be one with the Father and the Son is the END and so of greater excellency than al the glorious Grace the Saints do partake of 1. This unity or oneness is not the unity of affection which the faithful as members of the same body ought to maintain in their hearts and consciences and convers As being of one heart and mind Keeping the unity of the faith in the bond of peace For First The express words of vers 21. hold forth the contrary and the latter looks another way That they may be one in us As though our Savior had purposely added the interpretation of his prayer and words q. d. If you ask me of what unity I speak when I pray that beleevers should be one my intendment may most easily and fully be understood of this resemblance As I am in the Father and the Father in me the scope of my prayer is they should be one in us The unity in themselves wil surely follow but that 's not it I now so fully look at Again the words of the verse wil not admit this sense The glorious grace given to the Saints by Christ is made here distinct from this Oneness as the means is different from the end and less excellent than the end But unity of Affection is part of that glorious Grace which our Savior hath given the faithful So that it is the unity of relation As the Father wholly and alone gives his being and Sonship to Christ The Son as he receives so he returnes his being to the Father as things in relation look each to the other receive and give consistence one to the other and so may be said to be in each other and to be one in this mutual respect Joh. 14.10 Beleevest thou not that I am in the Father and the Father in me So here As the Father is to Christ looks only as a Father to a Son and gives subsistence to him The Son again looks only to a Father and returnes his being subsistence of a Son to him So Christ to the faithful He gives Spiritual being in Adoption to them as his Sons only They as Sons return al that spiritual being to him again So our Savior As I am one in them and thou in me and by spiritual influence communicate the being of Sons to them So they are one in me and to in thee by receiving and returning al alone unto us So that our Savior doth not only bring the Soul of the faithful into the neeâ—est relation of dearest love as Adopted Sons But also into that spiritual intercourse of the peculiar and divine operation of God upon the Soul whereby the Soul returnes unto God to do al and receive al. To do all for himself in man To receive al to himself by man The Lord Jesus having fitted the Soul for himself and united the Soul to himself and made the Soul acceptable to the Father in his Blood He sends the spirit of Adoption into the hearts of his sets their hearts for God Holds the â—ent of their hearts towards him This is the gracious look of a Father towards them The faithful receiving this spiritual being of Sonship Fasten to Christ as the fountain of life leave their hearts with him and abide in him to be wholly acted by the influence and assistance of his Spirit and to hold up the excellency thereof Thus they return al to God in Christ 2. How this glorious Grace which the Lord imprints upon the Soul is distinguished from this Oneness Answ The words in the Text evidence the distinction i. e. They differ as the means appointed to an end are distinct from the end This unity of relation carries the glorious operations or motions of the presence of the Spirit upon the beleevers Heart I cal them Stirrings of his presence as implying that which is somwhat more general than the gracious dispositions spiritual and supernatural habits of Grace For though those also Issue from the operation of the spirit yet they are somwhat more As the Spirit assisting fastening holding the heart and making it to abide under the stroke of the spirit pacifying quickening Are not so much habits of Grace poured into the Soul but rather Dints and stirrings of the Spirit assisting or inhabiting As he that sets or Joints the part that is out and chafeth it out of its numness leaves a remembrance of the power and motion of his Hand But he that puts in Oyl leaves a quality or Oyly moisture which remaines in the part So here The spirit draws and unites the soul in vocation leaves the poyse of the assistance of the spirit upon it in Adoption whereby it makes the soul abide in Christ and under the stroke of his spirit as he abides in it And hence follows the impression of the image of God the gracious habits of wisedom holiness righteousness in the wil and so a liberty to spiritual good whereby the beleever is inabled not only to put forth acts of obedience and observance which concern the works of the Law but even to set a going and that a fresh those several operations of the Spirit unto which he had been formerly quickened by the vertue of the Gospel and carried unto by this covenant of Grace as to fasten to Christ to abide in him and resign it self to be acted by him and the power of his spirit and Grace And this is indeed a thing of highest excellency and therefore to this end and purpose the Choicest of all Graces ought in an eipecial manner to be improved And this appeares by these Reasons following 1. That therein the glory of God and his divine and unconceiveable excellencies are most magnified and Advanced for that end even the glorious Graces in their highest pitch ought to be improved But in this union of relation towards God al the divine excellencies will most gloriously appear and in truth much more than in al the gracious habits the Soul is capable of Thus the Apostle intimates to my apprehension with some evidence as though he of purpose intended it and would have al to understand it so 2 Thess 1.10 When the Lord shal come at the day of Judgment to render vengeance to those that obey not the Gospel then saies the Apostle The Lord shal be glorified in his Saints but admired in those that beleeve True it is that those who are Saints do beleeve but the Apostle seems apparently to shew the odds and this glorious excellency of the true Graces They who are sanctified and express the power of Gods Grace in their hearts and lives God wil be glorified in them that they do express his vertues and so set forth the glory of his Name But when he comes to consider of the bringing of a man to beleeve here the work of God and the excellency of his dealing is that which dazels the very Eyes of Angels and amazeth the hearts of Devils There his works are beyond all admiration Admiration
own he loved them to the end In love there is no lack of labor pains providence to be unweariable to further the good of that which is beloved 2. The Engagement of our Savior constrains him 〈◊〉 point of Faithfulness and Truth which are laid to pawn fully to accomplish whatever he hath undertaken for such who are committed to his care that at no time they do miscarry Oâ—her Sheep I have and those I must bring and they shall hear my Voyce It was the Fathers Wil that Christ should lose none that were given to him John 6.39 and it 's Christs All that thou hast given me I have kept and lost none of them John 17.12 So that he hath done the Wil of the Father according to Compact and Agreement between them Yea it 's Christs Wil and Request to the Father when he left the World That the Father would shelter them under the shadow of his Wings John 17.11 And now I am no more in the World but these are in the World and I come to thee holy Father keep through thine own Name those that thou hast given me It is the Wil of the Father which sent Christ that he should keep al his at al times that none should miscarry It 's the Wil of Christ and his Request to the Father that he should preserve al the Faithful that at no time none should 3. The Relation continues the same at al times and the Interest the Saints have in our Savior al his Wisdom Mercy Merits and kindness are theirs and therefore they claim it and so expect the benefit thereof at al times The Spouse may claim the constant care of her Husband to provide for her and supply her necessities The Child may look for the constant care of the Father to tender him in al his wants as he hath done in any So they plead Isa 63.16 Though Abraham forget yet thou art our Father He cannot forget himself and his Faithfulness USE 1. Of Instruction It teacheth us that Heavenly Skil and Dexterity to gather in upon the goodness and kindness of the Lord Jesus and from the proof and experience of former Favors to lay in a Reversion of Blessing for future time Lie at the catch and take the advantage of the Lords gracious dealing with the soul If we get but Gods Earnest fetch the whol Bargain by it If the Work of Saving Grace be an Engagement on Gods part get one and gain al. Paul is marvelous dextrous this way to work upon the graciousness and Truth of God 2 Cor. 1.10 He hath delivered and doth q. d. I have him sure I have got a Pawn and earnest Penny And he will deliver He hath delivered me from the mouth of the Lyon and he wil deliver me from every evil work When Naomi knew how Booz had acknowledged that Engagement to do the part of a Kinsman and knew the trust also and sincerity of the Man she thus concludes Sit stil my Daughter until you know how the matter wil fal For the man wil not be at rest until he hath finished the thing this day Ruth 3. and last So when thou hast Evidence of any work of Gods free Grace upon thy Soul and that he hath engaged himself thereby sit stil the Lord Jesus wil not rest until he hath finished the work of Conversion Sanctification and Salvation which he hath begun So the Prophet learns the Saints to make Inferences and Collections of Comfort unto themselves Psal 48.12 13 14. Go about Zion tell the Towers mark well her Bull-works take serious Consideration This God is our God and therefore collects and wil be our God unto Death He hath humbled and he wil humble us he hath comforted and he wil comfort us he hath strengthened and he wil enliven us for ever he hath taught us when we did not know him and he wil teach us stil when we do seek unto him USE 2. It 's a Ground of unspeakable comfort and sweet repose to al those who have an interest in the Lord Christ and are committed to his Charge Thou art the dayly Care of Christ therefore thou should'st be dayly comforted This was it that fetched up the fainting heart of the Prophet when he was at the lowest Eb and at the greatest under in regard of himself and al outward Comforts Psal 40.17 I am poor and needy destitute of the ordinary Comforts and the meanest Helps that might supply his famishing Condition so that he was fainting and dying away for want of relief no man looked after him or bestowed a thought about him Yet the Lord thinketh upon me his Eye is over me his heart is towards me and care for my good Yet God is good to Israel Psal 73.1 He begins to come to himself he was sinking in a fit of discouragement seeing al things to go cross and il with him yet God is good The World is naught yet God is good my heart is naught yet God is good It may be those that have most cause and reason and are most able do not care for thee or for thy good thou dost not or through thy weakness canst not care for thy self when thou art over-whelmed with distresses either ignorant doubtful or unable to put forth that Ability thou hast being under over-bearing pressures yet this may quiet That he cares for thee that can and wil help thee When my Father and my Mother cast me off then the Lord takes me up his Fatherly Mercy his Bowels of more than Motherly Compassion wil be instead of al yea better than al Psal 27.10 Nay be it that al helps are improved to the utmost al thy skil and care laid out to the best advantage to provide for thy good yet at some times yea many times they are too short and scanted to procure thine own Comfort either to prevent the evils that are approaching or supply or support thine own infirmities that do hinder in a Christian Course Quiet thine heart though thy Contrivements fall short that which is under the Care of Christ that cannot miscarry It 's the ground which the Apostle gives of encouragement in a Christian Course and that when Duties grow most difficult and the Spirit most hopeless in it self ever to reach them Heb. 13.7 Remember them who have the Rule over you who have spoken unto you the Word of the Lord whose Faith follow considering the end of their Conversation Yea it might he replied There were able and eminent Leaders and Guides their Experience long their Graces glorious their Abilities choyce alas there is no hope for us to keep pace with them we are so weak feeble such Babes and Novices that cannot go alone hardly it 's a likely matter that we should go after them The Apostle ads Jesus Christ yesterday and to day and the same for ever verse 8. q. d. It was not of themselves that they had any Grace or Abilities but Jesus Christ had al and gave al It was not
