question not only the habit of Faith that a man or woman be a believer but also the very acting and exercise of Faith is requisite for our profitable partaking of this Ordinance The Grace of Faith is necessary for the giving of us a right to partake of this Ordinance for a Man must have life or else meat will do him no good set the daintiest meat before him that is dead he will be never a whit the better for it the meat cannot nourish him so if we have not a principle of spiritual life which is infused into the heart by Faith in Christ if we have not spiritual life spiritual food will do us no good therefore there must be the Grace of Faith Again This Ordinance of the Lords Supper it is a sealing Ordinance to seal and confirm and ratify the Covenant of Grace and the benefits of the Covenant now if so be we be not in the Covenant then this Ordinance cannot seal to us the blessings and benefits of the Covenant no we do but set a seal to a blank and that signifies nothing therefore I say it is necessary there should be the Grace of Faith the habit of Faith that those that do partake of this Ordinance should be Believers But this is that which I am to speak to that though only such as are Believers are to partake of this Ordinance yet it is not sufficient for us that we are Believers but if we would partake of this Ordinance so as to please God we must act and exercise Faith also about it For I pray consider 1. It is possible for those that are Believers to partake unworthily to eat and drink unworthily says the Apostle in 1 Cor. 11.29 He that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself Who doth he speak to there He writes to Believers Believers then may eat and drink unworthily How comes a Soul then to eat and drink worthily to partake worthily of this Ordinance Truly by the acting and exercising of Faith for though he have the habit of Faith he may partake unworthily What is the reason that divers Believers come to partake of this Ordinance some partake worthily and some unworthily The reason is because some partake in the exercise of Faith and they partake worthily and some partake without the exercise of Faith and they partake unworthily And mark how the Apostle goes on says he it is requisite that those that partake at the Lords Table that they should examine themselves Let a man examine himself vers 28. and so let him eat Examine himself concerning what why among other things about his Faith What whether he be a Believer or no Yes that is one thing he must examine whether he do truly believe or no whether he have the grace of Faith or no but that is not all suppose that be out of doubt and question that he is a Believer yet he must examine himself still about the acting and exercising of Faith in this Ordinance and therefore this Duty of Examination of a mans self doth imply that there must be an actuating and exercising of Faith in the partaking of this Ordinance Further says the Apostle they that come to this Ordinance must discern the Lords Body vers 29. He that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body I may speak something by and by concerning that to help you to understand that but for our present purpose discerning the Lords body How shall a man or woman discern the Lords Body We do not discern the Lords Body by our bodily eye by looking on the Bread and Wine the outward Elements but it must be by the acting of a spiritual eye and what is that but the eye of Faith Faith then must be acted and exercised in this Ordinance or else we do not discern the Lords Body and if we do not discern the Lords Body then we eat and drink unworthily and so do not please God therefore there is required the exercise of Faith in the partaking of this Ordinance I might add further still that the Blessings and Benefits that are held forth and conveyed by this Ordinance are all spiritual Blessings and therefore they must be partaken of by the exercise of our spiritual sences It is not for a man or woman to come and take the Bread and Wine and savour it by the exercise of his bodily sense of tasting no but there must be the spiritual sences exercised so as to partake of the spiritual blessings that are held forth and conveyed by it Well then it is granted now that it is requisite that there must be not only the grace of Faith or the habit of Faith but there must be the actual exercising of Faith in the partaking of this Ordinance or else we cannot please God Quest Well then the great Question is how a Man or Woman should so exercise Faith in the partaking of the Lords Table that so he may please God in his partaking of it Answ There are four or five Directions that I shall briefly lay down to help you in the partaking of this great Ordinance in Faith and oh that we might be serious in attending to them that we may hear for the time to come First The first Direction is this If we would exercise Faith in our partaking of this Ordinance then we must look upon this Ordinance as a great Ordinance and Institution of Jesus Christ that he hath appointed as the means of our Communion and fellowship with him I pray mind it I say Faith doth help the Soul to look at this Ordinance as a great Institution of Jesus Christ that he hath appointed for the means of our Communion with him Two things here we are to take notice of 1. First of all that we are to look at it as the great Ordinance and Institution of Christ People for the most part especially those that do not act Faith they look at the outward elements and they come and partake of the Bread and Wine but they do not look at it as such an Ordinance of Jesus Christ now Faith doth help a Soul to look at it as the great Institution of Jesus Christ one of the greatest Ordinances that ever Jesus Christ did institute and appoint it was one of the last things that Christ did when he was to leave the World when the time of his suffering did approach and draw near the same Night in which he was betrayed he did institute this Ordinance Certainly it is an Ordinance of very great concernment that Jesus Christ should institute it and appoint it when he had such weighty matters laid upon his Hand when he was to take his farewel of the World yet then a little before he was betrayed he did institute and appoint this Ordinance If People did but rightly consider this that this is a great Ordinance and Institution of Jesus Christ it would make them serious about it and
to come and partake of the Lords-Table then we must have some grounds to hope and perswade our selves that we have some right to it or else we cannot partake in Faith Object But you will say This may be a ground of discouragement to many a gracious heart Many a gracious Soul is exercised with scruples of Conscience and may Question whether they have a right or no and such by this Direction must be forced to with-hold from it Answ For Answer briefly we are to know that every doubt and scruple and Question that Christians may have about their coming to this Ordinance is not sufficient for them to withdraw from it or to withhold their presence in it no they are not presently therefore to withdraw and withhold from the participation of it What shall they do then You will say Answ Briefly I pray mind it because it may concern some that are scrupulous and to be exercised with Questions and doubts whether they have right to it or no therefore such are seriously to consider what the ground of their doubt and scruple is whether it be sufficient and warrantable to cause a withdrawment from this Ordinance amongst others the grounds of scruple in this case may be reduced to three heads First Possibly some do Question and scruple their coming to this Ordinance for fear they should eat and drink unworthily and so eat and drink their own damnation that is my fear saies one and therefore I dare not come I fear I may not come I pray now therefore consider this briefly for I may not inlarge but consider this whether a mans Questioning whether he shall eat and drink unworthily be a sufficient ground and warrant for him to withhold from the Lords-Table I pray mind and consider what the Apostle saies 1 Cor. 11.27 28. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this Cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself and so let him eat Mark doth the Apostle say that he that fears that he shall eat and drink unworthily shall therefore withhold no but let him be the more solicitous and careful to examine himself and prepare himself that he may not partake unworthily of it that the Apostle doth intimate The Apostle doth not give a liberty upon it to withhold Therefore I say that is not a sufficient ground because we fear we shall partake unworthily but therefore we should be the more Solicitous and careful to examine our selves and to be preparing our selves the more to partake of this Ordinance Secondly Ordinarily some do fear and doubt whether they may partake of this Ordinance or no by reason they find themselves so weak in Grace Oh! saies one my Faith is so weak and my other graces so weak that I fear I shall but sin if I should come to the Lords-Table Now I pray Consider whether this be a sufficient scruple or no for I pray mark Consider the end of this Ordinance and for whom it is appointed what is it appointed for those that are perfect in grace for those that are perfect in Faith and other graces Is it not appointed rather to be a means to perfect and strengthen our graces therefore the weaker we apprehend our graces to be the more need we have to draw near to Christ in this Ordinance for the further Communication of the Spirit and grace to us that we may be strengthened in our inward man and have our grace increased That is the second scruple Thirdly The third scruple may be this which commonly is the greatest of all but suppose that I have no grace at all as I question whether I have any grace in truth or no upon examination of my self I cannot find that I have any Faith is it for me to come to this Ordinance Mark I pray in a word briefly A Soul sometimes under Temptation may be ready to conclude it hath no grace at all but I pray consider thus much though a Soul cannot say that it doth truly believe on Christ yet if so be there be a real hungering and thirsting after Christ a real desire after Christ in such a case a Soul is to come and partake of this Ordinance Blessed are they that Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness for they shall be filled Therefore though you cannot say certainly that you have Faith really wrought in you yet notwithstanding if there be a real hunger and desire and thirst after the enjoyment of Christ and communion with Christ in such a case a Soul may may come to partake of this Ordinance and such a Soul hath a right to it This is now a third direction how we may come in Faith to this Ordinance Namely to have some grounds to perswade us to hope that we have a right to it otherwise we cannot come in Faith Fourthly Take a fourth Direction which is this Namely if we would act and exercise Faith in this Ordinance then we must be careful to be found diligent in those things that are required towards our preparation to it I pray mind it it is the proper nature of Faith to put a Soul upon diligence in applying its self to the means for the obtaining of any end it is the proper nature of Faith to put a Soul upon the diligent use of means tending thereunto this is the proper nature of Faith indeed presumption if it have any hope of any Blessing or Mercy presumption leads a man to neglect the means but the proper work and nature of Faith is to lead a Soul to the diligent use of the means to obtain the Mercy or Blessing it hopes for I could give you divers instances in Scripture for this how Faith doth put a Soul upon the diligent use of means that are required for such an end I remember 't is said in 2 Chron. 20. concerning Jehoshaphat he was invaded by a foreignâ— enemy and thereupon he set himself to seek the Lord in wrestling by Prayer well the Lord is pleased to give him a gracious answer by the Prophet in the midst of the Congregation vers 14 15. And he said Hearken ye Judah and ye Inhabitants of Jerusalem thus saith the Lord be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude for the Battel is not yours but the Lords Vers 17. Ye shall not need to fight in the Battel set your selves stand ye still and see the salvation of the Lord with you O Judah and Jerusalem fear not be not dismayed to morrow go out against them the Lord will be with you Now Jehoshaphat having this promise his Faith did carry him out to set himself in Battel-aray as if they were to fight for it he would not neglect the means that God had appointed So you read of Paul in Acts 27. Paul was in danger by Sea in a great Storm in danger to be wrecked and it is said the Angel of the Lord came to him vers 23 24. For
