants and perfect what concerns us when the good man is removed or perished out of the Earth This therefore he now speaks that they might not be swallowed up with overmuch grief he speaks it not to prevent all sorrow it is meet to be humbled under God's mighty hand and ashamed before him when our Father thus spits in our face who is the God of grace when he covers us with anger and persecute us when he slayes and pitties not when he covers himself with a cloud that our prayer should not pass thorow as Laâ— 3. 42. 44. And it is an evidence of great hardness and insensibleness when Gods hand is so highly lifted up not to see or take notice of what he is reproving Isa 26. 11. and 57. 1. Nor doth the Apostle here rebuke theâ—e for sorrowing as he doth those at esarea who wept because of some troubles that were to come upon him at Jerusalem for he was not so taken from them as from these but saw them again Acts 21. 13 with 25. 1 4 c. But this he may speak and it is proper to qualifie and moderate our sorrow that we exceed not herein that there is the God of grace still to commit our selves to and have our expectation From in this time of great affliction Indeed while I am thus speaking I am somewhat fearful lesâ— this conâ—olation on such an occasion be generally needless I mean that there is more fear of not sorrowing enough for such an heavy tellimony of displeasure as God hath been ordaining to us then grieving abundantly and out of meas râ—for it cut for the sakes of some and to restore comfort to them and to their mourners I speak it and what is noted may be a liâ—ting up when God is thus casting down in his Providences that the Spirit of such may not fail before him surely at such a time God and his grace is sufficient for them 2 Cor 12. 8. 9. 10. Thus our Saviour when because he tells his Disciples of his departure sorrow had filled their hearts he now to comfort them in bis prayer commits them to God so now saith he I am no more in the World but these are in the World and I come unto thee holy Father keep thorow thine own name those whom thou hast given me c. While I was with them in the World I kept them in thy name those that thou gavest me I have kept c. of him it might be eminently said he was pure from the blood of all so now I come to thee and these things I speak in the World that they might have my joy fulfilled in them Joh. 16. 6. 17 11. 13. So Peter when ready to depart commends to the beleâ—verâ— and commends them to the word of Gods grace 2 Pet. 1. 12. 16. 3. 1. 2. 3. 4. And so the Prophets and holy men have comforted and and incouraged themselves in the Lord on like occasions thus Isaiah doubtless thou art our Father though Abraham be iâ—norant of us one that was a Prophet and powerfully made intercession who was called the friend of God of whom God saith I know him that he will â—â—mmand his Children and his houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord c. In whose steps our Brother walked Gen. 20. 7. and 18 18. 19. And Israel acknowledge us not one that behaved himself princâ—ly with God and by his strength had power with him yea he had power over the Angel and prevailed And an Israelite indeed was our Brother Gen. 32 28. Hos 12 3. 4. thou O Lord art our Father our redeemer from over lasting is thy Name Isay 63. 15 16 With this Israel comforted Joseph as with respect to himself and his Brethren and Children Israel said Behold I dye the Pâ—â—phets do they live for ever Zech. 1 5. But God who haâ—â— only immâ—rtality shall be with you Gen. 48
is said of those that died in the faith that these all having obtained a good report through faith received not the promises God having provided some better thing for us that they without us should not be made perfect Phil. 3. 11 12. Heb. 12. 39 40. Though believers are complâ—at in Christ who by the one offering of his personal body once for all hath perfected for ever in himself and that provision he hath made and Covenant he hath sealed them that are sanctified so as there needs no more offering for sin yet in themselves they are not compleat nor compleatly in him and are therefore instructed to walk in Christ as they have received him rooted and built up in him and to have their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and their bodies washed with pure water Col. 2 10. with ver 2 7. Heb. 10. 14 22 their being built up is by degrees they go from strength to strength Psal 84 7. and are changed from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. 18. And hence they are said to grow like a Cedar Psal 92. 12. to grow up Eph. 4. 15. to increase 1 Thes 4. 10. Col. 2. 19. to abound more and more 1 Thes 4. 1. to press toward the mark Phil. 3. 14. to run the race Heb. 12. 1. All which expressions signifie that the believers while here in mortal bodies have not yet attained to compleatness in themselves or to a compleat iâ—joyment of what is to be possessed and which while here they seek and wait for Here though he that is perfect in knowledge is with them abiding in Christ yet they are not perfect in knowledge but are instructed to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savâ—our Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3. 