relations do most neerly touch us for thus Prayer serves the end best for which it is appointed by God and for which it should be used by us to help forward the occasions that be under our hands Prayer is like the passing boat of the Ferry it helps al Travellers but it attends them next that come first So it was with Jacob it plyed God for the particular and especially where the pinch lay Gen. 32.10.11 So Eleazar good Lord make it hit right to day Gen. 24.12 And it seems it was that which God complaines of Isa 64. At least he condemnes in Josuah that his hand was in the wrong box Jos 7.10 quorsum hoc not that he fasted but that he searched nor examined not the sin and sought not the reformation of that which indeed did especially concern him The present work done want to be supplied the way of Providence furthered Here is our prick and mark at which our prayers should aim we must not shoot at rovers Prayer like a Skilful Physitian studies the cure of al diseases but administers a receipt to him whose necessities present themselves 2. Prayers must be of a speeding nature so to attend persons or things of present necessity as to reach al in a right order So David Psal 50.2 last Paul brings in al Churches within the compass of his care and of his prayers I make mention alwayes of you and of you al in my prayers and this almost in al his Epistles Prayer is like the blood and spirits which pass through the whol body of Christ and hath its conveyance even into the least member and joynt Like a Pinnace of dispatch that gives intelligence from each quarter The Subjects of our Saviors Prayer are set forth two wayes 1 From their quality and special effect they shal beleeve and that from the generality of the Object in Me. Time Hereafter Instrument by which it shal be wrought by their word 2. From a comparison of equality or parity i. e. Christ prayes not alone for the Apostles but equally but indifferently for al as wel as they For Explication there is nothing difficult but that what is meant by their word That is the Gospel which they published by preaching or left upon record in writing as they were inspired by the spirit The Lord Christ providing therein for the good of his Church unto the end of the world that so they might have the path of life paved out before them and a certain rule to guid them until the end of the world Not that none did formerly beleeve by the word of the Prophets in the Old Testament for even then also the Gospel was preached Gal. 3.8 Preached the Gospel to Abraham in thy seed shal all the Nations of the Earth be blessed The word was preached to them as wel as to us and it was a word of promise Heb. 4.1.2 And therefore the Apostle professed He preached no other things but what were contained and expressed in the law and the Prophets Acts 26.22 the Prophets and Moses did say should come the Prophets foretold in the Types was prefigured and in the Covenant expressed in Genesis promised So that this their word is opposed to two things 1. Vnto the Law which is our Schoolmaster to whip us unto Christ but is not able either to declare him to us or to work faith in us It s that which onely makes way for faith but is not that seed whereof faith is made and begotten and therefore when it was said Faith comes by hearing and the word Rom. 10.17 if ye look into vers 15. foregoing ye shal see what word is meant How beautiful are the feet of those that bring the Gospel of peace 2. It is opposed to al the Doctrines of men al humane devices al unwritten traditions al conceited revelations which are nothing but Satanical delusions in which there is no power to beget faith no ground to support it We have here two points The word of the Gospel is the onely ordinary means to work Faith Doct. It was not onely then when the Apostles were preaching and planting not onely there and in those coasts where the sound of the Gospel was Glorious and Famous But whoever did then and whoever shal beleeve unto the end of the worldâ— for After-times in al ages and in al places in an ordinary course of Gods dispensations leaving secret exceptions or miraculous proceedings in the privy purpose of his counsel there never was nor shal be any under the power of Christs prayer or possessed with the truth of saving Faith but by this meanes and this onely He prayes for no other than belâ—â—vers he wil own none save none but such And therefore none but such have saving Faith And that is the reason why the Gospel is set in opposition to the law Rom. 10.5 compared with vers 9. The word of Faith is that which is neer unto us Hence it s called the Ministration of life and power 2 Cor. 3. When the Law is said to be weak through the infirmity of our flesh Rom. 8.3 and not able to give life Gal. 3.21 Reason 1. Because the Gospel alone reveales that which may satisfy our spiritual necessities and answer the expectation of our faith and the desires of our Souls upon the sense and feeling of those evils which as unsupportable would otherwise sink them This is the Argument the Apostle gives Rom. 1.16 I am not ashamed of the Gospel of God For it is the power of God unto Salvation and why Because by it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith i. e. from one degree of faith unto another A man is unrighteous and possessed of the power and presence of it and under the hand of revenging justice by reason of the same And where may a righteousness be found which may answer the necessities of the Soul the Law never discovered this the creatures never heard of it the wisdome of man could never reach it nay the excellency of all the knowledg of all Angels was never able to devise but Christ who came out of the Bosome of the Father hath wrought this righteousness and by the Gospel hath brought life and Immortality to light 2 Tim. 1.10 which otherwise had never seen light and therefore it is that the glad tidings of peace is said to come this way and is not to be heard from any other coast Tydings of evil come like Jobs Messengers from every quarter tidings we heare from the law are nothing but threatnings and wrath ready to condemn us tidings from our own hearts are nothing but guilt and fear to terrifie and arrest us tidings from Hell are yet worse there be nothing but accusations subtil and Malicious and those present us at home and abroad in Earth and in Heaven at Gods Tribunal and require present execution to be done upon such undeserving creatures Onely the glad tidings come from the Gospel Jesus Christ came to save
appear in three Particulars 1. Our Savior being in highest Honor and favor in the Court of Heaven and of most perfect intelligence touching all the counsels purposes and proceedings of the Father He there speaks good unto God the Father in our behalf dayly sets on going al the passages of Providence in justice and mercy grace and Truth Patience and Bounty as may best answer al the occasions of the Churches in al their conditions as may most concern them And answerably sends an express by the powerful operation of his good Spirit into the Hearts of his people So verse 11. Keep them through thin own name Joh. 16.15 All things that the Father hath are mine therefore said I that he shal take of mine Christ hath liberty to take of all the choicest of the Treasures of Heaven and those he doth and sends them by the spirit unto the Hearts of his people Joh. 14.16 I will pray the Father and he shal give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever Thus our Saviour doth us many secret kindnesses which we little consider and sends privy Intimation how things go in Heaven in our behalf 2. He stands betwixt us and our Harms by these his prayers and Intercession and if there by any evil plotted or intended against us or hurt coming to us he foresees it and way-laies it that it may not be to our prejudice in any particular The guilt of new sins daily committed fresh accusations of conscience new pleas which Satan the accuser of the Brethren would dayly commence and put up unto divine justice against us Our Saviour he is our Advocate undertakes our cause pleads for us and prevailes gives in so ful satisfaction unto divine Juctice that neither sin nor world nor Satan can be heard against us These sins have been committed these dishonors done these evils practised saies Satan and the world can witness and their own consciences Yea saies divine Justice Their Advocate hath been here hath plainly and truly related all these they are not new and hath fully answered and satisfied to the utmost that can be exacted Rom. 8.34 Here is the ground of the Apostles Triumph Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died nay makes Intercession for us So that there is neither condemnation nor accusation that can get any hearing against them for they are al before discovered and answered the Lord Christ hath intelligence of their intendments and disappoints them wholly 3. He intercepts all our prayers and performances which we tender up unto God and perfumes them with the sweet Odors of the incense of his own Intercession and so they find acceptance and make a pleasant savor in the Nostrils of the Almighty As it is with brackish Water which comes from the Sea passing through some precious Gold or Silver Mines it becomes not only sweet and purified but of Soveraign vertue and tast So it is with our services being brackish with many base distempers which cleave to them and us being intercepted by the Intercession of our Saviour and passing through the Rich mines of his Merits and obedience they prove marvailous pleasing and acceptable to the Lord. Rev. 8.3 The prayers of the Saints are offered up upon the Golden Altar of our Saviors precious Merits As an Advocate in the Court if any of his Clients commend their cause to skaâ—ning though they be weak and unskilful yet he can ripen them and being Rectified present them so ordered as that they may find acceptance with the Lord through the influence of this Application of the vertue of his Merits 3 The Reasons are three 1. Because our Savior Christ hath indifferently undertaken the Salvation of al his Children and therefore out of his faithfulness it cannot be but he should indifferently attain the accomplishment of it in the behalf of them This was the Covenant and Agreement betwen God the Father and Christ Those that the Father in his counsel determined he commended them all unto the care of our Savior and gave him the list as it were of their names that he should look that none of them miscarry Our Saviour did freely undertake that charge for al those so committed to his care and therefore for al must discharge that trust alike Joh. 6.37.38 39 40. All that the Father giveth me shal come to me c. For I came down from Heaven not to do mine own wil but the wil of him that sent me And this is the wil of the Father that of al which he hath given me I should lose none And this is his wil that he that seeth and beleeveth should have everlasting life c. And he professeth he was faithful herein Joh. 10.14 15 16. I am the good Shepherd I lay down my life c. And I have other Sheep and they must come And therefore when he hath gathered al his elect and brought in his tally Here am I and the Children thou hast given me He shall then resign up the Kingdom to the Father 2 Because this is common to all alike The whole work of redemption is common to al that must be redeemed But this is one part Exâ—â—tation answerable to his humiliation Rom. 4. and the last The whole sum is every mans It s called the common Salvation Joh. 16 8 10. This is a convincing of the world of righteousness because I go to the Father Els it had not been complete righteousness 3 Because its necessary alike unto al. Rom. 5.10 How much more shall we be saved by his life Heb. 7.25 He lives that he may save perfectly The Application is as necessary as the Redemption There is the vertue of his death and merits to purchase life And then the vertue of his Intercession to apply it to continue and perpetuate the vigour and vertue of it If Christ hath undertaken for all alike If it be common unto all If it be alike needful for all Then it s that which Christ intends to al his Use 1 for Instruction It s impossible for a beleever to perish to loose his Grace to fal away either totally or finally from Christ and so to be deprived in the Issue of eternal life I Reason thus That which our Savior died for prayed for and doth now make Intercession in Heaven for that he can never fail to attain But for the perseverance of the Saints and for their everlasting Salvation he died and he did Pray and doth pray at this day for Therefore he cannot but attain his end and they also their happiness So he professeth and hath left it upon record to establish the Faith of al His in their greatest shocks Joh 11.41 42. Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me And I knew that thou hearest me alwaies c. Christ hath here proclaimed it we may conclude and that undoubtedly that which he knows who could not be deceived we may know it for a truth and that it wil never deceive us Christ
day he shal never be acquitted neither here done nor then declared So that such a person hath the Tombstone of everlasting destruction turnd upon him sealed past Hope and help And therefore the Apostle puts it upon an impossibility Heb. 6.4 How far that goes I wil not now dispute whether in regard of the covenant of the Gospel the counsel of the Lord the Decree of the Almighty that he shal never have Grace give him to repent for then it should not so much aggravate the hainousness of the sin because from impenitency and final presevâ—rance in any sin it s not possible such should be recovered and this great evil upon this ground should have no other impossibility than many other And withal the impossibility should then ly in Gods counsel and definitive purpose not in the Nature of the evil which answers not the terrible expression of the wrath of God in the Text. But however it is it is safe and sure to Joyn Issue with the word of truth and to take that upon trust It s impossible such a one should be renewed by repentance And therefore its impossible a man whom Christ hath ordained to beleeve and repent should ever fal into that evil 4. However the Lord many times for reasons best known to himself and his infinite good pleasure suffers some and many of those whom he will afterwards effectually cal to be overtaken with most loathsom abominations yet he ever over-rules and over-works al those Hellish miscarriages of theirs for the furtherance of his own work in them when he seriously sets upon the accomplishment of it Somtimes there is no waies to cure Poyson but with Poyson no means to crush the pride and self-confidence and overweening conceit of a mans own worth but to leave him to himself that he may bedaub himself with some dirty and detestable distemper that so his own experience may evidence his own baseness and force him to put his Mouth in the Dust and cover himself with confusion when through his own self deceiving apprehension he could never either see it or bring his heart to be humbled for it before the Lord. Thus many who in former times have soothed up themselves with the glorious appearance of a formal profession so that they could keep out or wipe off al the convictions that were presented before them At length the Lord leaves them to some noysom lusts one is overtaken with bruitish Drunkenness another with some base uncleanness and so the breaking of the impostume and the venting of those vile evils constraines their consciences to condemn themselves for rotten when the evidence of the word could not and this hath been the occasion of the through conversion of some men Somtimes again the Lord takes some men out of a sink to make them mirrors of the power of his saving mercy to al posterity The greatness of their sin was the occasion why their Hearts were pierced for al sin Act. 2.36 37. 