there stood by me this night the Angel of the Lord whose I am and whom I serve saying Fear not Paul thou must be brought before Cesar and Lo God hath given thee all them that sail with thee Wherefore sirs saies Paul be of good cheer for I believe God that it shall he even as he told me Paul had a promise that none that were in the Ship should be drowned but that all should come safe to shore now did Pauls Faith make him careless in looking after the means for his preservation no for mark now the Mariners and Seamen they thought their case was desperate and they under pretence to make use of the Boat did intend to have gotten away Now Paul knew that the ordinary means for their preservation was to have the Mariners to stay to look after the Ship and when they under colour as though they would have cast Anchors out of the foreship let down the Boat into the Sea and were about to flee out saies Paul to the Centurion and to the Soldiers vers 31. Except these abide in the Ship ye cannot be saved What! had he not a promise that they should be all saved Yes but yet saies Paul if you do not use the means dilligently and carefully you cannot look to have the Mercy Faith puts us upon diligence in the use of means whereas presumption doth take a man off from the use of means and make him careless and slothful about the means but Faith doth make a man diligent in the use of the means to attain the end which is the blessing that God hath promised So in this case God doth require in order to our right participation of this Ordinance that we should prepare our selves before hand for this Ordinance now it is the proper work of Faith to set us to work to be diligent in our preparation for it in those ways and means which God hath appointed and what are those Briefly amongst others this is one Namely self-examination saies the Apostle Let a man examine himself and so let him eat c. Examine himself about what Briefly let a man examine himself if he will partake worthily especially about three or four things First What are the special ends of this Ordinance and this indeed is to discern the Lords Body for if so be we do not understand wherefore we come to this Ordinance we do no discern the Lords Body that is we do put no great difference between the Bread and Wine in this Ordinance and common Bread and Wine and so we do not discern the Lords Body therefore I say this is one thing in the examination of our selves consider and examine what are the special ends for which Christ hath appointed this Ordinance And amongst the rest they are these 1st Christ hath appointed this great Ordinance to have us to keep in remembrance his Death his laying down of his life for us his shedding his Blood for us we are very apt to forget this great kindness of Christ and therefore Christ hath appointed this Ordinance for this great end amongst others that we may remember his death 1 Cor. 11.26 As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew forth the Lords death till he come It is a memorial of the Death of Jesus Christ 2dly Another end of it is this namely that we might have Communion with Jesus Christ in his Death and in the merits of his righteousness It is appointed for that end The Bread which we break saies the Apostle is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ and the cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ Hereby now we profess that we have Communion with Christ and it is appointed for this end we must understand this or else we do not discern the Lords Body we must examine wherefore we come to partake of this Ordinance 3dly Another end is for the sealing up of the Covenant of grace to us it is a Seal of the righteousness of Faith as Baptisme and Circumcision was and it seals up that righteousness to our Faith that is held forth through Christ 4thly Another special end of this Ordinance is to profess our near union with all Believers our love to and our union with all Believers Saies the Apostle We are all but one Bread 1 Cor. 10.17 All moulded up into one Body and Christians should be of one heart and one Soul when they come to partake of this Ordinance Now I say if we would come in Faith we are to prepare for it by examining our selves concerning the ends for which Christ hath appointed this Ordinance 2ly We are to examine our selves not only about the ends of this Ordinance but also concerning our Faith whether we do truly believe in Christ or no or what grounds we have to hope that we do truly believe in Christ or that we have an interest in Christ we are to examine our selves concerning that and also about our acting and exercising Faith on Christ and if so be we find our Faith weak as I said it may be so weak as that there may be nothing sometimes but hungerings and thirstings and desires after Christ therefore we should search and examine what our Faith is the weakness of it and thereby be the more desirous to come to this Ordinance that our weak Faith and weak Graces might be strengthened and confirmed And so 3dly Again We are to examine our selves concerning our repentance Namely concerning our judging of our selves for former failings and miscarriages we should be mourning and humbling of our selves for our turnings aside and warping from the Rule and Law of God and so we should desire and endeavour and resolve through the strength of Christ to walk more closely with God and uprightly for the time to come this is the nature of true repentance as to be humbled for sins past so to resolve through the strength of Christ against sin for the time to come And then 4thly Again We are to examine our selves concerning our charity and love to all to consider wherein our love is defective and whether we can be truly reconciled and at peace with all whether we have no grudgings nor no envyings for private and particular offences against one or another and that we are ready to go and seek peace and reconciliation with them that have offended us we are to consider our Love with the weakness of it wherein we are defective in it these things are required of us before our coming to the Lords Table in a way of preparation Now therefore if you would act and exercise Faith remember this Direction which Faith will put us upon namely to be diligent in the use of those means that are required of us in order to the right participation of it And if we be not diligent to prepare according as the Rule doth require we do not act in a way of Faith in it 5thly and
people righteous before God Christ was sent to fulfill the Law for his people by his Active and Passive obedience He came to do and procure all that is required to the compleat and perfect salvation of his people In a word Jesus Christ was sent into the World not meerly as a Prophet to teach the Mind and Will of God or to be an example of holiness but he was sent to be a Priest in a proper sense to make atonement and satisfaction for the sins of his people and to obtain eternal redemption for them Application Use 1. We may see here that the work of Redemption was a great work Not the highest Angel of Heaven nor all of them put together were able to perform this but God sent his Son about this work Use 2. We may see here that the heart of God the Father was in this great work of redeeming and saving the elect The Father himself loved them for he sent his Son he gave his only begotten Son that they might live through him Use 3. We may see here the love of Christ unto those that the Father had given him That he was willing to be their Mediator for as he is often said to be sent of the Father so he is said to come Heb. 10.7 Lo I come to do thy will O God Christ was so sent as that he came freely came with alacrity and chearfulness for his delight was with the Sons of men his heart was in this work Lastly Let this encourage sinners to come to Christ to venture their souls upon him Do not question whether God will accept of you by anothers righteousness discharge you by a payment made by a Surety deliver you from going down to the Pit upon a ransom given by another for all this was the contrivement of the Lord himself to glorifie both his Justice and his Mercy for ever Therefore let sinners cast themselves upon Christ and fear not this Rock will never fail that Soul that is built upon it I come now to the next words where it is said that Christ speaketh the words of God for God giveth not the spirit by measure unto him Doct. 2. That Jesus Christ our Mediator hath the spirit given him by the Father without measure This is a great and glorious truth and very sweet and comfortable to the Saints that the Lord Jesus their Mediator hath a fulness of the spirit Psal 45.7 Anointed with the oyl of gladness above his fellows Christ hath the spirit above what any of the Saints have and see Isa 61.1 Isa 2.11 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of council and might the spirit of knowledg and of the fear of the Lord. And you have a visible fulfilling of those Prophecies John 1.32 And John bare record saying I saw the spirit descending from Heaven like a Dove and it abode upon him And so Acts 10.3 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed with the Devil for God was with him And in another place It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell All fullness of the Spirit all fullness of Grace dwells in Christ Three Things for the opening of this point 1. What is here meant by the Spirit 2. How the Spirit is said to be given to Jesus Christ seeing he is God How can any gift be said to be conferred upon him seeing he is God and infinite in himself 3. How it may be said that the spirit is given unto him without measure 1. What is here meant by the spirit 1. The Gifts and Graces of the Spirit these are given to Christ not by measure but without measure 2. The Spirit it self Luke 4.14 And Jesus returned in the power of the spirit full of the Holy Ghost Believers have not only the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit but the Spirit it self Rom. 8.9 If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his and the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you v. 11. And if the Spirit be in Believers and dwells in them much more in Christ himself 2dly How can Christ who is God and so infinite and uncapable of addition be said to have the spirit given unto him I answer briefly in a word or two It is true that Jesus Christ as God is infinite and as God he is not capable of having the spirit given unto him but the spirit was given unto Jesus Christ as man the spirit was given to his humane nature which he took upon him 3dly If the spirit was given to the humane nature of Christ how can the humane nature hold the fullness of the spirit the humane nature is finite how can it receive an infinite how then is it said that God hath not given the spirit by measure unto him I answer The expression in the Text is not to be understood without any limitation as if the Spirit were given to the humane nature of Christ in an infinite manner and as if the humane nature were of an infinite capacity the Divine nature of Christ is infinite but though the Divine and humane nature in Christ are eternally united yet they are not confounded This then I say that the spirit was given to the humane nature of Christ beyond all comparison beyond all the Saints on Earth or in Heaven and above all the Angels put them all together The spirit is given to Christ as man incomparatively and transcendently beyond what ever men or Angels have had or shall have It pleased the Father that in him all fullness should dwell which cannot be said of any other Object It is said that Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man Luk. 2.52 How had he such a fullness of the Spirit and yet is said to increase in Wisdom I Answer The Word being made Flesh he was full of Grace full of the Spirit from his very birth but he is said to increase in Wisdom in respect of the effects and opperations expressions and declarations of his Wisdom One Question more How comes it to be so that the Lord Jesus is so filled with the spirit in his humane nature Answer 1. One reason is taken from the nearness of his humane nature to the Divine Brethren Jesus Christ is the Son of God the natural Son of God he hath the very essence of God the nature of God and the humane nature of Christ is brought very near to the God-head It is brought as near as our Bodies to our Souls and therefore it is said that in him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily that is personally The Sun is the Fountain of light and the nearer we come to the Sun the more we partake of light so the humane nature of Christ being brought so near to the God-head as to be taken into