18. And the Apâ—stle prayes for these Ephesians who were sealed with the holy spirit of promise that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the father of glory would give unto them the spirit of wisdom and revelation c. The eyes of their understandings being inlightnâ—d that they might further know what is the hope of his calling c. Eph. 1. 13 20. and that they might know the love of Christ Chap. 3. 14 19. And hence that holy man so oftentimes prayes that God would open his eyes make him understand teach him the way of his statutes give him understanding teach him knowledge c. Psal 119. 18 19 27 33 34 64 66. yea the Apostle Paul who as a wise Master-builder laid the foundation and preached the Gospel according to the revelation of the mystery affirms of himself and other believers that now they knew in part and not perfectly 1 Cor. 13. 9 12. And so they are not perfect in their faith in their hearty perswasion and imbracement of what God hath testified of his Son and dependance on him according thereto so as to live the life they now live in the flesh by the faith of the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us and to walk by faith but many weaknesses and mixtures are found with them and much shortness according to what the Apostle signifies concerning the Thessalâ—nians where he saith night and day praying exceedingly that we might perfect that which is lacking in your faith 〈◊〉 â—â—â— 3. 10. and thanks God because thâ—â—â—â—iâ—â—â—iâ— grow c. 2. Thes 1. 3. and tells the Corinthians thaâ— he had hope that when thâ—ir â—aith was increased they should be iâ—arged â—y them 2 Cor. 10. 15. and surely this appears when God is ordering â—â—ptâ—â—ions and tryals of the faith to them by their weakâ—ess and readiness to faint â—â—d be wâ—aâ—y that they baâ—e nâ—t yet attained unto a most â—ull assurance of â—â—iâ—h what douâ—â—ings and aptness to be calling into question God's love and â—aithfulness what jealousies and â—ears concerning him as if he would leave and forsake them what readiness to be looking or vain hâ—lp and turning the eyes this way and that way is found with such the Scriptures testifie and the experiences of such confirm Psal 31. 22. 77. 7 10. 116. 11. How oft our Saviour reprehends his Disciples on this account may be seen mat 6. 30. 8. 26. 14. 31. 16. 8. Mark 4. 4â— Luk. 8. 25. yea when they said We believe that thou camest forth from God Jesus answered them Do ye now believe Behold the hour cometh yea is now come that ye shall be scattered every one to his own c. Joh. 16. 30 32. That hour that came upon him made discovery of them that there was yet somewhat lacking in their faith how confident soever they were of themselves yea it may seem there was sometime some shortness found with Abraham the father of the faithful though not imputed of whom it was said he staggered not at the promise through unbelief but was strong in faith for when God promised that Sarah should be a Mother of Nations c. Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said unto God O that Ishmael may live before thee Gen. 17. 17 19. and surely believers have need to pray Lord help our unbelief as he Mark 9. 24. or however as the Disciples Lord increase our faith Luâ— 17. 7. Nor are they yet perfectly conformed to Christ and filled with the fruits of righteousness there is yet sin dwelling in them and in many â—â—iâ—gs they offend all and need therefore to be still sanctified and washed with the washing of water by the word to which end Christ gives himself to them for them Eph. 5. 25 26. 1 Thes 5. 23. their love to Christ and God in him may yet abound in all knowledge and judgment and though they love one another and all men yet they may increase and abound therein Hence they are instructed to add to their faith vertue c. Phil. 1. 9 11. 1 Thes 3. 12 13. 4. 1 9 10. 2 Pet. 1. 4 8. And as this instruction is useful to preserve us from the error of those wicked and Antichristian spirits who boast that they are sinless and perfect and injoy the fulness of all blessing and that they have need of nothing while yet they are poor and miserable and blind who though they are pure in their own eyes yet are not washed from their filthiness Wo unto them for they have received their consolation And also from their swelling words of vanity who being pufâ— up with their fleshly mind and not holding the head boast of their merits and works of superâ—rrogation c. seeing it shews our shortness and incompleatness in our selves while here that pride may be hidden from us and no flesh may glory in his presence but that even unfeigned believers may confess that when they have done all that is commanded them they are unprofitable servants So also it is proper as viewed in the glorious Gospel to move us continually to come unto Jesus Christ and to give more earnest heed to the things we have heard that with open face