1 Tim. 1.16 5. When the time appointed and determined before in the counsel of the Lord is come then the prayer of our Savior ever takes place and makes the means effectual and prevailingly successeful for the good of such for whom he hath taken the care Joh. 10.16 I have other sheep which are not yet of this fold such as in his counsel were ordained to life yet not called to the saving knowledg of the truth them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice These wandering sheep that are gone astray from the walks of the Lord yet he must bring he must pluck the Adulterer from his lusts and the Drunkard from his Cups and worldling who hath been Buried in his earthly occasions these shall hear his voice they are within his Ken and under his care and he provides for their good though they intend no good unto themselves So Christ to Paul he is then pitying while he is persecuting he comes to save him when he purposeth to destroy himself why persecutest thou me Act. 9. So Again he sends a Physitian to him Ananias go c. vers 11. Reas 1. From the Soveraignty of Gods wil who looks at nothing in the creature for which he should be moved to do good unto it but only his good wil and pleasure according to which â—e curves out his compassion as suits with his own liking Rom. 11.7 The Election hath obtained it it s not in the power of Israel And therefore hence it is He shews mercy because he wil shew mercy and he it is that raiseth up a mighty Salvation for his people when they were in the depths of their sins and confusions also Luk. 1.69 Ezek. 16.6 I saw her in her Blood and then I said Live 2 The Riches of Gods mercy in Christ and the scope of our Saviors coming it is to destroy the work of Satan and to bring life out of death and light out of Darkness Rom. 5. and last That where sin abounded Grace hath abounded much more That is the aim of the place why then was the Law given since the Law could not save but only Christ Answ It was that sin might abound when corruption was discovered opposed and provoked then it was made out of measure sinful That where sin hath abounded Grace also might much more abound q.d. The Lord Christ would redeem his people let the Devil and sin do their worst So the Apostle again disputes Rom. 5.8 God commended his love to us that when we were sinners Christ died for us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord painted and limned out the surpassing excellency of his love in most lively Colors It s the scope also of the coming of our Savior He came not to call the righteous but sinners to Repentance He was not to find them blessed but to make them so Isa 49.5 Christ was formed from the Womb to be his servant that he might bring Jacob again It s he that leaves the ninty nine in the Wilderness and goes to seek up that which was lost in the Wilderness If the Soveraignty of Gods good pleasure appointed this The Riches of his free Grace and the scope of our Saviors coming intended this then certainly our Savior would carefully accomplish it but the antecedent is such therefore the consequent Use 1 of Instruction Here see the different dispensation of the dealing of the Lord in the waies and works of his providence towards men of the same quality and that in the same condition men as sinful one as another and under the power of their sin and in an unregenerate state both of them Yet the counsel of God and the care of our Savior Christ is farr different even surpassing mans imagination and thought Be they both unbeleevers now for the present adversaries to his Grace and opposers of his word and the work of his spirit and it may be with greater out-rage and violence the one more than the other And yet the Lord may do
will deny Christs prayer I am content he should deny my comfort and support But the one is impossible and the other is incredible It s seasonable even for unbeleeving creatures leaving secret things to Gods counsel when they have no heart to pray not Hope to expect any favor and where ever they cast their Eye they find nothing but cause of discouragement and confusion of face look into the world there is nothing but vanity there to deceive and vex look they into their own hearts and lives there is nothing but Hells of sin and guilt which might overwhelm them Look then to the Prayer of our Savior who prayed for His in their worst condition when they did not beleeve and could not pray for themselves and were as bad as I am even for Paul when he was persecuting and blaspheming even for many of the Jews when they were killing of him and why not for me why may I not Hope the best when I cannot conclude the worst what God wil do he knows not what he may do he hath revealed and I will yet expect Use 3. Exhortation He prayed for this disposition labor thou to attain it He desired it of his Father in Heaven indeavor thou to the utmost of that care and skill thou hast in the use of all means to attain it upon earth The Sum is That the whol strength of the Soul should be wholly carried to God in Christ for all not to any thing in our selves we have or for any thing we can do as Adam might have pleaded I have done I have deserved it but wholly to be quickened and acted by the spirit of God through Christ The Soul should be like the Herb Heliotropium the Nature whereof is such as the philosopher observes It turnes the face of it towards the Sun what way soever it turnes In the morning looks to the East the Sun rising In the evening to the West the Sun setting So it should be with the beleeving sinner the face and Eye of the Soul ever towards God in Christ That which our Souls need and which is able to answer our desires and satisfie our necessities is here alone to be had hither alone we must come from hence for ever look to receive it So Peter disputes Act. 4.12 Job 6. When our Savior would settle their staggering disposition least they should be taken aâ—â—de will ye also go away He answers and yields the argument Whither should we go thou only hast the words of eternal life Here only is that wisedom that may guid here only that mercy that may succor here only is that Grace that may refresh and quicken It s good therefore coming being here So they by experience concluded Jer. 3.29 Surely in vam is Salvation hoped for from the Hills and from the multitude of the Mountaines truly in the Lord our God is the Salvation of Israel And upon the like ground they resolves Hos 14.3 For in thee the Fatherless findeth mercy It s not Els-where to be found Therefore learn we to chide our hearts out unto God in Christ As Jacob his Sons Why stand ye here gazing one upon another go unto Egypt and buy that we may live and not die Gaze not upon the sins weaknesses temptations miseries means ordinances c. get ye to God in Christ that ye may for ever be assured comforted and quickened As its alone here to be had So here we shal never fail to receive what we seek and expect Ps 10.20 Verse 21. That the world may beleeve that thou hast sent me THese last words lay out the main scope of the Prayer of our Savior at which he aimed and which he looked at principally by the grant of that spiritual unity which he craved in the behalf of his disciples And the end is To lift up the prais and honor of that supream and absolute soveraignty of God the Father in sending his own faithfulness and infinite sufficiency in executing and accomplishing the great work of Redemption about which he was sent so that there was nothing failed of all that the Father purposed and he undertook to perform and that the world and worst of men however formerly they rebelled against his authority counsel and command in sending rejected also the person and proceeding of our Savior Christ in coming who was a stumbling to the Jew and foolishness to the Grecians The Head-corner-stone whom the Jews refused whom the Gentiles trampled under their feet against whom both Jews and Gentiles banded themselves So the Apostle Peter observes the Prophecy and concludes by proof and experience and accomplishment of it Act. 4.24 25 26 27. Lord thou art God which hast made Heaven and Earth and the Sea and al that in them is who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said why did the Heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing The Kings of the Earth stood up and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ for of a truth against thy holy Child Jesus whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together c. Let us break their bonds and cast their cords away I know not the Lord saies Pharaoh We know that God spake unto Moses as for this fellow so contemptuously they spake of Jesus we know not whence he is Joh. 9.29 The Jews had certain questions against Paul saies Festus and of one Jesus Act. 25.19 And the whol rabble cry out Away with him from the earth not him but Barabbas And yet when the prayer of our Savior shal attain his end in the hearts of the Faithful so that they shal be wholly carried to God in Christ by the immutable assistance of his Spirit their hearts kept with him their graces acted upon him themselves quickned by him for ever then al these wil they nil they shal by a constraint be forced to acknowledg their own consciences wil yield it and their mouths confess it at the day of Judgment That Christ was the true Messias sent by the Father and that he hath fully accomplished the great work of salvation for the good of his And God only shal be exalted in that day There be two particulars in the words We shall open all and handle that which is the main 1. Christ is sent by God the Father 2. God will have this beleeved by the ungodly Which will be when the Saints attain this unity here prayd for then Christ will attain this glory To the First That Christ is sent by God the Father for the Redemption of his It needs no further witness to settle it the words are so express We will a little open it that as it is true so it may be plain and evident and so much the rather because our Savior laies so great a weight upon it and bestows the very strength of his prayer in the first place for the attainement of the
have polluted they are now contented with them and they shal be plagued by them therefore it s said God filâ—s their Bellies with his hid Treasures the things of this world which are in Gods store-house and he hath a hidden dispensation of them These are the diet of wicked men they have not the hid manna spiritual food to refresh them If the God of the world rule them The Spirit of the world act them The things of the world content them Then are they truly said to be World USE Before we pass let us make some use of this That wicked men are worldly men and hence we may discover our condition and take a trial of our estate whether carnal or spiritual whether gracious or wicked look what it is that carries thee what it is that contents thee Are these worldly things great in thine Eye and in thy apprehension and approbation dost thou center thy self upon these satisfiest thou thy self with these beleeve it thou art of the world and shalt perish with the world So our Savior Joh. 3.31 He that is of the Earth is earthly and speaketh of the Earth It is his Nature and he doth his Nature his actions manifest his disposition we judg ever the Nature and quality of the thing by its motion place whither it tends Light things wil ascend and never stay tiâ— they come to the place their Nature desires heavy things descend downward and they wil not stay before they come thither See thou the poâ—se of thy spirit the motion and inclination of the heart whither it goes naturally and where it would be if it be there where it desires and where it rests if left unto it self If the weight of thy thoughts and desires carry thee freely and strongly after the lust of thine Eyes the lust of thy flesh and stop it doth not stay it would not before it be there Thy heart is on the Earth and thou art a Citizen on Earth and thou hast thy portion on this Earth thou hast no Heaven in thee to this day and thou shalt never come to Heaven It skills not that thou meeâ—est somtimes with the things of Grace and life thy speeches thy conference thy carriages and thy actions meddle now and then and converse with the things of Heaven and happiness because they be such as come in thy way and will keep thee company if not beyond thy expectation yet beyond thy desire The Traveiler passeth by many countries baits at many places but he takes not up his abode and rest before he come to his own Country and own home and there he stayes That shews he is that Country man Thou mayest in thy travel meddle with the heavenly ordinances of God take up holy duties in thy course and bait thy self in such performances as may maintain either quiet within or credit without amongst men Oh! but which is thy home wither thy heart and desires are going and wil not rest before they repair thither thou seekest God to serve thine own turn touchest at holy courses to take in fresh comfort incouragements c. But thy heart is not at home before it can satisfie it self in the pursuit and possession of worldly things The God of the world rules thee the spirit of the world leads thee the things of the world content thee when thou art there thou art in thy Element when drawn from thence thou art dragd like Fish out of the Water much a-do to live That is thy condition It s possible for a heavy thing by a strong hand to be held from descending downward but leave it to it self thou shalt easily see whether it be its place or suitable to its inclination it moves immediately downwards Your Sea-horses and Crocodils go somtimes ashore for their prey but because they retire and take up their abode in the Waters we therefore know they are Sea not Land-creatures So its possible to seek a prey i.e. For thine own ease or praise thou mayst put to the performances of holy duties or happily either company place persons the lawes or ordinances hold thee by strong hand and-force thee to a shew of zealous profession But when these poises are plucked away mark what thy Soul before desired inwardly what it now wil into of it self If to the world and the vanities thereof thou art a worldly man to this day Hence it is that many in these places drop away and fall hand-pat to the world after a long profession of a heavenly life These earthly heavy Souls would have been at their center long before but there were some impediments in their way that stopped their proceeding Wheras if the heart be heavenly it rests not before it come thither Psal 42. Oh when shall I appeare before the living God many say who will shew us any good but Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance And the Apostle concludes it Coloss 3.1 If ye be risen with Christ seek the things that are above ye ought to do so and ye will do so The Apostle Issues both the parts with the grounds of them 1 Cor. 15. 48. The first Adam is from the Earth earthly the second Adam is the Lord from Heaven As we have born the image of the earthly so shal we bear the image of the Heavenly Yea our Savior concludes it They are not of this world as I am not of the world As he by the power of his God-Head took our Nature to himself by the power of the fame God-Head he takes our Souls to himself carries them to himself acts them upon himself keeps them with himself 2. How the world are said to beleeve Christs sending Answ It cannot be meant of saving Faith the faith of Gods Elect or that Faith by which we beleeve unto Salvation for that Faith which is here meant wicked men should and its certain sooner or later they shal attain for its that which the Father intends and aims at and our Savior Christ looked at as his scope in his prayer and we know that the Father never fails to accomplish what he intends nor our Savior to attain what he prayes for But this our Savior aimes at in his praier as one principal scope and end of it There is therefore in the second place a Faith which doth belong even to the wicked which is truly termed or called Faith in the language of the Scripture and the common speech of men I say truly called Faith though iâ— be not truly saving Joh. 12.42 43. Many beleeved on him but durst not confess him for they loved the praâ—e â—f men moâ—e than of God Theâ—e is saith then and men do also beleeve who love the praise of men more than of God but this no man can do and beleeve savingly Joh. 5.44 How can ye beleeve which receâ—ve honor one of another and seek not the honor that cometh from God only Joh. 2.23 24. Many beleeve in him But our Savior did not commit himself