personal union with the God-head the humane nature partakes of Grace and Gifts to its utmost capacity 2. It was necessary that Christ should be filled with the spirit in our nature that so he might be able to manage his work and office to perform his active and passive obedience and to be a Store-house and treasury of grace and consolation to his people that they may be supplied from him and of his fullness receive and grace for grace Application Use 1. Learn whence it is that a person may be enabled to speak holily and graciously It is said here that Christ spake the words of God and he brings in this for a reason for he received not the spirit by measure The more we have of the Spirit of God the more we shall speak the Words of God and though we can never have so much of the spirit as Jesus Christ had â—or spake the Words of God as he did yet set us â—ray that we may have the spirit and more and more of the spirit that we may in our measure â—peak the Words of God What is the reason â—hat our words are no more savory and spiritual â—ut unprofitable and vain too often 'T is beâ—use we have but a little of the spirit if we have the spirit at all in a sanctifying way And for those whose words are altogether carnal and vain nothing but prophane scurrilous unclean speeches come from them such may well think that they have not the Spirit of God He that hath the Spirit of God will endeavour in some measure to speak the Wordâ— of God for where the Spirit of God is given in a saving manner he sanctifies the heart and sanctifies the tongue and so causes their words to be gracious and spiritual in some measure Therefore as we desire that our speech may be with grace holy and edifying pray for the spirit to be given unto us It is said of Christ that they wondered at the gracious words that proceeded from him he was full of the spirit and he spake the words of God O let us be much in prayer for the spirit to give us a mouth and wisdom upon all occasions pray that we may have the spirit to fill our hearts with holy thoughts and to fill our mouths with holy discourse Use 2. Learn from hâ—nce that when God calls to any work or service he is wont to give abilitiâ—â— and strength for that work Our Lord Jesuâ— was called to a great work to be performed iâ— our humane nature and you see here how hâ— was filled with the spirit and fitted for thaâ— work When God calls us to any work or service let us not look at the greatness of thâ— work to discourage us no but look principall at Gods calling you to it and if it be so thaâ— God calls us to the work he will give us of hâ— Spirit in some measure to strengthen us and help us When Moses died and Joshuah succeeded him he had great difficulties to go through in the work he was called to But saith the Lord fear not be not discouraged I will not fail thee nor forsake thee Therefore if you be assured that the Lord calls you to the work and service you are employed in fear not trust in the Lord keep in his way and he will give you strength he will stand by you and will not fail you nor forsake you Follow the Lord in your places and if sufferings come towards you the Lord will either put them by or he will support you and strengthen you with might by his spirit in the inward man Use 3. Learn from hence the excellency of Jesus Christ in that he is filled with the spirit Besides his infinite Glory as God you may see here what excellency is in him even as to his humane nature in that the Spirit is not given by measure unto him but beyond what is given to any other men or Angels Take a Saint and the Spirit and Grace of God in him adorns him in the eyes of others you will say there is such a one how full of love of wisdom of humility is he this makes him beautiful indeed But then how glorious should Christ be in our eyes both as to his God-head and as to the wisdom purity holiness and fullness of the spiâ—it in his humane nature In which respect even â—s the Son of man he is fairer then all the Chilâ—ren of men and then all the Angels in Heaven Suppose all the grace that is in all the Saints and Angels were abstracted and put all into one yet this is nothing to the fullness and grace that is in Christ There is wisdom love meekness and every grace in Christ that is compatible to his pure and holy nature without measure Use 4. Learn from hence to go to Christ for the spirit and grace in all our times of need He is filled with the spirit in our nature and as the Egyptians when they were ready to starve in the Famine and came to Pharoah he sent them to Joseph go to Joseph So go to Jesus there you may be supplied go to Jesus for the spirit to mortify our corruptions to quicken our graces to help us in all our duties and sufferings As Jacob said to his Sons Why stand ye looking one upon another there is Corn in Egypt go and fetch from thence that we may not perish So let believers go to Jesus Christ and fetch supplies of grace from him go to him as one that is able and willing to help his people in all their times of need Lastly We may learn from hence the ignorance and blasphemy of those that make a mock of the spirit and deride others as prizing the spirit whereas the excellency of Christ is set forth amongst other things by this that he was filled with the spirit 'T is true many may pretend to the spirit that have him not but therefore to make a mock of having the spirit is no less than blasphemy The Spirit is given to all Believers and he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his not yet of his called ones The Believer is called the Spiritual man 1 Cor. 2.15 Some may pretend to be made partakers of Christ and yet be mistaken but he that shall mock people and use it as a Reproach to them that they believe in Christ and are Christians is a Blasphemer And so is he that shall use it as a Reproach to any That this is one that hath the Spirit Now I come to vers 35. The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand These words seem to hold forth the Reason of the former he had said before that God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him that is Christ And why so For the Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand The Father loves the Elect Angels and loves Elect men but the Father loves the Son above all others
1.10 3. The Father hath shewn all the Benevolence or Beneficence to Christ as Mediator as possibly could be He hath filled him with the Spirit in our Nature as full as the Humane Nature can hold and as he is God manifest in the Flesh hath given all into his hand and hath put such honour upon him as Mediator that whatsoever his People ask in his Name it shall be given them and when he comes at the last Day to judge the World in our humane Nature he shall come in all the Glory of the Father with all his holy Angels Objection How did the Father love Chriâ—â— with such an unspeakable transcendent Love seeinâ— it is said He spared not his own Son but delivered him up to Death for us all Rom. 8 3â— And it pleased the Lord to bruise him he hatâ— put him to grief Isai 53.10 It should seem 〈◊〉 this that he loved the Elect people more than Chrisâ— seeing he laid their Iniquities upon Christ and aâ—pointed him to suffer for Sins the Just for the uâ— just that he might bring them to God Answer first In general Take notice Thaâ— the Gospel our Redemption by Christ is such a Mâ—stery that except we be taught of God we shâ—â— stumble and cavil at it without end More particularly 1. Consider that all thâ— Christ suffered it was only in his humane Naturâ— His Godhead could not suffer the least thing 2. His Godhead backed and supported his Hâ—mane Nature to endure the Cross and despise tâ—â— Shame 3. It was but for a short time that the Humane Nature of Christ suffered 4. It was with his own Consent Lo I come to do thy Will O God Heb. 10.7 5. The Father had no Controversie with Christ he had done no evil neither was any guile found in his mouth all that Christ suffered was as a Surety 6. The Designe of God in not sparing his Son was not merely the Salvation of his People but to make known the Riches of the glory of his Wisdom Justice and Grace and so all this would well consist with his Love to the person of Christ 7. As a consequent of his Sufferings the humane Nature of Christ in which Nature only he Suffered is highly exalted and he in our Nature shall â—udge the world and be adored for ever Application Use 1. Seeing that Christ was so beloved of the Father and yet he suffered so much it may teach â—s that great Sufferings and Afflictions may conâ—st with the Love of God so long as there was no â—n inherently in Christ and that it was for the â—lory of God and was but for a time a short time â—ll this might consist with the Love of God Thereâ—ore let this comfort Believers under all their Afflictions and Sorrows in this Life Object May some poor Believer say If the Lord â—â—ved me would he suffer me to be scandalized and â—â—proached as I am I am evil-spoken of by many â—nd am the Song of the Drunkard I scarce know â—w to bear it Answ I pray consider how Christ endured â—e contradiction of Sinners They said He was a Deceiver and was mad they said he was a Glutton and a Winebibber they said he had a Devil yet still he was infinitely beloved of the Father Object Ay If I was afflicted but now and then I might hope that God might love me notwithstanding but I am seldom free of one Affliction or another Answer So it was with Christ while he was here in this world He was a man Sorrows Isa 53.3 yet beloved of the Father and so may you Object Ay But it is not only outward Afflictions that I bear but inward bitterness inward Sorrow Answ Christ went through that too Mat. 26.38 My Soul saith Christ is exceeding sorrowful even unto death Object Ay But this is that which makes me fear that I am none of the Lords because he hides his face from me at times that I have not sensible communion with him but in that respect he doth as it were forsake me Answ So it was with Christ for a time He cried out my God my God why hast thou forsaken me Mat. 27.46 Object Ay But I am followed with hideous temptations of the Devil such as I am afraid and ashamed to utter as to take away mine own Life and the like Answ Jesus Christ who was beloved of the Father above all He was tempted in all points as we are yet without Sin Heb. 4.15 Then the Devil taketh him up and setteth him upon a Pinacle of the Temple and saith unto him If thou be the Son of God cast thy self down Mat. 4.5 6. Now as Christ was a Conqueror over all his Sufferings of every kind and lifted up his Head after all so shall Believers through him Christ after a short time sorrowed no more was tempted no more suffer'd no more in any kind and so it shall be with his people after a little time For the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living Fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes Rev. 1.17 Use 2. Seeing God the Father loveth Jesus Christ with such a transcendent Love This may teach us what manner of Love the Father hath shewn in giving of his Son to be a Redeemer of his people 1 Joh. 4.9 In this was manifested the Love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him Therefore you that are partakers of this Grace why should you fear the want of any thing whatsoever that the Lord seeth convenient for you He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up to Death for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things Rom. 8.32 Therefore trust in the Lord for the supply of all your inward and spiritual wants and trust in the Lord for outward Mercies too Do not put forth your hands to any unrighteous ways for your subsistence but trust in the Lord that he will perform all things for you seeing he hath not spared his own Son but given him to dye for you All other Gifts are small in comparison of his giving his Son to be made a Curse for us Use 3. Seeing the Father loveth the Son in such a wonderful manner Then wo be to those that hate him 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha If any man love him not as he is the Son of God if any man love him not as Mediator if any man hearing this Jesus preached unto him doth not approve of this way of Salvation by Christ and doth deliberately reject him and put him away let him be cursed till the Lord come let him still remain under the curse of the Law and let him be cursed when the Lord cometh let him be put amongst those to whom Christ will say Depart from me ye cursed I
fear there may be some amongst us that will be found haters of the Lord Jesus Christ If your hearts continue to rise against the way of Salvation by Christ you will be found haters of him If you love your sins and hold them fast and will not have Christ to reign over you then you will be found haters of Christ If you hate the Disciples of Christ because of his Image and Grace in them then you will be found haters of Christ But if you believe in him and your hearts cleave unto him and you are troubled that you love him no more that he is no more precious to you then go in peace Use 4. Seeing the Father loveth the Son in such a wonderful manner let this stir us up to love Jesus Christ Let us love him as God and love him him as God-man Mediator You see he is an object fit for the Love of God the Father and then he is an object worthy of our love And as God the Father loves him with a transcendent Love so let us do likewise Read what Christ saith Joh. 14.21 If any man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and I will love him and will manifest my self unto him And see verse 23. You will never loose any thing by loving Jesus Christ Ephes 6.24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Amen It follows And hath put all things into his hand Before I come to raise the Doctrine from these words let me briefly shew you the meaning of this expression And hath put all things into his hand The meaning is that he hath put all Power and Authority into his hand he hath made him Supreme Head and Governour over all things the Father hath made him Ruler and Disposer of all the great King Lord and Potentate over all And further take notice that this is spoken of Jesus as God-man Mediator Christ is made the Lord of Heaven and Earth in our Nature As Christ is the Son of God so he is equal with the Father so it cannot be properly said that the Father hath given all things into his hand for he had all things originally in his hand as God but as God-man Mediator so the Father hath given all things into his hand that now in our nature in our flesh he is the great Potentate of the world and hath all things committed to him of the Father Doctrine That God the Father hath given unto Jesus Christ in our Nature full Power and Authority over all things both in Heaven and in Earth he hath put all things into his hand This is a Point of great Concernment and for the great comfort and establishing of Believers in evil times that all things are given into the hand of our great Mediator You see John Baptist here gives a full testimony to this truth will you hear what Christ saith in his own person All things are delivered unto me of my Father Mat. 11.27 And Jesus came and spake unto them saying All Power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth Joh. 13.3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hand 1. To shew you how all things are put into the hand of Christ given into his hand 1. All men are given into Christ's hand But here we must distinguish There are some given to Christ in a special manner and for their eternal Salvation There are some given to Christ to that very end and purpose that he should give them Eternal Life Joh. 17.2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal Life to as many as thou hast given him You see that some are so given into Christs hand that he by his Office of Mediator is engaged and hath undertaken to give them Eternal Life Other sheep I have which are not of this fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice Joh. 10.16 Christ there calls them whom the Father hath given him in the Covenant of Redemption his sheep though they are not yet converted and saith he must bring them in and they shall hear his voice Joh. 17. I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them whom thou hast given me for they are thine and yet he prayed as Mediator not only for them that were then Believers and converted but for them that should afterwards believe unto everlasting Life Vers 20. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word Vers 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory 2. The rest of men are put into Christs hand even those that perish so as that Christ hath full power to over-rule them and their actings so as that they shall not quite root out his Church so as that he shall have Glory in carrying on his work so far as he pleases against all their opposition punish them so far as he thinks fit in this Life and pass sentence of everlasting Damnation against them at the Last Day Thus we see all men are given into Christ's hand Elect and non-Elect the Elect to redeem and save and the rest to order them and dispose of them as he pleases in this World a d to judge them at the Last Day 2. All the Angels are given into Christs hands The Elect Angels are given into his hand to confirm them as some think and to make use of them in his Mediatory Kingdom as he pleases The fallen Angels are given into his hand so as that he hath Power to check them and restrain them and set bounds to them that they shall not Devour and Prevail against any of his redeemed People and likewise to sit in Judgment upon them and pass open Sentence of Condemnation upon them at the Last Day Ephes 1.21 22. 'T is said of Christ That he is far above all Principality and Power and Might and Dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be Head over all things to the Church Luk. 10.17 And the seventy returned with joy saying Lord even the Devils are subject to us through thy Name 3. All Creatures whether animate or inanimate are given into the hand of Christ as Mediator God-man 1. All animate Creatures all rational Creatures Phil. 2.9 10. Wherefore also God hath highly exalted him and given him a Name which is above every Name That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in Heaven and things on Earth 2. All inanimate all irrational Creatures Psal 8.5 6 7 8. For thou hast made him a little lower than the Angels viz. barely considered as man though far above all the Angels as God-man Mediator and hast crowned him with Glory and Honour Thou madest him to
wrath of God Can you endure to have the wrath of God to abide upon you Let me beseech one thing of you even for the Lord's sake and for your own Souls sake that when you come home that you would retire a little get alone and seriously ponder these words He that believeth not the Son shall not see Life but the wrath of God abideth on him Ask your own hearts whether you believe what is spoken here and that it shall be fulfilled upon all those that reject Christ And when you are alone put it upon your hearts to consider seriously what it is to have the wrath of God abide upon you what a miserable condition that will be If you had but a Sentence of Death passed upon you by a Judge of Assize how terrible is it to most men But then how dreadful will this be to you when the Lord shall say Depart from me ye Cursed when the Lord shall say that you shall never see Life but the wrath of God shall abide on you for ever Did you never see one under a deep sense and apprehension of Gods wrath O how such an one will cry out And yet it is but some drop or so that falls upon the Conscience here in this Life in comparison of Hell If you have not seen any under the sense of God's wrath consider what the Scripture saith of Cain and Judas what Terrours they were under and read the Story of Francis Spira there you may see what amazing astonishing Expressions and Wishes came from him under a sense of God's wrath lying upon him he was so tormented that but he was watched by his Friends and could not get opportunity he would have killed himself Yea and consider our Lord Jesus Christ who never had any sin inherent in him yet standing in the room of his People and having their sins imputed to him that by his Suffering in their stead Justice might be satisfied for Sin How he was filled with Astonishment and Grief under the wrath of God due to our sins Mat. 26.38 Then saith he unto them My Soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death Luk. 22.44 And being in an Agony he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground And he cried out upon the Cross My God my God why hast thou forsaken me We must not think that the Captain of our Salvation was thus sorrowful and sweat drops of Blood and cried out so vehemently for the fear and pain of bodily death which many Martyrs and other men have endured without any great disturbance but Christ bare that in his Sufferings that was ten Thousand times more dreadful he had the Iniquities of all his people at once laid upon him and so bare the wrath of God due unto them Our Lord Jesus Christ the Mighty One being God-man soon made Satisfaction for the sins of his people and so was acquitted and discharged and is now in the same Nature wherein he Suffered at the right hand of God But I pray consider If we bear the wrath of God our selves what shall we do You see it is no light matter it will be a burden too heavy for us to bear it will make us wish again and again that we had never been born And truely if we do not believe on the Son who hath born wrath for Sinners and who alone delivers from the wrath to come it must abide upon us Think of these things between the Lord and your own Souls and let us call to one another and awaken one another and tell one another of the danger that we are in If this house where we are were set on fire and one were asleep here it were time to awaken them O! If you have Children Servants Acquaintance that are in an ignorant and prophane way call to them and endeavour to convince them of their sins and draw them to believe in Christ Quest But it may be some will say you press this believing in Christ very much and what is there in believing that those that believe should have Everlasting Life Answ There is nothing of Merit of Efficiency or Causality in our believing to free us from the wrath of God and to bring us to everlasting Life For everlasting Life is the Gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord so that we do not set up Faith to have any part with Christ in the Glory of our Salvation But I pray consider it that Faith is that Grace whereby we lost Sinners being convinced of our Sins and having no hope of any help and relief in our selves do wholy betake our selves to Jesus the Mediator for our Salvation So that Christ is all and doth all and by Faith we receive and embrace Christ our Justifier And so hath the Lord ordained that by going out of our selves and receiving Christ the Mediator we have the Gift of Righteousness even the Righteousness of Christ imputed to us to the Justification of Life So that it is not Faith as a Work but Faith as a Hand or Instrument whereby we receive Christ the Saviour that justifies us in the sight of God Quest But how shall I come to believe on the Lord Jesus Answ 1. You must be convinced of Sin You must see that you are guilty before God that you cannot stand before the Holy Lord God But alas Mens hearts are so taken up with the Cares and Pleasures of the world and think so little of Eternity and the Judgment to come that it is in the thoughts of few how they shall be discharged from the guilt of their Sins and have everlasting Life 2. You must see that there is no help for you in your own personal Righteousness How can there when you have sinned already And all the Righteousness that you can perform in this Life is defective and full of Imperfections You must know that there must be a perfect Righteousness to justifie you 3. You must know that Christ is he that is Ordained of God to be the Saviour That you can be saved only by his Blood and Righteousness and so cast your self wholly upon him This Faith is the Gift of God No man can come to Christ except the Father which hath sent him draw him And though some may think this believing in Christ a notion a fancy or however a common or easy thing yet as it is a real thing wrought in the hearts of the Elect by the Spirit of God so it is no easy thing to believe truly on Christ when a sinner is convinced of the Greatness of God the Holiness of his Law the revenging Justice of God and his own guilt and filth it is a great work of God to fix and stay the heart upon the Lord Jesus Christ to deliver such a one from going down to the pit and bring the soul to everlasting Life Object I dare not come to Christ because I do not know I am Elected Answer You cannot
The Application 1. That by Nature we are spiritually dead You read of some that are dead whilst they live 1 Tim. 5.6 And saith Christ Let the dead bury the dead but follow thou me As the Body without the Soul is dead So we now being without Christ are dead men and women 1. We are dead men in regard of the Sentence of Death and Condemnation past upon us by the Law Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not in every thing that is Written in the Book of the Law to do it Rom. 5.12 By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin for that all have sinned All our first Father Adam's house are but dead men before the Lord we are all guilty before God Though we are not executed yet we are under the Sentence of Death by the Law and the Sentence of the Law will be executed at last if we be not pardoned in Christ 2. We are dead men as to the life of Grace and true Holiness Our best works are but dead works Heb. 9.14 The carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be Though indeed before Conversion we may do things that are good for the matter yet we do nothing from a right principle and to a right end Joh. 15.5 Without me ye can do nothing Except we have Spiritual Sap and Life from Christ we can bring forth no true fruit but are like a dead and withered Branch that hath no life in it 2. What that Life is that Christ gives to dead Sinners 1. The Life of Justification When we are united to Christ the Sentence of Death by the Law is taken off We use to say that of a Malefactor when the Sentence of Death is passed upon him that he is a dead man But if once a Pardon come that makes him a living man then he cannot be executed Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no Condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus There was a heavy Sentence of Condemnation passed upon us by the Law but now we are in Christ we are pardoned in Christ and now there is no Condemnation Now as Paul saith Gal. 2.20 I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me 2. We have from Christ the Life of Sanctification the life of Grace and Holiness too whereby the Soul hath a Spiritual Inclination and Disposition to act towards God according to that Hebr. 8.10 I will put my laws into their mind and write them in their hearts Ezek. 36.26 27. A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you an heart of flesh And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes The Preaching of the Life that Christ giveth is to them that perish foolishness Some are fit to make a mock at Life and Justification by the Blood and Righteousness of Christ And so likewise at Conversion at the infusing of Grace into the heart wherby we come to live unto God But as these things are plainly revealed in the Scripture so to them that believe these things are precious 3. Let us enquire what we are to understand here by the Voice of the Son of God 1. The Gospel may be called the voice of the Son of God as it is an Instrumental means to make dead Souls to live The Gospel is called The Word of Grace Acts 20.32 The Word of Christ Col. 3.16 The Word of Life Phil. 2.16 By the Dispensation and Preaching of the Gospel Christ conveyeth himself into our Souls The Letter the Law killeth seeing we are sinners the Law is the ministration of death to us 2 Cor. 6.7 It tells us we are dead men cursed men it revealeth the wrath of God due to us for our sins The Law through our default cannot give us Life because we have not a Righteousness that the Law requires in our selves But it is the Gospel that reveals to us the new way to Life that shews us an Attonement and Righteousness in another We can neither be justified by the Law nor be sanctified by it We cannot be justified by it because we cannot fulfil it We cannot be sanctified by it because it only commands us to obey but giveth no new strength now we have lost the Holiness we had in Adam 'T is the Gospel that reveals to us how we may be justified before God and may have the Image of God renewed upon us But to make us spiritually alive there must be more than a bare Declaration of the Gospel many hear the Gospel Preached many years and yet never hear the voice of the Son of God and Live Therefore here is more to be understood 2. By the voice of the Son of God is meant the Secret Efficacy and Power of the Spirit of Christ so put forth as to turn the heart to the Lord. As the Lord Jesus did say to Lazarus when he was Dead Lazarus come forth and at the same time put Life into him So when the set time is come for the conversion of any of the Elect people there goes forth such a Power of Christ as to put Spiritual Life into them Ministers may speak and spend their strength in calling to dead Souls to come forth but except the Lord put in with them so as to effect the work men will still abide in death Object Hearing presupposeth Life Therefore how is it said That they that hear the voice of the Son of God shall live Can they hear before they live Answer This hearing the voice of the Son of God and living Spiritually are both at the same time As Lazarus when Christ bad him come forth he heard and lived at the same time Christ speaking to the heart with such Power as to turn the heart to himself goes before Spiritual Life in order of Nature but not in order of Time Conversion is a work of Spiritual Creation and so is not like other things The Lord saith live and the Soul liveth 4. Let us enquire what the Lord works upon a man dead in trespasses and sins to make him live Spiritually I shall not stand to speak of what the Lord doth by way of Preparation for the Souls receiving Christ this must be supposed that the Lord doth set our sins in order before us convince us of Sin and of Judgment to come But the very thing by which we are translated from Death to Life is the Lords giving us his Spirit to unite us to Christ whereby we receive the Life of Justification and Sanctification from him The Lord gives the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation Ephes 1.17 God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledg of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 The Sinner was convinced of his lost estate before