Saints that can tel how to judg Psal 15. In whose eyes a vile person is despised If thou beest a wicked man a vicious proud stubborn froward person truly thou art a vile person and it a note of him that wil enter into God Tabernacle and dwel in his Holy Hil that he should despise thee as such though thou hadst never so much of al this earthly pomp the world can afford Dross is base though it be kept in the best place of the treasury Copper is yet vile and worthless though it be set upon the highest place of the Cupboard and not only man should so judg but God wil. The froward in spirit is abomination unto the Lord. Nay though thy place and priviledges be never so high and great they indeed may be glorious as having some impression of Gods power and authority painted upon them but yet if thy heart be void of Grace and thy life of Holiness Thou art wholly destitute of any true glory Thy place and the impression of Gods power must be honoured in thee buâ— thy self art despicable and worthless as that King Jehoram that died undefired 2 Chro. 21.20 2. We here see the ready way and the Kings road in which we must walk if we would be truly glorious in the eyes of wise and in the account of our Savior that we may be sure to get such glory as wil go in Heaven Be truly savingly gracious then art thou truly glorious in the account of the Almighty and shalt be received into glory when this life shal not be But they must be grace of the right make and true stamp issuing from the glorious spirit of the Lord. It s not any of those counterfeits of morality civillity which carry a meer shew of Godlyness without the power of it nor yet the Gilt as I may so cal it of those higher Stroaks of Illuminations which appertaines to Apostates of whom the Apostle faith That they tasted of the Heavenly gift and the good word of the Lord and of the powers of the world to come this is hansome gilt and yet the heart base and leud therefore miserable therefore I ad that which followes of the Apostle and ye should ad it also We hope better things of you and those that accompany Salvation not gilt in appearance but true Gold in the substance of it not the â—ast of these but the truth of these somthing better than astonishing terrors than fleshy and groundless inlightenings and raptures better humiliations better evidences better and more real expressions of the power and conquering vertue of the saving work of God The Church is said to be al glorious within Psal 45. The workmanship of God created unto good works Eph. 2. would ye then be glorious servants in the families wherein ye dwel glorious Inhabitants in the Plantations where ye live glorious members of Churches and Congregations and leave your names for a glory and blessing behind you Do not catch at a shadow but get the body and that wil not fade away do not thing to keep the light in the room and shut out the Sun-beames or let the candle be carried away Be truly vertuous and it cannot be but glory wil be thy companion and that in the very consciences of the wicked though their mouthes it may be wil be-ly their Consciences for to maintain their own wayes So it was with David 2 Sam. 6 21.22 When he danced before the Lord Michal conceited he laid open himself unto contempt How glorious was the King this day c. He answers Iâ— was before the Lord that I did it and if this be to be vile I wil be yet more vile and even of these Hand-maids I shal be had in hanor Lively faith is called Precious Faith 2. Pet. 1.6 Hebr. 11.4 By faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain Would ye therefore pray more excellently hear more excellently confer more excellently than al the carnal men in the world get this Precious Faith then ye wil be Precious Christians and have precious comforts 2. How our Savior received this Answ He received this Grace as man not as God or as the second person properly for so he is equal to the Father and hath equal propriety in al the Attributes of the God-Head Besides the Grace here is that which is given to beleevers but so that cannot be He receives it therefore as man and that by gift saith the Text for our Savior acknowledgeth it 1. It is Given by the Grace of personal Union in that it pleased God the Father that the second person his beloved son should take our Nature into personal Union so that though he was a perfect person before that was assumed yet he remained one and the same person after it was assumed there he two Natures but one person still Thus the Apostle disputes and the connection implyes so much Col. 1.15 He is the image of the Invisible God i. e. as second person and so in him all things consist and by him al created and he is the Head of the Body the Church and the Issue of al is For it pleased the Father that in him all fulness should dwel i.e. al the fullness of al Grace is in Christ in that he is Head and so head as that he is also the invisible image of the Father In a word Look what the Human Nature did receive from the Son as a Son and begotten of the Father that it receives by gift also and firstly from the Father because what the Son doth as Son he doth it from the Father But the Human Nature received it as the highest gift that ever was given to be taken into personal union by the Son as the second person begotten of the Father What the Son as the Son begotten of the Father gives to the human Nature that the Father gives firstly But this personal union the Son as from the Father gives Therefore the Father gives it firstly Upon this ground is that Inference also or the Apostle Col. 2.9 10. The Apostle would have them walk in Christ in the power of his Grace and in the direction of his rule and government and he joyns these two together as the reason For in him dwels the fullness of the God-Head Bodily Nor by way of type but truly nor yet by communication of vertue which he doth to and in the Saints nor yet by sacramental relation as he doth accompany his ordinances but the very essence of the God-Head in the second person supports the Human Nature as one person with it This is the Union verse 10. Ye are complete in him who is the Head c. Compleat in al-Grace to inable in al the fulness of wisedom aâ—â— Prophet and rule as a King to guid you in the waies of his Grace He is the Head from the former of al life and motion If the fullness of the God-Head personally then the fulness of al Grace dwels in him 2.
Christ the Author of Grace the giver of all grace and peace He is the great Almner by whom God gives al As in another case it s said The Father judgeth no man but hath committed al judgment to his Son so he comforts quickens none but by his Son therefore in these of al ordinances priviledgeâ— performances look at them only either as those which lead to Christ or come from Christ What Christ hath received as man we have dispatched 2. What he gives now comes into consideration where there be two Doctrins 1. The Saints share in a like glorious grace with Christ 2. This glorious grace they receive by way of gift from our Savior To the First 2. Cor. 3.18 The Apostles Testimony is pregnant even to the letter of the doctrine We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory c. i. e. while by Faith in the evidence of the gospel we behold the glorious grace of God imprinted upon the humane nature of our Savior we come to receive the like print and impression of glorious grace upon our own Souls 2. Tim. 2.1 My Son be strong in the Grace that is in Christ As it is with the beams of the Sun that be in the aire they have heat and light continued to them while they are continued to the body of the sun If once that be intercepted the other decayes and vanisheth away So it is with the grace that iâ— in us which hath its beauty and glorious strength from the daily influence and continuance we have and hold in our communion and sweet intercourse with the Lord Jesus as the fountain of al grace and glory See this truth made good in four particulars 1. This grace is Inward and spiritual not that which orders a mans carriage in regard of himself nor moralizes his behavior to walk civilly and inoffensively towards others but it leaves an impression upon the most inward motions of the soul as they meet with God in the most retired and refined actions thereof Psal 15. The Queen is al glorious within Truth in the inward parts in those contrivements which God alone is privy to Sound ones in Gods statutes 2. This impression of glorious Grace in VNIVERSAL Every faithful hath not some few or many but all the saving and sanctifiâ—ng Graces of the Spirit in al the kinds of them and is able and doth also put forth the operations thereof as occasions do invite and the Law and his own duty doth require at his hands Joh. 1.16 Of his fulness we al receive grace for grace i.e. for each grace in Christ there is the like and answerable Grace left in the heart of every beleever As it is with the seal and the Wax There is in the Wax letter for letter syllable for syllable word for word answerable to that which was in the Seal Every letter there instamped is for the kind and number imprinted upon the Wax So it is with the grace of our Savior that is like the seal our hearts like the wax We receive patience from his patience humility in him leaves a like impression of humility in us c. Holiness from his holiness courage from his courage Hence is that of the Apostle Galat. 4. 19. My little Children of whom I travail again until Christ be formed in you As it is with the parts of the Body of a Child naturally in an ordinary and common way of Providence There is not one or few or many members of a man but al the particulars are fashioned when the Child is conceived otherwise it is not a human creature but a monstrous birth If the hand should want some fingers or the Arm a hand or the Body an Arm But Nature in the course of generation intends al the parts and al the proportions of them unless her work be hindered and blemished So it is in our spiritual Regeneration when a Christan is born by the immortal Seed of the word in the Womb of the Church Whol Christ i.e. All the saving and gracious dispositions of soul whereby a man comes to be a perfect Christian and to carry the stamp of Christ his everlasting Father are left upon him otherwise he is not a new Creature but indeed a falâ— birth and Monster in Christianity And hence the Apostle wisheth they should comprehend c. And be filled with al bis Fulness Eph. 3.19 i.e. They should not be an empty crevis or corner no part of the Body but it should be sanctified to become a weapon of righteousness no faculty of the soul but it should be adorned with some glorious impression of the power of Grace wisedom and prudence in the mind holiness in the wil harmonious readiness in al the affections to attend the counsel of the Lord to be instruments of holiness 3. As they share in al the kinds of glorious Grace here while they are in their infancy and in the Bosom of the Church So also They do partake of all the PERFECTIONS of al these kinds When they shal arrive at the end of their hopes the Salvation of their souls Here the earnest there the ful bargain Here the first fruits there the whol harvest of holines and happiness 1. Joh. 3.2 We are now the sons of God but it doth not appear what we shal be but this is known that when Christ doth appear we shal be like him for we shal see him as he is Then we shall not see him darkly as he is revealed in his word dispensing himself in his Ordinances But we shall see him as he it He shall dart in those unconceiveable beames of the fulness of all holiness from himself immediately upon the Soul Then the Soul shall see nothing but a Christ and receive nothing but the impressions of the holiness happiness of a Christ This is called the Perfect Man that a perfect Christian when this glory is made Perfect when there shall be no weakness to enfeeble the strength of Grace no blemishes to darken the surpassing beauty of holiness This is the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.13 4. They share in the CONSTANCY and immutability of al this glorious Grace When they shall be beyond all fears and changes above principalities and powers beyond the noise of temptations which may assauk and hinder the work of Grace without and beyond the sight and presence of sin which may any waies enfeeble it Called An excessive exceeding eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 This is called the Crown of righteousness 2 Tim. 4.8 The Crown of life and glory Jam. 1.12 This is the Diamond in the Crown and glory of our glory when Grace is now setled in the Throne and Crowned with immutability and Eternity i.e. becomes victorious and enemies vanquished as admitting no alteration nay no opposition of any thing to hinder nay not the sight of any enemy more