nor turnings in God Again God must needs be a God of Truth because he loves Truth Thou lovest Truth in the inward parts God loves truth in the Heart and God loves Truth in the Lips too Blessed is the man in whose Lips is no guile See how God threatens to punish a Lyar there shall in no wise enter into the Holy place any thing that defileth or any thing that makes a Lye And so in another place without are Dogs Idolaters and Adulterers and Lyars See how the Lord also doth threaten the King of Judah that had made a Covenant with the King of Babylon in Ezekiel 17.13.15 16. Shall he prosper shall he escape that doth such things c. As I live saith the Lord God surely in the place where the King dwelleth that made him King whose Oath he despised and whose Covenant he brake even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die for it And it 's a remarkable story of the King of Hungaria King of the Romans he entered into a solemn Covenant with the Turks whereupon a while after the Pope by one of his Cardinals perswaded that King of Hungaria to break his Covenant and to come into his Country with an Army and the Turk seeing his Army with the Banner of Christs Name upon it he cried out O Christ come and take Judgement on him that hath thus broken Covenant with the Lord and the Lord did give Victory to the Turk and he took the King and cut off his Head and this for breach of Covenant And so in other instances says God your Carcasses shall lye down in the Wilderness and so in 1 Samuel 2.30 and Chapt. 3.13 See what course the Lord will take with the House of Eli Wherefore I the Lord God of Israel I said indeed that thy House and the House of thy Father should walk before me for ever But now the Lord saith be it far from me for them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed c. Quest Why then it seems the Lord is not so faithful in his Word for sometimes the Lord doth not make good his Promises How then is he true and faithful in what he doth tho' this is not the business I principally intend yet for answer in a word Answ The Promises that God makes unto particular persons or people especially unto Temporal good things and Blessings they are made conditionally viz. If they don't walk so and so Or if they don't repent As now for example That threatning made to Niniveh it 's said except Niniveh doth return that is the meaning of it Tho' it s not always exprest yet it 's always implied That if they do not repent they shall dye or they shall be destroyed So now God promised the Israelites they should have the Land of Canaan that is conditionally to take heed how they walk before him and commit no Idolatry but now they continuing in Idolatry the Lord fails them why because they did not walk uprightly before him but sinned against him with their Idolatry And also his Promise is if they did put a difference between the precious and the vile then I would do so and so But now thou hast done so and so and tho' I have said so because you have not done so and so you shall not enjoy the mercies I have promised They are not always performed because they are conditional but God is true and faithful in what he promises But what are we to understand of the setting to the Seal What is this same setting of the seal to it that God is true Breifly It signifies thus much namely a bringing or giving a strong Witness that God is True for the setting to the Seal is not only a promise by word subscribing but also by setting of the Seal to thing See Nihemiah 9. last Verse Esther 8.8 The King is making impression with his Seal upon the writing for the enlargement of the Jews and it 's said the Kings Seal no man may pluck off You know it is ordinary the Sealing to a thing is the confirming of a thing Circumcision was as a Sign or Seal of strong Confirmation that Righteousness should be had in a way of faith and beleiving And says the Apostle Are not you the Seal of my Apostleship That is yea are my Witness and strong Testimony to evidence and clear that I am an Apostle sent of God because of the effects of that Ministry you see and find by me And so in another place The Lord knoweth them that are his having this Seal that every one that Nameth the name of Christ should depart from iniquity Here is a double Seal here is the Seal of Gods election chusing from Eternity the Lord knows who are his but also more secret Let him that receiveth the name of Christ depart from iniquity But how is this an evident demonstration that God is true why thus in receiving of the Testimony of God there 's a strong evidence that God is True First In that he doth now deny himself every Man and Woman that doth receive Christ by Faith doth deny themselves all a mans own Righteousness his own Services or performances He doth not look ever to be accepted of the Lord for any thing that he doth or can do not that he neglects Duty and Services and performances but when he hath done all yet all his hopes and expectations for any thing of whatsoever he hath done he desires nothing but acceptance in Christs Righteousnesâ— for if aâ—â— man will come after me saith Christ he must deny himself and follow me He must renounce all look for no acceptance with God for all that ever he suffers or can suffer for the Name of God The Soul will deny all deny it self it s own Liberty its name and credit its Life and all Again Secondly A man that doth receive the Testimony of Christ as he doth deny all so now he doth give up himself and lay the weight of his eternal condition upon Christ Says the Apostle I know in whom I have believed and I am perswaded and know that he is sufficient to keep whatsoever is needful for me I have ventured my eternity for it and upon it and my Soul must sink if Christ don't take care of me and save me for ever He renounces all his own righteousness and lays the weight of his Soul upon Christ Thirdly A man that doth receive the Testimony of Christ hath set to his Seal that God is true He did set to his Seal that Christ is true but how doth he set to his Seal that God is true yes for he whom God hath sent speaketh the word unto you Christ is sent of God and he speaks nothing but what he had from God Briefly by way of Application Use 1. If God be a God of Truth it doth concern every one of us to endeavour to be like unto God God is a God of
Preached and go on thus week after week month after month and year after year labouring and taking pains in your duties and yet when all comes to all it is all in vain Truly thus it will be if it be not done in Faith you have prayed so many times in a Week and so many times in a year possibly a thousand times in your Life yet all is in vain for you see you cannot please God and therefore it is in vain You desire to please God in your Duties and in your attendances upon the Lord but all is in vain What a sad and uncomfortable thing is this Therefore certainly it is of great concernment to look to that that we do not perform Duties in vain that we do not Pray and Read and Hear without Faith for then all will be in vain Secondly Consider a little further What an uncomfortable thing is it for a man to meet with a disappointment in his great expectation When a man hath great expectations of a business and meets with a disappointment in the conclusion that his expectation is frustrated you know what Solomon saith in Prov. 13.12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick If a man have hopes of a thing and his hopes be only put off and deferred though it may be accomplished at last yet if it be deferred beyond the time it makes his heart sick Ay but when a mans expectations be not only deferred but altogether frustrated that he meets with nothing but disappointments What an uncomfortable thing is this and the greater the expectation of a man is or the greater the thing is his expectation is about the greater and sadder will his disappointment be You know how it fared with Haman in Esth 6. When the King propounded that Question to him What shall be done unto the man whom the King delighteth to honour Why thought he whom the King delights to honour is none but my self Surely I am the man here was his hope and expectation but now to be frustrated of this great expectation of being honoured and advanced and for the King to say Go take the Kings Horse and the Royal apparrel and go and set Mordecai thereon his great Enemy go and proclaim before him thus it shall be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour thus was his expectation frustrated and it came to nothing And how did it make his heart sick He went home to his Wife and company and he was even sick at the very heart Truly Brethren when a mans expectations are raised from his Duties and Performances that he hath gone on in a way of Prayer all his Life-long and attending upon God in the way of his Ordinances all his Life-long and his expectation is great he thinks he hath been pleasing God all his life-long and when all comes to all at last he shall see that he wanted Faith and so never pleased God in all his Life by all the Duties and Services that ever he performed Here now will his expectations be frustrated and when he comes to lie upon his Death-bed he thinks he hath been pleasing God in performing Duties and attending upon God in his way he shall meet with nothing but Disappointments He hath not pleased God by all that he hath done all his life-long 3. Nay Let me add Thirdly If our Duties be not done in Faith truly then instead of being the better for them we shall certainly be the worse for all the Duties that ever we performed Now what an uncomfortable thing is it for a man to labour and take pains and all for loss You that trade in the World that take a great deal of pains are up early and down late why if so be that you go backward in your estates for all your pains-taking and labour and toyl and travel this will be very uncomfortable to you to labour and toyl night and day as it were and all for loss Suppose now a great Merchant he trades and trafficks abroad at Sea and trades at home by Land and when he comes to cast up his accounts he hath done all for loss he is not the richer but a great deal the poorer What an uncomfortable thing will this be to him that he hath been labouring and travelling and toyling and spending his strength and his time and his pains and all for loss He is the worse and not the better as 't is said of the woman that had the bloody Issue she went to the Physicians and used the means and still she was not the better but the worse You would count this a very uncomfortable thing if any of your Children or Relations should be sick and you call for the help of the Physitian and he applies means and still all the Physick that is taken tends to the hurt of the Party he is never the better but the worse for all the means that is used truly it would make your hearts ake Truely thus it is when a man hath been taking pains all his life-long exercising of himself in holy Duties and Ordinances worshipping and serving God and endeavouring to please God as he thinks but now instead of pleasing God by what he hath done he hath rather displeased God For certainly we are either the better or the worse for every Ordinance that we partake in when we come to hear a Sermon if we do not go away better we go away worse for the Word will work one way or other And so far Prayer if we be not the better we are the worse when our Duties and Services have not been done in Faith they have not been pleasing to the Lord. And when a man comes to cast up his accounts he will find himself the worse for all the Services that ever he performed because they have not been done in Faith 4. And let me add one word more If our Duties and Services be not done in Faith then I pray what have we been doing of all this time but cheating and deceiving our own Souls going on and taking pains and all to delude and deceive our own Souls We have been steering a wrong couse instead of making Christ our Righteousness we have been making a Christ of our Duties and Services and so deceive our own Souls if we do not act Faith in the performance of Duties then we make a Christ of them and so deceive our own Souls for if we do not lean upon Christ we lean upon them A man or woman that doth not act Faith in their Duties and Services they do but steer a wrong Course all their life-long Suppose now a man should steer his course at Sea by a Compass that is false he may go on and sail amain Night and Day before the Wind he may go on in his Course but all the way that he makes he doth but deceive himself he will never come to the Haven he aims at and desires to come to He doth but deceive and delude himself Why Because he sails
exercised there hath been Self-emptyings The Apostle Paul was a man that did live much in the excercise of Faith and he professes it Gal. 2.20 That he Lived by the Faith of the Son of God and you may observe how the Apostle emptied himself of Self-sufficiency and Self-worthiness for Self-sufficiency says he in Rom. 8.26 We know not how to pray nor what to pray for as we ought The Apostle Paul that was such a great proficient in the School of Christ such an eminent person yet saies he We know not how to pray he was empty of Self-sufficiency and saies he in 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God Saies he I am so insufficient that I cannot so much as think a good thought What was he sufficient for then And saies he in another place I cannot so much as will or desire any thing that is good It is God saies he that worketh in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure And saies he in 2 Cor. 12.11 though I be nothing What a word is this The Apostle Paul that was one of the eminentest Saints that lived upon the face of the earth in his days yet says he I am nothing Paul living by Faith was emptied of the sense of his own sufficiency and truly so also he was emptied of Self-worthiness of receiving any Mercy from God For all his Duties and Services saies he I am less than the least of all Saints and Ephes 3.8 To me who am less than the least of all Saints is this Grace given c. And in 1 Cor. 15.9 saies he I am the least of the Apostles that am not worthy to be called an Apostle So if you observe it you may find it in all those that lived in the exercise of Faith how they have been emptied of the sense of their own worthiness Abraham the Father of the Faithful see how he lay low and even crept in the dust before the Lord and acknowledged himself not worthy to speak to the Lord in Prayer for Sodom that he was fain to Apologize for himself at every turn Let not the Lord be angry that I who am but dust and ashes have undertaken to speak unto the Lord Gen. 18.27 30 32. I am unworthy saies he to speak unto the Lord for any Mercy either for my self or Sodom And so Jacob Lord saies he I am less than the least of all thy Mercies Gen. 32.10 I am not worthy of the least Mercy from thee Thus Faith does empty the Soul both of self-sufficiency and also of self-worthiness Now then to shew you how you should make use of this Rule It will serve for every Duty that we perform when we come to pray we should draw near to God with this sense of our insufficiency to lift up a Prayer unto God we should come to God with a sense upon our hearts of our inability to perform the work and also with a sence of our own unworthiness that God should hear our Prayers when we have prayed never so well as others may judge yet we must come with self-abasing and self-emptying So if we go to hear the Word if we would hear in Faith we should make use of this Rule Lord I am unworthy to be admitted to hear thy Word I am unworthy that thou shouldst speak to me and I am insufficient to hear thy Word as I ought to hear it Thus come with self-emptying and self-abasement So when we come to the Lords-Supper Lord I have no strength now to partake of this Ordinance as I ought to do I cannot prepare my self for it I have no strength to partake of it I have no sufficiency at all to partake of this or any other Ordinance as I ought to do and I am unworthy that the Lord should draw near to me to let me have any Fellowship or Communion with himself This is the Third general Rule Fourthly If we would perform all Duties and partake in all Ordinances in Faith so as we may please God in what we do Then let us do all that we do in the Name of Christ for there is all our worthiness and all our acceptance You know the Apostle gives us this Rule iâ— Col. 3.17 Whatever ye do in word or in dâ—ed do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ For if we do not what we do in his Name it is not accepted Look as it was under the Law if a man under the Law were to bring a sacrifice he was to bring it to the Priest or else it was not accepted but it was to be an Abomination in Levit. 17.3 4. Whatsoever man of the house of Israel there be that killeth an Oâ— or Liamb c. And bringeth it not unto the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation unto the Priest that soul hath shed blood and shall be out off from among his People Though he brought never so good a sacrifice in it self yet it must be brought unto the Priest And so they were to bring their sacrifices and have them laid upon the Altar or else they were an Abomination and not acceptable to God Now Brethren Jesus Christ is our great High-Priest and Jesus Christ is our Altar too by whom and upon â—â—â—m all our services and sacrifices must be â—â—â—ered or else they are not accepted of God therefore whatever you do whatever Prayer you make whatever Ordinance you partake 〈◊〉 do all in the Name of Jesus Christ or else you do not do it in Faith and it will not be pleasing unto God Quest You will say What is it to perform a Duty in the Name of Jesus Christ so as it may be acceptable and pleasing to God Answ For answer Brethren It is not enough for us to make mention of the Name of Christ in our Prayers and to say Through Jesus Christ our Lord as you commonly conclude your Prayers I do not blame you for this But it is not the naming of the Name of Christ that is this doing of it in the Name of Christ What is it then you will say for me to pray or hear the Word or partake of any Ordinance in the Name of Christ Briefly for I would not inlarge there are these Three things implied in it First That we do look for our access into the presence of God through Christ and for his sake says the Apostle in Ephes 2.18 For through him we both have an access by one Spirit unto the Father Through him we both that is both Jews and Gentiles have access by one Spirit unto the Father we have access into the presence of the Father through Christ You know Brethren after Adam fell and transgressed he was driven out from the presence of God Before indeed he had communion with God and access into the presence of God but after he had broken the Covenant that God had made with him he was
his Prayer and so prevails So I might instance in others sometimes God casts in a promise gives some secret hint of a promise in Prayer As Paul he had that promise when he was afflicted with the Thorn in the Flesh and a Messenger of Satan to buffet him God told him that his Grace should be sufficient for him 2 Cor. 12.9 And he makes use of that and gathers strength from it But Suppose now a man or woman have no particular promise to strengthen his Faith in Prayer then let him eye some general promise or other and this will be a mighty encouragement and strengthning and help to Faith in prayer to encline the Heart to be perswaded that God is willing because of such general promises Or suppose that any Man or Woman have no promise to lay hold upon or to act Faith in Prayer upon then Fourthly In the Fourth place take a fourth direction and that is to eye the Name of God the Attributes of God they are called the Name of God thereby God doth discover himself and his nature to us and plead by vertue of some attribute of God the Name of God for sometimes a Believer may be in the dark and may not have the light of so much as any one promise to make use of Now you know what the Holy-Ghost saith in Isaiah 5.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his Servant that walketh in Darkness and sees no light not the light of any Promise let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon hâ—s God let him make use of the Name of God to strengthen his Faith The Saints and People of God have been wont to plead for the Name of God and the Glory of Gods Name that you find frequently in the Scripture in Jeremiah 14.7 O Lord though our iniquities testify against us do thou it for thy Names-sake So in the Psalms frequently in Psalm 25.11 For thy Name-sake Oh Lord Pardon my iniquity for it is great But more particularly eye some Attribute of God some particular Name of God as I may so call it for God is made known and discovered to us by his attributes and the properties of his Name now let us eye some Attribute of God that may be helpful to us in Prayer as now the Power of God it is very useful to eye the Power of God in Prayer and so you will find the Saints have made use of the power of God that was put forth in the Creation of the World I remember Jeremiah Chapter 32. when the Children of Israel were to go into Captivity for seventy years the Lord bad Jeremiah to buy the Field of his Uncle for an evidence that God would bring his people back again Jeremiah when he had done he would fall to Prayer and he makes use of the power of God at the 17th verse Ah Lord God behold thou hast made the Heavens and Earth by thy great Power and stretched out Arm and there is nothing too hard for thee It is a hard thing for Flesh and Blood to believe that I and my posterity shall have this Land again but there is nothing too hard for thee God can easily bring them back again from their long Captivity so you may see how Moses did eye the Power of God in Numbers 14.17 18. And now I beseech thee let the Power of my Lord be great according as thou hast spoken c. He urges the greatness of Gods Power and so Jehoshaphat in that Prayer of his 2 Chron. 20.6 Oh Lord saies he art not thou God in Heaven and rulest not thou over all the Kingdoms of the Heathen and in thine Hand is there not power and might so that none is able to withstand thee And so Asa when he also was in the like distress when his Land was invaded 2 Chron. 14.11 he cried to the Lord and mark how he eyed the Power of God And he said Lord it is nothing with thee to help whether with a many or with them that have no power help us O Lord our God for we rest on thee and in thy Name we go against this Multitude And so if you observe when Christ gives us directions to pray in that which is called the Lords Prayer still in our prayer we are to eye the Power of God For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory Still eye the Glory of Gods Power and this is more helpful to Faith than we are aware of you know when many came to Christ in their distresses when he was here upon Earth for help the poor Leper when he came to Christ he came with this Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean Mat. 8.2 And saies Christ to the Father of the Child that was possest when he came to him to cast out the Devil Canst thou believe saies Christ that I am able to do this because he questioned the Power of Christ Mark 9.22 Lord if thou canst do any thing have compassion on us and help us saies Christ if thou canst believe all things are possible to him that believeth Verse 23. He would have him to eye his Power and the eying of the Power of God doth wonderfully strengthen Faith and enable us to pray in Faith And so again eye the mercy and goodness and kindness and grace and compassion of God in Prayer and that will help us in our prayers strengthen Faith in the Mercy of God You read of it frequently in the Psalms how David made use of that in his Prayer For thy mercy sake deliver me and have mercy upon me according to the multitude of thy tender Mercies Psal 51.1 So Moses in Numb 14.17 18. He argues the Cause with God in his Prayer upon the account of his Mercy Let the Power of my Lord be great according as thou hast spoken saying the Lord is long suffering and of great Mercy forgiving iniquity c. Verse 19. Pardon I beseech thee the iniquity of this People according to the greatness of thy Mercy This is now the fourth direction to help us to pray in Faith namely to eye the Name of God the Glory of his Name some of his Glorious Attributes and plead the vertue of them To name but one more Fifthly To pray in Faith is to pray with a hope and expectation of an audience of our prayers there is much lies in this many pray and pray and never look after their Prayers they pray without any hope or expectation of Gods hearing and answering their Prayers Now I say we should pray with hope and expectation waiting for an answer of our Prayers from the Lord one way or other in the Lords own way for sometimes the Lord may answer us in a way that we could not expect not in that particular thing that we pray for As David saies in Psal 35.13 But as for me when they were sick my cloathing was Sackcloth I humbled my Soul with fasting and