that may disturb our setled and established state of happiness They who share in the Truth of all kinds of Graces in the Perfections of al kinds in the Immutability of al those perfections They partake of the like glorious Grace with our Savior This last indeed is the end and perfection of Grace It was given to Adam and he should have used it that he might have been immutable in the use of it But missing it he lost his Grace and fel short of glory Now that which the first Adam should have done and failed the second Adam hath done and so hath obtained it 2. They receive this by Gift He it is in whom al Grace as a fountain is setled To whom the immediate dispensation and communication of it is committed by God and from his free gift they must receive it For look we at the Saints as they ly in the Loynes of Adam 1. They have forfeited this glory put away this Grace from them and by reason of their rebellion have justly deserved the Lord should depart away 〈◊〉 withdraw the presence of his Grace which he formerly furnished them withal Rom. 3.23 We have sinnâ—â— and are deprived of his Glory Yea they take shame and confusion as their due and portion Dan. 9.7 O Lord to us belongeth shame and confusion of face as it appeareth this day Yea they ly down in shame Jer. 3.25 2. They have nothing of worth that may purchase it they can do nothing that can deserve it For when they have done all they can they are not only unprofitable servants Luk. 17.10 Psal 143.2 But that is not al should the Lord reckon with them for what is done who could abide they are so far from having hope to receive glory from God as that they might justly expect a Curse at his hand and he could not but in Justice send it 3. And lastly such is the baseness of the hearts of men and the crosseness of their corrupt Natures to his glorious Grace that as they wil hot so in truth they cannot receive it No man can receive any thing unless it be given from above Joh. 3.27 Joh. 14.17 The world cannot receive the spirit because they have not seen him nor known him Object But our Savior hath entered into covenant with God the Father to become the Shepheard of his Sheep to undertake the charge and care of his Elect to bring them to Grace and so to glory Joh. 17.2 To as many as are given to Christ he should give eternal life to them Joh. 6.37 All that the Father giveth to me shall come and I wil lose none If therefore a debt and agreement unto which our Savior is bound how is it then a gift which is in his liberty to deny Answ True It s that which Justice and righteousness cal for that haveing tyed hmself by promise ingaged his faithfulness and truth To seek and to save to â—â—ing other of his sheep and to bless c. He cannot fail â—â—â—â—g his faithfulness and deny himself and not 〈◊〉 â—nd the honor of his own word But let it be demanded why the Lord did Engage himself to undertake the work of our Salvation It wil appear that there is nothing but free Grace breathing in al the work he freely undertook it out of his free good wil performed it and out of his free Grace applies it So that there is nothing but free Grace and the free gift of Grace in what Christ hath wrought for us or wrought in us You have both the particulars opened we will give you the Reasons of both together REASONS 1. Taken from the proportion between the first and second Adam the Type and the Truth As the first Adam conveyed his sin and wrath by a covenant of works the second must convey holiness and life by a covenant of Grace and the free gift thereof The first Adam begat a Son in his own image wholly defiled and defaced with original corruption and so made him Heir apparent to the curse and condemnation thereby The second Adam must instamp the image of holiness upon his without which none shal see life Hebr. 12.14 Thus the Apostle disputes 1 Cor. 15.49 As we have born the image of the Earthy the first so we shal bear the image of the Heavenly 2. For this end the human Nature of our Savior hath received and is become the first subject of al Grace that from thence it might be derived unto the Nature of his Children For this end in our Nature he hath performed what ever divine Justice hath required purchased and provided a way and means for the communication of al Grace to his Therefore undoubtedly he wil give it and they receive it Otherwise he should miss his end and they their good 1. For this end he hath received al Grace For had not the second person by the power of the Deity brought our Nature to God and assumed it into personal union with himself so that the fulness of the God-Head might dwel Bodily in it and so the fulness of al Grace communicated thereunto It had not been possible that ever the Sons of Adam who are become enemies to God and the work of his Grace should have been made partakers thereof being wholly cross thereunto Col. 2.10 Ye are complete in Christ because in him dwelleth all the fulness of the God-Head Bodily Ye need no other King to rule nor Prophet to teach nor Priest to sanctifie Yea for this end in our Nature he hath purchased al provided a way to convey al Grace For had he not died and by death satisfied the Law ' the strength of sin had never been subdued nor could our corruptions be mortified Had he not by his resurrection triumphed over the power of Grave and Satan and al sinful weaknesses we had never had our hearts raised and quickned to Newness of life But when he died we by his death dy to sin and sin died when he rose we by his resurrection must rise to Newness of life For this end these were performed and this must also be attained Rom. 6.8 Therefore it is that this gift of Grace is committed to him and the dispensation and immediate communication belongs to him Therefore the Spirit is said to take of Christs Joh. 16.14 He shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you There is no killing vertue quickening vertue could be applied or received but only through his death first in him thereby then in us 3. He that gives the faithful the Spirit of Grace and glory must needs also give them all glorious Grace But our Savior doth so This is the reason the Apostle alledgeth 2 Cor. 3.18 As by the spirit of the Lord. Rom. 8.2 The Law of the Spirit of life hath freed us from the Law of sin As it is in the Scion knit unto the stock It is partaker of the same sap with the stock So here They are said to be implanted into the similitude
i.e. To grow up together in the similitude of his death Rom. 6.5 As his spirit by his death killed sin that was charged upon him So we by that Spirit grow up in the vertue of that death and die to sin USE 1. This gives in heavy evidence against a world of wicked wretches and casts out a crowd of ungodly persons our of the pale and fold of Christ as such as never yet had the work of faith here nor have any hope of glory hereafter If all beleevers share in the Grace of Christ what shal we think of such ignorant poor creatures that never knew this of those profane ones who profess themselves to be Scorners and Opposers of grace and the gospel of grace and the spirit of grace and Christ himself what shal we think of them think of them as they are They are unbeleeving creatures yet in the gal of bitterness and bond of iniquity and must and wil have their portion with unbeleevers in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone They loath the glorious grace of God now they shal be shut out and banished from his glorious presence for ever But I wil not trouble you nor my self with these whose conditions are so loathsome even unto their own consciences Only I shal settle it as a matter of sad reproof upon two sorts whose hopes and professions seem to promise better but in the issue couzen themselves and fal short of their own comforts 1. It crusheth the confidence and splits the vain pretences of al the most refined Hypocrites upon Earth It s not the gilt enameling of any ordinary duty nor the paint of any profession that wil evidence either their Title to Christ or the Grace of Christ which he gives indeed to his No it is the spiritualness of the work in their Souls If the outside be never so clean If there be rottenness within he loaths it Psal 45.13 The Kings Daughter is all glorious within c. The garments of the spouse are not gilt but wrought Gold It s not the shew and appearance in your lives if ye deny the power of Godliness in your hearts 2 Tim. 3.5 That is not Circumcision that is outward in the flesh that is not the glorious Grace of Christ that reformes a mans course before men But that is Circumcision which is of the spirit that is the Grace of Christ that makes a man close with God in Christ Thou mayst have strong inlightenings in thy mind strange raptures in thy spirit and rellâ—shes of joy tast of the good word and the heavenly gift and the power of the world to come have a Peep-hole into Heaven and see a glimpse of glory passing by and all this be nothing but the Grace of Apostates and Hypocrites not the Grace of Christ No saies the Apostle We hope better things of you Deeper impressions of the power of the Lord Christ and the work of the spirit must soak through thy soul and that not only tasted but digested and thy heart delivered up into the authority thereof 2. Those who please themselves with the apprehension that they have some Grace but are content to want some other and so indeed want al. When either education hath reformed them or their conscience awed them or their occasions or conditions free them from such assaults and because they want the temptation to sin they suppose they have the grace of Christ One man blesseth himself he is not worldly and sensual yet contents himself to be proud another is not passionate and loose yet worldly whereas if Christ be formed in a man nothing of the saving work of Christ wil be wanting if a new creature al things are new otherwise he is a Monster in Christianity not in truth a Christian of Christs make Either al or none at al. If ye have heard and learnt as the truth is in Jesus put off the old man not an old Hand or Eye but the frame of heart and life put on the â—â—w man USE 2. Of Instruction Sanctification is a never-failing argument of a beleeving and happy condition If God give glorious Grace here he will give possession of glory hereafter It s Christs work he will approve of it It s the image of himself he will own it It s the tenure of the promise Jer. 31.33 It s the sentence which is now passed upon such Judged they may be condemned they shall never be Math. 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Eph. 4.20 21 22. USE 3 Its Matter of Thankfulness If Christ think nothing too good for us we should be ashamed to stand for a little cost and labour for him He parts with the choicest of his favour his Glory to us we should part with the best of our Duties to him the best of our hearts to love him of our love to honor him of our indeavours to serve him They are not common courtesies which he vouchlafes to us not creatures to comfort us profits to enrich but the most precious favor that the Father bestowed He hath no greater nor better and that glory he gives to them Let us be ashamed to give the Lean the Lame the leavings to the Lord. Give him the glory of al that glory we do receive As the Elders Rev. 4.10 Cast down our Crowns before him And let him be advanced in al that he advanceth us USE 4. Of Exhortation Whither we must go if we Hope to speed and to receive this gift to what dore to go to receive this dole come to Christ the giver if we Hope to receive this gift The Spirit takes of Christ before he gives it to us therefore much more we must go to him before we can receive it The way lies in these four things 1. See all in him And Joyn none with him as the Author and worker of this There be instruments to convey Grace but there is no Author of this or giver of this but Christ Of his fulness we receive All other things are empty without him and can work nothing further than he will work by them Christ is al in al. Col. 3.11 Not ordinances not Duties not Sacraments Paul is nothing Apollo is nothing but Christ is all Christ by all Christ through all these works 2. Look at that in Christ which we need and would have and keep the heart under the stroke of the Spirit in Christ that working Grace in the Nature of our Savior from thence he may work Grace in us If we would have patience Eye the patience of Christ and the Spirit working patience in him and from his patience patience in me As it is in a Glass that hath many colors Red Green Blew Yellow If the Sun shine upon it it wil convey the like colors upon that which is opposite to it The Human Nature of our Savior is as the Glafs all the Graces in their variety are like so many colors The Spirit shining upon the Nature of
and carried beyond al the abilities they have yea beyond al the power of al the grace they have That look as when we see a swadling Child left in his Cradle in a lower room come againe we find it laid in the highest loft or Chamber in the house each man easily concludes There was another power than that it had of it self that conveyed it thither So here when the poor and ignorant amongst men come to know and do the things that are spiritual Eph. 2.10 His workmanship They are inlightned and inabled beyond al they had or ever once apprehended or could come into their own thoughts there was a higher power even the presence and assistance of a God the Lord Jesus himself to help Math. 11.25 I thank thee O Father that thou hast revealed these things to babes and adds no man knowes the Father but the Son Therefore the Prophet begs that he might not be left to his spirit Psal 143.10 Teach me the way to thee thy Spirit is Good q. d. My spirit is naught 2. Where the presence of Christ is The soul at the lowest ebb and the greatest under that ever it comes unto it is yet ever panting after a Savior cannot â—est before it come to him Isa 26.8 The desires of our Souls are towards thy name and to the remembrance of thee In the greatest desertion that can befal them the greatest temptation that can assault by the one they are disinabled to do what they would by the other opposed and hindred from attaining that which they do indeavor Yet they set themselves that way Though they see they are like Captives and under the Tiranny of their distempers they find they do not yea may be at such an under and in a forlorne condition that they conclude they are past Hope and expectation never shal be recovered yet their hearts bless them that injoy that happy estate and Oh that they might That as it s said of the ungodly They set themselves in a way that is not good These contrariwise set themselves in the aime and bent of their heart Rom. 7. As the Pilot that hath the Helm in his hand though it may be the wind is too stiff and the stream too strong and al against him that he cannot make way forward nay it may be is turned back again by contrary stormes yet he tacks about and keeps her to that point stil So here when the Lord Christ takes the Helm of the heart of a beleever in his own hand though the wind and tyde of the most violent temptation for the while stop his course yet the bent of the heart is that way My Soul followeth hard after thee Psal 63.8 USE 4. This shews the excellency of the Saints even in the meanest and worst condition above the wicked and ungodly when they are in the greatest ruffe and Soveraignty that they can attain unto in this world The Saints are the Temple of the liveing God 2. Cor. 6.16 Their Souls are the throne where the Lord sits and shews the riches of the glory of his Grace and mercy the habitation where he dwels and takes up his abode the Kingdom where he rules by the power of his Grace the Guidance and Government of his blessed Spirit and the scepter of his word True he exerciseth the Soveraignty of his power and justice upon the wicked on Earth and the damned in Hel as amongst his Enemies and Out-laws whose rebellion he wil revenge and whose ruine he wil work according to the desert of their works But his Children and servants are his loyal and loving subjects amongst whom he sets up the Kingdom and exerciseth the government of his Grace and mercy and they in love and loyalty submit thereunto and advance the same The hearts of his are as I may say the Paradise of Gods pleasure in which he walks and takes his content So the Lord promiseth I will walk among them So the wise man professeth Wisedom delights in the habitable part of the world Prov. 8.31 This is my habitation for ever here I delight to dwel But it is not so with the wicked it s not so with them Those miserable Souls of theirs are the throne where Satan sits that Synagogue where he is worshipped and even where his throne is seated Rev. 2. The habitation and Hel where he abides Math. 12.45 Came and found the House swept and garnished The Kingdom of darkness in which he rules Eph. 2.2 He rules in the hearts of the Children of disobedience There he sports himself and there he finds and takes greatest contentment Because he hath such as will heare and entertain his suggestions and do his wil and lusts and therefore they are said to be Satans and of the Devil yea to be Devils Look therefore what difference there is between Heaven and Hell the Kingdome of light and the Kingdom of darkness the habitation of Devils and the temple of the Lord Such is the excellency of the Saints such is the miserable condition of the ungodly USE 5. Here is matter of marvelous and unspeakable COMFORT to al the Saints to cure us or al Fears and deliver us from al discouragements that ever we shal meet withal in this World The Lord Jesus is a Helper a strong Helper ready to save so the Apostle Phil. 4 infers The Lord is at hand Are Devils at hand to tempt thee are Enemies subtil and mighty at hand to persecute and oppose thee are thy fears and discouragements at hand to over-bear thee The Lord Jesus is at hand neer tâ—ee nay in thee to succor and supply add satisfie 1. Comfort in al thy Spiritual tryals when Satan grows most fel thy corruptions most strong and thy heart begins to fail thee in the apprehension of thine Infirmities as that thou shalt never be able to subdue to overcome nay not to resist Behold 1 John 4.4 be they never so great Greater is he that is in thee than be that is in the world Though thou beest never so weak and thine Enemies nevers so great Christ is greater than al Devils than al distempers than al the power of darkness and malice of the wicked Thou seest and findest a Law in they Members rebelling against the Law of thy Mind and carrying thee captive Behold the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ shal free thee from the Law of Sin Rom 8.3 Here is Law against Law Spirit against Spirit Christ against thy Corruption That Spirit is in Christ and Christ is in thee Therefore our Saviour concludes None shall take them our of my hand neither head of Satan nor hand and power of Sin and Grave John 10.28 2. Comfort against WANTS and Necessities that may surprize and over-bear thee Thy Pressures and Calamities are present they pinch and sit sad The Lord Jesus is present to sweeten thy sorrows with the sense of his Love and to supply al with the fulness of his sufficient Grace It would refreshany in
sickness had he but the Physitian by him that could heal It would refresh the Child in Misery and want were the tender mother by that would pity could relieve Our Saviour is al and more than al he can answer al thy desires and he is present and apprehensive of thy grievances In all their afflictions he was afflicted He is in thee he shares in al thy sorrows Why persecutest thou me So David Psal 73.26 My heart and my flesh al inward and outward helps fail but the Lord is the strength of my heart his wisdom was in his mind his subjection in his wil his sweet calms and quiet in his distempered affections that strengthened al. USE 6. Matter of Humiliation to all the Saints who have Christ so neer to them so spiritually so specially present with them and yet they know so little of him are so little acquainted with him As Paul in another case Acts 17.23 touching the Altar set up to the unknown God he answers Whom ye ignorantly worship him I shew unto you for he is not far from you for in him we live and move and have our being So of Christ whom ye ignorantly worship and desire to see and enquire of Christ by Christ As Mary asked of the Lord where the Lord Jesus was O! they go weeping and seeking after a Savior complain they cannot hear of him c. mourn after him He is not far from you nay is in you and works al your works for you Your Consciences have been in terror and perplexity and again quelled Tweetly and calmed it was Christ that did it Your Spirits were sunk down in discouragements and knew not how to recover themselves and yet beyond hope supported it was Christ that did it And therefore as our Saviour complained and checked Philip John 14.9 Have I been so long with you and dost thou not know me Philip Hath Christ so long striven with those rebellious so long comforted quickened in weaknesses strengthened you in wants supplied helped you to cal so often heard so long born with al that baseness and do ye not yet know Jesus Christ Complain of thine own blindness and heedlesness The Lord Jesus was in this place in this heart and I was not aware of him wretch that I am Gen. 28.16 USE 7. Here is matter of Admiration even to force us to stand amazed at the endless compassion of a Savior Why should he pass by so many as good and better than our selves as we came out of the Lyons of Adam yet to knock at our doors cal upon us John 14.22 Lord why wilt thou shew thy self to us and not unto the world Why shed his blood for us send his Spirit to us why pass by so many provocations and pity and pardon us As Solomon Behold the Heaven is not able to contain thee how shal this so poor a Tent So thou of thy heart and is it possible Or as she How comes it that the Mother of my Lord is come unto me It was Moses his Dispute Deut. 4.34 Did ever God assay c. Did ever people hear God c. But they have God dwelling in them USE 8. Of Exhortation 1. To be affected with the presence of so great a Majesty and so affected with his presence as to see our own weakness and worthlesnes When God had Schooled Job out of the Whirl-whind see how he sits down abased Behold I am vile How the Centution esteemed the presence of our Saviour in the daies of his Humiliation Behold I am not worthy thou should'st come under my Roof How we of our Saviours Spiritual presence now in glory to come so neer as to dwel in these wretched hearts of ours 2. Therefore study to give suitable entertainment and welcom to so glorious a Guest set al our abilities on work as Abraham his Servants that we may answer the coming and kindness of the Lord. And that 's in Two things 1 Content him with the provision we make 2 Honor him with attendance that is meet 1 Study his Content Walk in all well-pleasing Col. 1.10 2 Cor. 5.9 Be Ambitious to please As with persons of great quality we enquire of their followers what wil please what Diet they desire we provide it if can be purchased with money So here This in four things 1. Bring truth of Spirit in al our performances Psal 51.6 Thou lovest truth in the inner parts So Hezekiah Remember how I have walked before thee with an upright heart Isa 38.3 God seeks for such who is a God of Truth just and right Deut. 32.4 only the heart of al the Sacrifice 2. Present him with nothing but his own That which he commands not he accepts not Who required these things No man knows what wil please him before he shew his pleasure Matth. 15.9 They worship him in vain when they invent dishes of their own 3. Let the Diet be fresh and new dressed That which is old and stale it is not wholsom much less honorable to set it before a stranger It must be fresh fat and good and new killed Psal 98.1 David speaks of a new Song of Thanksgiving As in the Shew-bread which was dayly set before the Lord it must be set on fresh in the several seasons Levit. 24.8 Exod. 25.30 each Sabboth God gives a new Command It 's an old Command but renewed with fresh colors a new Covenant Jer. 31.31 So we bring new Love Faith and Repentence renew and stirr up a fresh thy Graces 4. Humility and feare Mic. 6.8 Isa 66.2 Men converse with marvailous underness and awfullness before great personages when they are sleight and negligent in the presence of their underlings So must we be awful and feareful when we come into Christs presence to be negligent here is to dishonor and to distast him it is to use him as an underling 2. Honor him with our attencance 1. Attend him with gladness and cheerfullness of heart Joy is a sit Chamberlain to wait comes and goes readily Deut. 28.47 With glad hearts Act. 2.46 Eat their meat together with joyfulness of heart God loves a cheerful look not lowring 2. With a ready watchfulness to listen to the intimation of Gods mind Observe every look take notice of the least beck listen to the lowest speech watch every passage and appearance of the pleasure of the Lord. Luk. 12.35 Stand with your loynes girt and your Lamps burning waiting for his coming Have al trim our Lamps and Vessels Here Lord. See what God would and suit answerably Thou in me We have handled the first degree attending the order of our Savior who looks at them as they appeare to us and therefore so propounds them as they may be most easily apprehended We are now come to the first fountain and original from whence this spiritual priviledg and unity hath his rise dispensed and communicated That is from the In-being of the Father in Christ This is the highest degree further than which we cannot
this In-being of the Father in him See the very ground given Joh. 10.10 The word I speak is not mine but the Father that dwels in me c. Joh. 8.38 For the works sake beleâ—ve that the Father is in me and I in the Father Joh. 5. The Son doth nothing of himself but what he seeth the Father do Issue the whol Thus. What ever the second person and Son of God as such doth that he doth by vertue of his eternal generation from the Father and from his abiding in him But as Son he takes our Nature into personal union with himself and as Son advanceth it to that priviledg and liberty to set al the Attributes on work and to send the Holy Ghost yea sends al Officers and appoints al Offices and blesseth them Therefore by vertue of this his eternal generation from the Father and his abiding in him this Union Mission and Operation of the Human Nature proceeds The second person by this eternal generation from the Father and abiding in him is reflected upon the Father and as the Father hath an Eye only to the son in giving the susibstence of a Son the Son hath an Eye to the Father in returning the subsistence of a son to him they wholly give and take So the Son uniting the Human Nature into one person holds it in reference and dependance with himself upon the Father All is communicated to him as sent and so to the Human Nature All acted by him and so by the Human Nature The In-being or existence of the Father in the Son is the first rise whence the unity of the faithful with the Father and the Son comes to be perfected Hither our Savior ascends and here he staies Leads us to the Well-Head and fountain whence our spiritual wellface and everlasting good Issues And this is the highest of al and higher we cannot go beyond this visible world and al creatures therein even to Heaven and in Heaven above Angels to God and in the God-Head to the first original in the glorious and blessed Trinity and the first act in that origination To this accords that of the Apostle each place adds mutual light unto the other Col. 3.3 We are dead and our life is hid with Christ in God Christ is the Treasurer but the Father is the Author Christ is the keeper but the Father is the first Appointer thereof For so you must understand the Name God not essentially but personally being put in opposition and reference unto Christ our life is hid with Christ but Christ and life and al is in God in the Father Upon this ground it is and to the like purpose that the Apostle carries the hearts of the Corinthians in the work of their calling unto this consideration as that wherein the lowest part of the foundation of our comfort lies 1 Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God in made unto us wisedom righteousness Sanctification and Redemption Christ is all even complete Redemption who delivers from the power and presence of al evil and gives all Grace quickens what he gives perfects what he quickens owns what he perfects But he is made this to us not of himself but of the Father for so stil the word and Name of God is to be taken as appears verse 24. Christ is the power of God and the Wisedom of God Christ is made our Redemption and we are made his redeemed ones and the Father makes both he our Redemption and we his redeemed And this is the cause why the Apostle is so inlarged inlaying forâ—h the soveraignty of the Fathers work beyond al the compass either of the being of the creature or the Graces and apprehensions of all Churches Eph. 4.5 6. There is one Lord Jesus one Faith and one Baptisme one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you al. Above al even in the highest power that is dispensed in his Church Christ is the Head and Husband the Holy Spirit the comforter God is the Father Through al the operations and administrations that are in the Churches and Graces dispensed He sends his Son to the great work of our Redemption God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself 2 Tim. 1.4 Given us Grace in Christ Jesus before the world was He sends the Spirit in the work of Application Joh. 26. In all the Saints as drawing and conjoining the hearts of the faithful as fellow Brethren unto himself with the Father and one to another in him and for him So one in relation here as wel as in a Savior And from hence lastly it is we meet usually with that phrase which may receive a right explication and true understanding from t he point in hand 1 Then 1.1 To the Church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and in our Lord Jesus And that so al the Churches and al the faithful are in God the Father as the Father of the Churches in the Son as the Head of the Church In the Father who out of the Authority or priority of order not of dominion first appoints our Savior to the word and the work to him In the Lord Jesus as he is appointed by the Mission to work from the Father and by commission sent as man united to the second person to have al Graces first in way and right of communication to the Church The Father he knows the Son there is the Deity and al the excellencies thereof reflecting exemplifying or characterising upon it self where the expressions of the Deity and all the excellency thereof exemplifying from it self that 's to be in the Father that is it is in the vertue of the Father that it is so done The Son again as the Character reflected or exemplified and where this examplification or excellencies returned again is to be seen so far the Soul may be said to be in Christ that is in his vertue not looking so much at the work or thing done for that Issues from all but at the manner of doing and carry that along it wil direst and not deceive Open the Doctrin 1. Recal what this Oneness is 2. How it s Perfected The first I shal not trouble you withal because I have heretofore opened it at large only mention so much as you may keep your Eye or consideration upon it as the White or Mark that you may discern how the following expressions hit it Briefly then This unity as ye have heard is not the Oneness of affection amongst the Saints but the Oneness of relation they have to God in Christ as his Adopted ones One with us nor one with themselves This Oneness of Relation lies here in that our Saviour doth not bring the Souls of the faithful in neerest relations of dearest love as adopted Sons but also into that spiritual intercourse of peculiar and divine operation of God upon the Soul whereby the Soul returnes unto God to do al and to take al.