the Soul hath been praying in Faith and God hath heard his Prayer though he give him not the particular thing he prays for yet he is made to submit to the Will of God This was just the case of Christ Christ prayed that the Cup might pass from him the Cup did not pass from him yet in his Prayer he was brought to submit to the Will of God Nevertheless not my will but thy will be done So possibly the Soul could not be satisfied with the dispensation of God he comes and commends himself and his case to the Lord and upon Prayer the Soul is brought to submit to the Will of God and to say not my will but thy will be done This is the first Secondly When the Soul is brought into a composed frame upon Prayer possibly the Soul was all in a hurry and royl before it met with something that was matter of affliction and perplexity and it was like the raging Sea the Soul could not rest night nor day well when this Soul comes and commits its self and case and condition to the Lord in Prayer and now there is a great calm and quiet in the heart and all is allayed on a sudden here is now the Power of Faith the spirit of Faith hath prevailed and God hath come in and answered that Prayer tho' not in the same kind and way that the Soul desired yet it is a sign it is a Prayer of Faith and God hath answered it because now the heart is quieted and composed after such a storm This was the case of Hannah Hannah was in a royle at first when she was upbraided for barrenness she goes and commends her Case to the Lord before she told Ely she was a woman of a troubled spirit 1 Sam. 1.15 I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink but have poured out my soul before the Lord. And when she had gone before the Ark and commended her self and case to the Lord by Prayer it is said at Verse 18. That she went her way and did eat and her countenance was no more sad And so likewise this was David â—s case David was exceedingly troubled and perplexed and disquieted because of the sickness of his Child 2 Sam. 12. He fasted and prayed earnestly a long time and though the Child died yet David's spirit was calm and composed and when he heard the Child was dead then he anointed himself vers 20. and went into the House of the Lord and worshipped and he went also into his own House and did eat and drink as he used to do to the wonderment of his Servants about him God had composed his heart and though he had not the thing he prayed for yet he had his Prayer answered and his Prayer was a prayer of Faith Object But you will say May not another that hath no faith at all pray and find his spirit quiet how is this then the work of faith one that never had any faith at all possibly he may pray and have his spirit quiet and is never troubled at all wherein lies the difference Answ Mark I pray such a one that is not at all troubled about his condition he is after Prayer just as he was before Now I say this is an evidence that Faith hath been at work upon the heart namely when the spirit was all in a royle and commotion like the raging Sea and then upon Prayer it is calmed and quieted this is an argument that this Prayer is a prayer of Faith Thirdly It is an argument that a Soul prays in Faith when as the Soul is made to persevere in Prayer notwithstanding the discouragements and difficulties it meets withal for this is the proper work and effect of Faith to go on against discouragements and not to be taken off by difficulties As now the woman that had the bloody Issue she would fain have come to Christ but she met with impediments there was a great throng about him that she could not tell how to get near him but her Faith did carry her on against all the discouragements and impediments that she met withal she would press into the throng and if she could but touch the Garment of Christ she would be satisfied the throng should not keep her from Christ Mark 5.28 And so the blind man in Mark 10.46 c. that sate by the way-side begging he heard that Jesus was passing by and he cryed out Jesus thou son of David have mercy on me and he made such a noise that the people were offended at him and charged him to hold his peace and it is said vers 18. That he cried out a great deal more and Christ took notice of his Prayer and called him to him and said What wilt thou that I should do to thee verse 51. Lord said he that I might receive my sight Go thy way says Christ thy faith hath made thee whole It was a prayer of Faith and Christ did hear it and he was kept on praying against discouragements and impediments that he met with And so the woman of Cannaan came to Christ for her Daughter Matt. 15. she intreats Christ to have Mercy upon her Christ turns a deaf ear to her and and answers her never a word she goes on still and Christ denies her I am not sent says he but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel Here was discouragement upon discouragement she goes on still and says Christ It is not meet to take the Childrens bread and cast it to dogs Yet she would not be discouraged but went on till she had obtained the Mercy So I say when a Soul is drawn out to go on in Prayer notwithstanding discouragements and objections and temptations to the contrary it is an argument that it is a Prayer of Faith and God will hear it and answer it in his own time 4. I might have added a fourth which is this namely when a Soul is made to wait upon God still for an answer and return of his Prayer though the Soul have not yet an answer and doth not meet with a return yet notwithstanding the Soul is made to wait and to go on in waiting to wait and to persevere in waiting truly this is an argument that that Prayer is a prayer of Faith when the Soul is made willing to wait the Lords time and the Lords way for an answer of that he prays for and expects this is an argument of the exercise of Faith Says David when the Lord had promised him to give him the Kingdom Saul was then alive and he sought David's life David sometimes had Saul at an advantage as in 1 Sam. 26. and one of his Worthies that was with him said to him at ver 8. God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day now therefore let me smite him I pray thee with the spear even to the earth at once c. No says David stay the Lords time vers 9.10 11. Destroy him not As the
Lord liveth the Lord shall smite him or his day shall come to dye or he shall descend into battel and perish The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lords annointed And so for a deliverance out of danger Faith doth help a Soul to go on to persevere in waiting for it till the Lords time Says David in Psal 40.1 2. I waited patiently for the Lord and he enclined unto me and heard my cry he brought me up also out of an horrible pit out of the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock Here was a prayer of Faith he was willing to wait the Lords time and the Lord did hear him And thus now you see here are some symptoms whereby we may discern whether we pray in Faith or no. Now Brethren you have heard this particular thing spoken to namely how we should so pray in Faith that our prayers may be pleasing unto God What shall we think then of those that do not pray at all Nay what may they think of themselves if those that pray and do not exercise Faith do not please God what do those do then that neglect prayer that cast off prayer and restrain prayer or else do it by fits and starts when they have nothing else to do They restrain Family-Prayer and Closet-Prayer what shall we think of them do these please God or do they not go on in a way of displeasing God from day to day provoking the Lord to pour out his wrath upon them If there be any such here let them not go on any longer thus to provoke the Lord. But Brethren and beloved now that we have heard these directions about praying in Faith let none of us satisfie our selves with the hearing of these things but let us now endeavour to walk according to the Directions presented before us Do you not desire to please God in your praying or else what do you pray for Well would you not have your Prayers displeasing unto God day by day then be careful to pray in Faith and to that end remember these Directions that I have now laid before you And thus now I have done with this particular concerning praying in Faith It remains that we give you some Directions about exercising Faith in hearing of the Word and then to shew you how to partake of the Lords-Supper in Faith and then I may speak something by way of direction how we may exercise Faith in the businesses and concernments of this life in the matters of our particular calling for every thing must be done in Faith For without faith it is impossible to please God But thus much shall suffice for this time SERMON VIII Hebrews XI 6. But without Faith it is impossible to please him Doct. IT is impossible for any Soul to please God without Faith This is the Subject we have been about and shall now through the Lords assistance proceed in The last time I gave you some Directions how we should exercise Faith in Prayer so as we may please God I shall now through the Lords assistance proceed and come to lay down some directions how we may come to exercise Faith in hearing the Word of God that so we may please God For though we should hear the Word of the Lord never so often yet if we do not exercise Faith in our hearing we do not please God in it It is not enough that a man or woman have Faith in the habit the Grace of Faith in his heart whilest he is hearing the Word but it is requisite unto our pleasing of God in hearing his Word that we act and exercise Faith Says the Apostle in Heb. 4.2 For unto us was the Gospel preached as well as unto them but the word preached did not profit them Why not why did not the Word Preached profit them He gives this as the Reason of it not being mixed with faith says he in them that heard it They did not exercise Faith in hearing the Word therefore they did not profit by hearing for want of mixing Faith with it The word that is translated mixed it signifies an incorporation or a Composition as it were as there is in putting ingredients into a Potion As now suppose in a Potion if there want some special ingredient that is requisite to it the Potion will do little good nay possibly it may do a great deal of hurt it may not only not profit but it may prejudice it may be very hurtful Truly so this Faith is a special ingredient to our hearing the Word of God now if this be wanting this acting and exercising of Faith in hearing the Word we may be much prejudiced it is of great concernment for people to be acting and exercising of Faith in hearing the Word I do not deny but God may sometimes and doth ordinarily by the Word work Faith in those that were not Believers before for Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God Rom. 10.17 Yet notwithstanding we cannot say though God may please to work Faith in those that have no Faith by hearing the Word yet we cannot say that their hearing the Word that have no Faith is pleasing unto God or that they do please God in their hearing no the Text seems to speak the contrary the Text says that without faith it is impossible to please God And truly this may be the great wound the great sore upon people the great impediment and hindrance and reason why people hear much and profit so little for want of exercising Faith in hearing Quest You will say then How shall we so act and exercise faith in our hearing the word that our hearing may be pleasing unto God and profitable unto us Answ In answer to this I shall come directly to lay down some Directions about hearing the Word of the Lord in a way of Faith that so our hearing the Word may be pleasing unto God And first of all we must be sure of this to be perswaded upon good grounds that those that we do hear dispensing the Word be called and sent by Christ to Preach or else we cannot hear them in Faith some may Preach and yet were never sent as the Lord saith in Jer. 23.21 I have not sent these Prophets yet they ran I have not spoken to them yet they Prophesied A man may come that hath good parts and Preach the Word and yet may not be sent by the Lord and if he be not sent by the Lord truly then we cannot hear in Faith and if we be not perswaded that he is sent by Christ and called by Christ to Preach and dispense the Gospel we cannot depend upon it as an Ordinance of God we cannot expect the presence of Christ we cannot expect the blessing of Christ upon his Preaching There are Two things therefore that we are to attend to here 1. That those that we hear Preach the Gospel be sent and called by Christ to Preach And 2. We