hath accomplished that great work of our redemption and that unto the ful That the ignorant who never knew him the stubborn and rebellious amongst whom he lived and preached yet would not receive him yea the flinty hearted Jews that scorned and despised the meanness of his person and the power of his dispensation Al these at last should be constrained to acknowledg that he is the true and only Messias set a part and sent to that work This is the Son of God saies the Heathen of whom we have heard but never laboured to know him This is the Son of God saies the prophane whom we in his word have opposed and hated in his servants This is the Son of God sent to save us and we have blasphemed his name and flame and crucified his person despised his government saies the Jew See the lively expression of this Rev. 6.13 This I say wil certainly come to pass for our Savior hath prayed for it yea pursued it with re-doubled desires propounded in the 21. Verse repeated in verse 23. And he is alwaies heard in what he begged Hence we have two things 1. It s lawful to begg the same thing several times in the same prayer We have here a pattern before us beyond al compare a practise beyond al exception nay in truth beyond al question or doubt He cannot do but wel who could not erre in what he did where he hath gone before us in his example in things imitable we may without either feare or hazard safely go after him As it was said of his speaking and it s as true of his praying he prayed as never man did And there do not many sentences pass between but ye have the very same petition expressed What our Savior did its lawful for us upon the like occasion and like grounds for us to do to put up the same petition several times the same prayer If we find we have greater need of that we ask than any other or if there be special worth in it or that our hearts grow warmer in the work and increase into the strength of our affection towards the thing we ask For then there is no vain babling or empty repetition but the expressions though the same have new strength of fresh apprehensions and affections put upon them Therefore David again unto the place striks the same string often which made best melody in that musick and song of his Oh that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness and declare the wonders he doth for the Children of men 2. We ought to pray most earnestly that the power of our Savior might be expressed that his right appointment to the work of Redemption might be acknowledged by the world It s that which our Savior doubles his desires for the attainement of as that wherein the great weight of the work lay and which he counted worthy such importunate seeking for at the hands of his Father And this carriage should be a Copy and Sampler to conform our prayers unto This is that which God the Father is so Zealous of Hebr. 1. When he brings his first begotten into the world he saies Worship him all ye Angels of God And to this purpose was the eight Psalm penned and is to be understood touching our Savior as having the preheminence above al creatures in Heaven and Earth as Mediator So the Apostle to the Hebrews seems to expound it Hebr. 2.20 Learned Junius judgeth and therefore here the Psalmist dwels and delights to descant on this strain Psal 8.1 O Lord our God how excellent is thy Name in al the world That 's most worthy our desires upon which our Savior spent his This only from the repetition The point it self we spake unto on verse 21. So much of the first end The second End is this Our Savior prayes that they might be perfect in one that so the world also might know that the Father hath loved them as he loved him This is for the honor and excellency of beleevers in the acknowledgment of the world That howsoever while they are wildering here in this vale of teares they become the scorn of the wicked the scrapings of men as the Apostle hath it and the Off-scouring of the world in the misguided apprehension of the wicked of the world who know not how to judg aright of things and persons and therefore account them Out-casts of Heaven and Earth yet our Savior prayes that they may proceed on to that perfection of Oneness with the Father and himself unto which one day they shal attain in Heaven That the world may be constrained to see and say that indeed they are Gods precious ones to whom his Soul is exceedingly indeared in surpassing love even like unto that wherewith he hath loved the Lord Jesus his only Son This our Savior Christ prayes for as a means to this end and therefore it wil undoubtedly attain it There be two points in the worlds 1. The world shal know that the Father hath loved the faithful as he loved Jesus Christ 2. This shall then be known when they come to be perfectly one with the Father and Son in Heaven But we shal handle them both together because they border so neer each upon other and the explication of either wil add to the discovery and so to the confirmation of both Point Then shall the world know that the Father hath loved the Faithful as his Son when they come to be perfected in Oneness with the Father and the Son These two the Apostle joynes together also in his prayer 2. Thess 1.11 12. Wherefore we pray alwaies for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling And fulfil al the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you that is the first that Christ may be acknowledged as he that hath been sent for that work and hath done it Secondly That ye might be glorified in him according to the Grace of God at aâ—d â—uâ— Lord Jesus Christ Next under the Advancement of his own Name the Lord provides and the Apostle praies for the Advancement of his Servants ' Matth. 13.41.43 when the Lord shal gather out of his Church whatever doth offend whatever persons that are wicked and whatever things even aâ—oâ—gst the godly that offend Then shal the righteous sâ—ine as the Sun in the Kingdom of my Father They have been here undeâ— hatches cooped up in Duâ—gâ—â—ns there they shal be in their Kingdom and that in the Kingdom of their Father Here they lie among the ports al dinâ—â—ed â—eâ—coâ—ed with the shame and disgrace that hath been cast upon them as the scum of the world and the scorn of Heaven and Earth This is Zion whom to Man regarded There they shal shine and that as the Sun which every man wil see because he cannot look ofâ— the light of it and wil be dazelled with the
Lord Jesus hath here been under hatches and the wicked have seemed to carry the day against him This is your hour But Christ wil have his day and then ye will have yours As David encouraged himself in the simplicity of his heart I shall be had in account of those Maid Servants So here USE 2. Of Exhortation To perswade the Saints that they should labor to know this Love that so they may know their own honor and happiness It 's part of their Priviledg their Propriety a note of Christs Sheep They know me and are known of me If the Lord wil have the wicked acknowledg thee who only see it how much more doth it concern them that have it It they who are but Spectators much more they who are the Possessors and do enjoy the same how would this support in al wants It 's but to diet and physick us not to hurt us it 's out of Love How would it sweeten al our Sorrows and Corrections even the sharpest It 's out of love to purge us and to fit us for himself nay solace our souls in Death it's out of Love it 's to take down our Bodies not to destroy them to take out of the World because he loves us to take us neerer to himself How should this settle us and establish us in al Change There is an end of al things and an end of al Perfections but whom God loves he loves to the end He loved our Savior when he brought him to the Grave that he might bring him to Glory And so with us when we are parted from al things when we shal be separated one from another Wife from the Husband Child from the Father nay our Bodies separated from our Souls so that they are not or if they were they cannot live There is an end of al those Relations no marrying in Heaven no trading in Heaven yet nothing shal be able to separate us from the Love of God in Christ Verse 24. Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me for thou loved'st me before the Foundation of the World IN this Prayer of our Savior two things were especially attended 1. He prayeth for himself to verse 6. 2. The for his Children from thence to the end And that Either especially for his Apostles because the greatness of the Work now under their hand their pressures and difficulties that would necessarily attend them therein the large measure of Grace and Abilities that might suit them to so weighty and Spiritual employment together with the need of more than an ordinary presence and assistance of the Lord without which they would not only be unfitted for a business of that worth but wholly discouraged in it Therefore the Lord Jesus laies in for a larger measure of Spiritual supply and relief for them in the first place and here he is marvelous importunate to verse 20. Or else for al the Faithful that ever did or for the future should beleeve in him unto the end of the World whose case he commends from Verse 20. and the things he begs are partly such which might concern their Spirittual good in an especial manner in this Life and because that was the Root and Treasury of al the rest of their good things in which they were contained and from whence they might be received he propounds and pursues with much instancy of desire That they might be one as the Father and Son were one Partly such as did concern their everlasting welfare in the world to come and this our Savior as though he would carry them to Heaven being presently to ascend himself seeks to the Father for here in the closure of his Prayer that so nothing might be wanting that either they did need or could desire but that they might be fully furnished with a sufficiency of supply for whatsoever concerned either Grace or Glory the present comfort of this or the happiness of a better life Thus the Lord laies in Provision and that in a plentiful manner 1. That which might fit them for their way and Voyage while they are travelling towards their home 2. That which might give them sweet welcome when they came at the end of their Hopes Our Savior is not satisfied until he see them in the Haven safely arrived in Heaven with himself beyond al the rage of Devils and malice of Men dangers of Sin or the sorrows of the Grave and Death In this 24. Verse and Prayer of our Savior we may attend Four Things 1. A Description of the Parties for whom Christ praies from that Spiritual respect and relation they had to him Those that thou hast given me together with the cause of it his Father gave them 2. The thing he desires That they might be where he is namely That they might enjoy a likeness Condition with our Savior in regard of the glory and security of the place and mutual society of each others presence or else a Parity if we look at the kind That they who had been in the same Storms might be in the same Haven enjoy the same ease and honorable safety share in the Society of that glorious and safe Condition when their hearts shal be ravished with the remembrance of the wonderful Salvation and Deliverances that have been wrought for them the surpassing excellency of Grace and Glory that hath been purchased and bestowed upon them so unworthy Swallowed up with the admiration of the sight and presence of our Savior who hath suffered ascended sits at the right hand of the Father and hath taken possession of al Glory that they may be possessed of the same by him and with him And the also solacing himself with the sight and presence of those whom he hath so loved so redeemed so graced so advanced as himself as though he could not have been in Heaven unless they might come to Heaven 3. The End why he begs this That they might be with him that they might see the Glory of Christ which hath been given him of the Father Not that they might have any Glory in themselves or see or satisfie themselves with their own glory but that they might gaze upon the Glory of the Lord Jesus through al Worlds and that 's al they have to do in Heaven 4. We have the first Fountain whence this Glory proceeds to wit hence Because the Father hath loved him before the Foundation of the World was laid In the General from the Scope of the whol observe It 's the care of our Savior to seek and provide for the welfare of his Servants even till they come to the fulness of their perfection See here in the words of the Text the inlarged tenderness of the heart of the Lord Jesus he doth not content himself to look to his disciples and so beleevers while they were but in the shel Babes in Christianity nor satisfies himself that he
of Wrath and expectation when thou shalt be arraigned and condemned by the righteous Sentence of Gods revenging Justice Satan accuseth Conscience gives in witness against thee and the Justice of God passeth Sentence Look up to this Glory that Christ stands possessed of now in Heaven and al these Accusations will vanish immediately nor wil once appear to plead against a beleeving sinner Upon this ground Paul flings out the Gantlet against al Adversaries and there is not an Action that can pass nay not so much as a motion made against him that can find audience in Court Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the Charge of Gods Chosen it's God that justifies nay it 's Christ that hath died nay rather risen again nay sits at the right hand of God Justice cannot condemn Christ hath satisfied and is freed and now is at Gods right hand and is at the better hand with Justice triumphs there Devils cannot cavil they are silenced Conscience accuse that is answered nay those dayly failings which might seem to interrupt the Terms of Agreement betwixt God and the Soul and make new Controversies These are taken up and intercepted by the Lord Jesus Nay the main Pith of this Glory was as ye have read before That the immediate execution of Gods whol Counsel towards the Sons of Men is by his means comes through his hands And if there be any thing against his Members his Spouse he wil be sure to stop that proceeding So Paul disputes Rom. 5.9 If reconciled by his Death how much more shall we be saved by his Life 5. By this all Graces shall be strengthened and made glorious answerable and in some measure proportionable to the Glory that Christ hath possessed The Father gives glorious Power and Grace to him and he dispenseth glorious Grace and Power to us This is the ground of the Inference The Spirit was not sent because Christ was not ascended That the larger measure of the Spirit in the more spiritual and efficacious operations thereof was not yet given because he was not yet in the Throne of Glory and invested with the fulness of that power which then he should re-assume and challenge to himself And this Peter renders to be the reason of those extraordinary Gifts that were given and admirable Works that were done by the Apostles When al the People wondered and stood amazed to hear each man speak in his own language the magnificent things of God the holy Apostle Peter carries them hither as to the first root and rise of al those miraculous Dispensations Acts 2.34 36. That Christ whom ye have crucified God hath raised and made him both Lord and Christ and having received the Promise of the Spirit having as man received the Spirit without measure as much as Nature was capable of and as God possessed and recovered the same Glory which he had with the Father before al Worlds He now sheds abroad this which ye now see and hear Great Princes reserve the greatest Gifts and Entertainment unto the daies of greatest Solemnity as Coronation or Conquest The day of Christs Ascention and sitting and so possession of Glory is the day of his Coronation and Conquest returns into his own Country and there triumphs and then gives Gifts enlargeth himself in the Graces of his Spirit Eph. 1.20 22 23. when Christ was set in Heavenly places and advanced to his Glory It was that he might be Head of his Church and might fill all in all By this he comes to be Head and hath all Graces By this he comes to communicate himself not in sparing manner but fully and freely he fils all in all 6. By this thou mayest be enlarged in all Services not only receive more Graces but exercise what thou hast received in a more active and excellent manner than ever otherwise thou should'st or could'st have attained unto The Glory of our Savior over-shadowing thee wil make thee pray gloriously lead a glorious life and perform glorious Duties Thus our Savior disputes John 14.22 Verily verily I say unto you he that beleeveth in me shall do the Works that I do that is in regard of the Doctrine he then delivered or Works he then wrought Nay greater works than these shall he do Why Because I go to my Father He goes to possess al Glory in al the fulness of the Execution of al power and dispensation thereof And therefore having more dispenseth more vertually by the power of his sitting at the right hand of God than he did when he was bodily present in the daies of his Humiliation Peter by the vertue of his death and that glorious power which Christ possessed in Heaven he converted at once three thousand which our Savior never did while he preached Christ healed the Sick and cured Diseases of such as came to him but Peter such as he sent his Hand-kerchief unto Nay our Savior ads Whatever ye ask in my Name in the Name of Christ now in Glory as he is gone to his Father If ye ask any thing never so miraculous hard improbable impossible to Flesh and Blood he wil bring it about And upon this Tenure it is that promise is made to the Church of Thyatira That she shall rule the Nations with a rod of Iron Rev. 2.26 27. A poor handful of People the mighty and invincible power of a multitude of Nations See the Reason it is As I have received from my Father This power of this glorious Dispensation is such as he hath received in a more ful and eminent manner he wil so also communicate it And therefore our Savior professeth it is expedient that he should go away for if he go not he wil not send the Comforter but if he do he wil send him and then he shal lead you into all truth John 16.7.13 The last resolution rests there Al is Christs that the Father hath and he shal take of Christs and give to them 7. By this thou maiest be sure thou canst not miss of Eternal Life This was the end why Christ receives God the Father gives this Glory that he may give it unto the Faithful John 17. Thou hast given me power over all Creatures that I may give unto them Eternal Life Christ cannot miss of his End nor thou of Glory And if al power can bring to Eternal Life thou canst not but enjoy it Christ must fail of his intent if thou fail of thy happiness and therefore you shal find our Savior so solicitous to settle the hearts of his Disciples in this and himself so unweariable to accomplish it John 14.2 3. Let not your hearts be troubled c. They were and al the Saints find a hard shock here they are troubled what wil become of them at last and how shal they once arrive at the Haven the storms so strong the waves so fierce oppositions from without so great corruptions from within so out-ragious Why our Savior saies Be not troubled I go to
the Children that thou hast given me then he shall deliver up the Kingdom to God even the Father The Rule and Government of our Savior in al these outward Dispensations shal be at an end The end and scope of the Death and Obedience Ascention and Redemption wrought out by Christ that he must affectionately desire But this is so Therefore 2. By this means the perfection of his Body mystical and himself as mystical Christ is accomplished without this somthing would be wanting to make up the fulness thereof Eph. 1. last It 's said of the Church and is true of each Member for their measure It is the fulness of him who filleth all in all the hearts of al his Saints with al saving Graces If at the last day of that great assembling of the first-born there should be but the poorest Saint wanting and out of the way the mystical Body of Christ would so far want it's fulness if a finger or a joynt be lacking the Body would lack somthing of its ful integrity And therefore Eph. 4.13 God never leaves sending Officers they never leave gathering and perfecting the Body of Christ until we all arrive and meet at the unity of Faith and the acknowledgment of the Son of God The Head and Members should in reason be present one with another The Husband and Wife in comliness should co-habit in the same place and dwel together Christ is the Head his Faithful his Members Christ the Husband is gone into his own out of fair Countrey and therefore he cannot but affectionately desire the coming of his Bride unto him Nay rather than fail as we heard he wil come down from Heaven and fetch her John 14. I will take you to my self that where I am ye may be also 3. The compleat happiness of the Saints can only by this means be fully procured The Lord redeems not only from guilt and punishment and power of our sins and miseries but even from the presence of them And we cannot be wholly freed from the presence of the evil of the world before we be taken out of the World And therefore as the Lord hath advanced our Savior far above Principalities and Powers beyond the gun-shot of Satans temptations and the evils of this vale of Tears So the Lord Jesus provides that we may triumph with him as we have suffered with him Matth. 13.41 Therefore in the Parable while we live in the Field of the World and the Church is here Militant there wil be Tares which wil annoy and trouble But when the Lord shal send his Angels to gather out of his Kingdom al things that offend and them which do iniquity Then shal his Saints be translated into the Kingdom of the Father That which is the end of Christs Redemption the perfection of his Body the compleat happiness of his People that he must affectionately desire For the end ever carries and commands the affection of the Agent who works by Counsel and Reason USE 1. Of Instruction Hence al that are given to Christ must be raised from the dead and be in an immortal condition and in everlasting happiness As our Savior reasoned against the Sadduces God is the God of Abraham Isaac Jacob God is a God in Covenant with the Living Therefore Abraham Isaac and Jacob must live and that in Bodies and Souls because he is the God of both So those that must ever be with Christ they must have a Being and be raised out of the dust nor matters it though they were returned to the dust and that scattered into the four corners of the World into the Sea where they have been drowned into the Earth where they have been buried into the Fire where they have been burned The Lord wil send his Angels and he wil gather his Elect The Sea shal give up her dead the Fire and Earth their dead They shal be made immortal that so they may be ever with the Lord. USE 2. Of Reprehension It condemns both the Spirits and Practices of such who cannot abide the presence much less prize the communion and company of the Saints Christ is not at rest in Heaven without them and they are in a Hell count themselves in a Prison while the are in the place and the presence where they be Certainly Christ is deceived or thou art justly to be condemned as one who hast not the heart of Christ the Grace and Spirit of Christ in thee and that one day thou shalt find They shal ever be with Christ and thou that canst not indure their society in the Kingdom of Grace thou shalt never have their company in the Kingdom of Glory Such is the exquisite Constitution and Soveraign temper of the Irish Mold that there poysonous Vermin Toads and Spiders and such like they die presently if confined to the compass of the Earth and therefore they forthwith leave the Mold lest they lose their lives So here if thou countest it a kind of death to be confined to the holy Society and gracious and Spiritual communion of the Saints it 's certain Thou hast the poyson of a prophane and a graceless heart within thee They went out from us saies the Apostle because they were not of us had they been of us had they grown upon the same root the Lord Jesus knit one to another by the same Spirit They would never have departed from us When loos-hearted and wicked Hypocrites are hemmed in by the Communion of the Faithful at unawares they stand upon coals and sit upon Thorns like Fish out of their Element their hearts faint and die away presently as professedly contrary to the Spirit of our Savior as Light to Drakness Christs Wil is They should be where he is and their wil is To be any where else but where they are USE 3. Of Spiritual Comfort Hereby we may learn to support our selves in several occasions that would prejudice us in our Christian Course Hence we may fetch supply to bear up our hearts in al over-bearing pressures Comfort against al Opposition of our Spiritual Adversaries which may hinder our Happiness Against contempt of the World that would disparage our persons and Professions Against our own weaknesses and feebleness that might discourage us in a Christian Course The former Doctrine affords Spiritual refreshing against al these Against the fiercest of al opposition which al the Enemies of our Salvation can make against our progress and success in a Christian Course The Prayer of our Savior is above the Power of Hel and Devils though they rage above their malice and policy though they undermine above the corruption of mine own heart which would betray and deliver me as a prey into the hands of Devils and their Instruments This Prayer of our Savior shal carry the Cause against them all and thee to Heaven in despight of al. This Request wil not be denied this Wil of Christ nothing can resist The grant of the Father to our Savior none in
in the power and might of any parts they have received whereby they were carried on-ward in the Work of Faith either in doing or in suffering the good and acceptable Wil of the Lord but it was in the Power of the Might of Jesus whereby they were strengthened therein That Jesus is yesterday and to day and the same for ever he did yesterday strengthen the Faith of Abraham and David and Paul and he doth strengthen his now and he wil strengthen his for ever He hath taught and doth teach and wil teach for ever the humble his Waies He hath filled he doth fil and he wil fil for ever the hungry and thirsty with good things when they seek for his Mercy Isa 27. He keeps his Vinyard and the least Graft in it he keeps it night and day and he waters it every moment be therefore comforted every moment thou who art preserved and watered every moment by the good hand of Christ and wilt be so for ever Psal 142.4 5 7. USE 3. Of Direction It shews us whither to go for relief in our Spiritual Necessities It 's that which Nature suggests and Reason perswades unto Al men wil be sure to go thither where they are sure of speed at al seasons That 's only to the Lord Christ who is a Faithful Savior and a sure Friend 1 Pet. 5.7 Cast all your care on him for he careth for you When al men are altogether Vanity feeble and false you know not where to have them off and on weak as water and uncertain as the wind now they favor anon they frown love to day and hate to morrow they are but broken Reeds not only fail us but pierce us also But with our Savior is no shadow of change you may know where to have him and what to expect from him Men both prize and use the Medicine that hath a probatum est with it It wil not fail to cure and remove the Disease the Salve that wil not fail to heal It 's so with the healing Mercy and Faithfulness of Christ So the Psalmist They that know thy Name they will trust in thee for thou never failest them Psal 9.10 Mens care and kindness is soon drawn dry and spent that they count it 's enough to deny for future because they have formerly done a Favor What! say we I have dealt so done so formerly ye do not expect I should do so alwaies But it 's otherwise with our Savior he hath comforted and he wil quicken he hath taught thee in thy aberrations and he wil teach thee stil Nay Thou art so giddy and un-stable thou knowest not what to make of thy self so off and on feeble and false to thine own Soul and thine own Comforts and there is no hold of that unsteady and giddy heart now promising and then altering now resolving and then changing If thou had'st trusted to thine own heart thy Hope and Comforts and Confidence would have failed utterly But the Lord wil not suffer his Faithfulness to fail notwithstanding al thy provocations against him departures from him unkind dealings with him Though thou hast failed and forfeited al his Favors yet he wil not suffer his Faithfulness to fail As he was in former so he is stil for future times and wil he the same for ever he hath and he wil after the same manner for ever comfort thee Though thou beest Faithless to him and thy own Soul he wil be Faithful to his own Word and to thy Comfort USE 4 Exhortation As Christ is to you O be you so to him again He is enlarged for your Eternal Good be you so for his Glory He never laies aside the care of your Comfort and welfare never lay aside the care of his Commands O! miserable would our lives be if the Lord should leave us at uncertainties It 's the dregs of the Vengeance the highest pitch and the perfection of the Plagues that God threatens Deut. 28.65 The Lord shal give thee a trembling heart and failing of eyes and sorrow of mind and thy life shal hang in doubt before thee and thou shalt fear day and night and shalt have no assurance of thy Life In the morning thou shalt say Would to God it were night c. for the fear of thy heart If so for our temporal Lives and Comforts what would it be if our Eternal Happiness and Misery of our Souls were at this pass Not when our Life but our Salvation shal hang in doubt before us Whether God wil comfort us or for ever ruinate us Whether the Lord wil once pity or for ever forsake us If he should give us trembling of heart failing of eyes and sorrow of mind and we should have no hold of Gods Favor or Assurance I shal one day perish and look every day to have the Wrath of the Lord to come out against us or else to leave us to our feebleness and the malice of Satan and that at last God wil leave us utterly in the hands of Hel how miserable would this Condition be But God doth not wil not deale thus with us he comes to certainties with us we may know there to have him Yesterday and to day and the same for ever Oh let us be the same for ever to the Lord Jesus He hath given us two immutable things that we might have strong consolation let God know where to find us what to make of us Fickleness and Instability is most loathsom to the Eye and distastful to the heart of the Almighty I would thou wert either Hot or Cold. Because thou art luke-warm I wil spue thee out of my Mouth Rev. 3.15 16. He that is profane he may be convinced and made better He that is zealous is approved and pleasing to the Spirit of God But the luke-warm wil not be brought to see his evil nor yet wil he like to be made better Therefore God abominates him He is the Author and Finisher of your faith The bottom and the top-stone He wil not leave you til he hath fulfilled al his goodness Leave not you til you have perfected holiness in his fear 2 Cor. 7.1 He is at al times the same to thee Be thou at al times the same to him Not by â—its starts and aguish qualms like the morning dew Psal 62.8 Trust in him at al times I have loved him and I will love him I have feared him and I wil fear him for ever And when I say that I say three things 1. Make it the main end and Errand of thy life to suit Gods mind and do his service Let this be the maine stream that may carry al. As it was Gods wil to fend Christ and Christs wil to accomplish this This is the wil of the Father that sent me that those which he hath given me I should loose none So let iâ— be thy wil also It was Pauls I pass not put nothing into the balance let nothing come into comparison nor competition