must take it as spoken to our selves and here is now the act of Faith to make that particular which is spoken in general This is now a Fourth direction I shall name but one more and so conclude Fifthly If we would hear the Word of God in Faith so as to profit by it then we should act Faith variously according to the several kinds or parts of the Word for you know there are divers parts in the Word as now there is a Word of Doctrine and a Word of Promise some are Commands and some are Threatnings now I say we should act Faith upon the Word variously according to the several parts of it as now for example if so be that we meet with a word of Doctrine as concerning the Creation of the World that was made out of nothing or the Resurrection of the Dead that every person shall be raised again or concerning the Trinity of persons in the Godhead or the union of two natures in one person or our being justified by Faith in the Righteousness of Christ c. These things are Doctrinal now Faith is to be acted here Namely by giving our assent to the truth thereof by believing of it as faithful and true He that receiveth his Testimony hath set to his seal that God is True John 3.33 And by Faith we believe that the World was created out of nothing this is acting of Faith upon this part of the Word by giving our assent to it and believing of it to be true because the Lord hath spoken it possibly we cannot understand it how there should be three persons in one essence and that the same Body shall be raised again that is mouldered into Dust we cannot understand the reason of it but because God hath spoken it we should believe it But then there is another part of the Word that contain Promises now how should Faith act upon the Promises namely by leaning and resting with expectation upon the Lord for the performance of them being perswaded that God can do it and that God will perform what he hath spoken just like Abraham Rom. 4.20 21. God had made him a promise to give him a Son in his old Age Flesh and Blood would have disputed against this promise but saies the Apostle He was strong in Faith giving Glory unto God he believed that God would perform what he had spoken it was against Flesh and Blood Sarah was Old and he was a Hundred years old or there-about he might have said how can these things be and refused to believe it no but he gave Glory to God by believing Thus we are to act Faith upon that part of the Word Another part of the Word is Commands The word of Command how is Faith to act there Namely in a way of Obedience we should yeild Obedience to what God Commands though it may be very hard to us Just as Abraham did God commanded him to go out of his own Country and to go into a Land he knew not whither Abraham by Faith obeyed and went out not knowing whither he went and so God commanded him to offer up his Son Isaac Abraham acted Faith in a way of Obedience to the Command And then another part of the Word is Threatning and how is Faith to act upon the Threatnings Namely thus in a way of fear to endeavour to avoid those Judgements that are threatned in Hebrews 11.7 By Faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moâ—ed with fear prepared an Ark to the saving of his House c. Truly thus I say Faith is to 〈◊〉 set a work and to act variously according â—o the several parts of the Word of God There are several parts of the Word of Goâ— now the whole word of God is the Objeâ—â— of Faith but yet notwithstanding Faith doâ—â— act variously according to the variety oâ— the parts of the Word Now it is the wisdom of Christians to exercise Faith sutably according to that part of the Word that Faith is exercised about And thus Brethren I have briefly given you four or five Directions how we are to exercise Faith in hearing of the Word that so we may not hear without profit that so we may please God in our hearing for without Faith it is impossible to please God Brethren and Beloved I must not enlarge but in a word It hath been the complaint of most Christians and possibly some here present their want of profiting by the Word Oh! I hear and hear but the Lord knows I do not profit this is the matter of your complaint well now you may go home and lay your hand upon the Sore the Lord hath discovered to me this day the great Cause why I have profited no more under the Word that I have heard so often I see now it is for want of the exercise of Faith I have heard my duty but the Lord knows I have exercised Faith but little and therefore I say here is matter of humiliation for us before the Lord we should lye low in the presence of the Lord for our so little acting of Faith in our hearing the Word of God And Oh! therefore for the future as we do desire that the Lord may be pleased with our hearing so let us be careful to exercise Faith in our hearing you have heard the Directions I shall not need to repeat them but go home and consider them and be careful to put them in practice that you may be acting and exercising Faith in hearing the Word for without Faith it will be impossible for you to please God Though you should hear Sermons never so often if you neglect to act and exercise Faith you will not profit by them nor please God in your hearing And so now I have done with this particular namely how we are to exercise Faith in hearing the Word it remains that we should speak about exercising Faith in our partaking of the Lords Table But thus much shall suffice for the present SERMON IX Hebrews XI 6. But without Faith it is impossible to please him THE words of the Text is a Proposition I have spent some time in the handling of it we came by way of inference to this That if it be impossible to please God without Faith then it doth concern us every one in all the duties and services that we perform to be acting and exercising of Faith not only without the Grace of Faith but without the exercise of Faith we cannot please God and therefore to this end we came to lay down some Directions how we may come to exercise Faith in those Duties that we perform that so we may please God we gave you some Directions the last time about the exercise of Faith in hearing of the Word I come now to lay down some Directions about our partaking of the Lords-Supper in Faith That Faith is requisite and necessary to our partaking of the Lords-Table that I think is out of doubt and
Lastly If we would exercise Faith in our participation of this Ordinance then our Faith should be imployed about the Sacramental objects and actions before us for this is the nature of Faith to make a particular application of such things to our selves Now then in the things about the Sacraâ—ent and the actions in the Sacrament in this Ordinance Faith is to be found acting and making a particular application as for example to help you a little when we see the Bread and Wine set in order and readiness for the administration now Faith should act this way namely that God the Father hath prepared a spiritual feast for me and God hath invited me now to this marriage feast as you know we read in Matthew 22.4 He sent out his servants saying tell them which are bidden I have prepared my Dinner my Oxen and my â—atlings c. Thus a Soul should act in a way of Faith now God the Father hath called me to this great feast I am unworthy that ever I should partake of it and yet God the Father hath invited me and called me and hath shown me the preparation that he hath made and these things God hath called me to and invited me 〈◊〉 and hath prepared them for me and Oh the wonderful rich Grace of God towards me And then again when you see the elements prepared the Bread and Wine before you here now is occasion for your Faith to consider of the Love of God the Father and the love of the Lord Jesus Christ that God the Father should prepare Jesus Christ his own Son for me set out by these elements here is the infinite love of the Father to me and here is the wonderful love of the Lord Jesus Christ to me that hath prepared these things for me that Jesus Christ should set out himself as Bread for me Oh! the Love of the Father and the Love of the Son that is held forth to me And again when we see how the Bread is sanctified blessed and broken by him whom Christ doth appoint to do it according to his own Institution saying Take eat this is my Body which was broken for you now Faith should act as if Jesus Christ himself did speak to you from Heaven saying take eat this is my Body broken for thee For Christ hath appointed and Ordained him to do it in his Name and doing it in his Name and according to his Institution it is all one as if Christ himself did it Now then Faith should act as if I did hear Christ speaking from Heaven to me This is my Body broken for you so also when we see the Cup or the element of Wine and hear those words also pronounced This Cup is the New-Testament in my Blood which was shed for many for the remission of Sins truly now we should take these words as spoken from the Lord Jesus Christ himself to us this is my Blood shed for you for the remission of your Sins as if Christ himself did speak from Heaven to us And so again when we do eat the Bread and drink the Wine take them down into our bodies according to Christs Institution now our Faith should act particularly Namely thus in resting and leaning and relying upon Jesus Christ for acceptance in the sight of God and for remission of Sins and for Salvation this acting of Faith is eating and drinking Saies Christ in John 6.56 He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood dwelleth in me and I in him And what is this eating the Flesh of Christ and drinking the Blood of Christ but acting and exercising of Faith in our eating and drinking the outward elements So that when we eat and drink with our Bodies we should act Faith with our Souls and eat with our Souls leaning and resting upon Jesus Christ for acceptance in the sight of God for remission of Sins and for peace with God and for everlasting Life and Salvation this is eating and drinking by Faith this is that which Faith doth Now if you would partake of this Ordinance in Faith then Brethren particularly apply the Objects and actions of this Ordinance to your own Souls and thus now I have given you some few Directions about exercising of Faith in this Ordinance of the Lords Supper without which not only without the habit and grace of Faith but without the exercise of Faith you cannot partake worthily you cannot partake so as to please God for without Faith it is impossible to please God even in this Ordinance I thought to have spent some time in speaking to another head namely how we should exercise Faith in our particular Callings and occasions and matters that concern this life for we must act and exercise Faith in all or else we do not please God in what we do even in our very outward occasions and business I am unwilling to make another discourse upon this subject and therefore I shall if you please to give me leave only give you four or five heads of things that might have been further inlarged upon by way of Direction How to exercise Faith in our particular callings and several conditions that we may be in in this life I will but name them you may enlarge upon them in your own private Meditations Briefly then 1st In the first place Would we exercise Faith in our particular Callings and Stations and Relations and condition that we are in then be careful to eye the hand of God leading and bringing of you into this or that calling condition and course of Life that we may be able to say as Paul did 1 Cor. 1.1 Paul called to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ through the Will of God It was the Will of God that brought him into that state and course of life so must we be able to say or else we cannot act and exercise Faith in our particular Callings Stations and Relations we must be able to say that God hath led me into this or that or the other course of life or into this and that change of Condition Faith doth not lead a man to make haste to be over hasty for any thing I have a mind to such a thing I have a strong fancy to it and and therefore I must enter into such a Calling or enter into such a change of Condition but Faith doth put a Soul upon this Namely to be solicitous to understand the Mind of God and therefore observe it Faith will put a Soul upon earnestness and frequency in Prayer to seek counsel of the Lord whether this or that be according to his Will or no and also to advise with Christians about it that so he may understand the Mind and Will and Counsel of God about it That is the first Rule Secondly Another Rule is this we should be careful to walk with God in that particular place and station and relation wherein God hath set us according to his Will for otherwise we do not exercise Faith in it and therefore when a man is led into such a Calling such a way and course of life it is not for him to act and walk according to the example of others to make the practices of others his rule No but we must look what the Will of God is and make that our Rule As now if a man or woman be brought into a change of condition into a Married condition it is not for that man to say Well I will carry it towards my Wife as she carry it to me or for the woman to say I will carry it to my Husband as he carry it to me no this is not a rule to walk by the examples of others but let us look to our own duty what the Will of God is concerning a Wife or a Husband Remember this is a Second rule To walk in our particular calling and station and relation according to the Will of God Thirdly Another rule and direction is this if you would act and exercise Faith in your particular callings then be frequently looking up unto the Lord for his guidance and help and assistance in your occasions and business Let us look up frequently to the Lord that he would guide us and assist us and help us for we must have Strength and Wisdom and Spirit and Grace from God day by day to walk with God in our places and stations we had need therefore be frequent in looking up unto the Lord for guidance and assistance and help in the places and stations wherein he hath set us And Fourthly Look up to the Lord for pardon through the righteousness of Christ and the merrits of his Death for the pardon of our failings and miscarriages in our callings and places and stations we had need to be frequently looking up for pardon that God would pardon our miscarriages and sailings and weaknesses in our places and stations that we do not walk so according to the Will of God as we ought to do we had need look to the Grace and Blood of Christ to be pardoned And then Fifthly and Lastly This might also have been further spoken to namely to leave the Issue and event and success of our endeavours with the Lord to leave all wholly with him all our burthens and cares leave them all with the Lord Let us be careful to do our Duty and to walk with God according to his Will in our places and relations and leave the event with the Lord. Cast your burthen upon the Lord Psalm 55.22 and he shall sustain you And so the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 5.7 Casting all your care upon the Lord for he careeth for you So should you do and thus walking in our particular Callings and stations and places and relations we shall come to exercise Faith and thereby so walk as to please God O! that now you have heard this point and truth opened that for the future the Lord would help us to be careful to exercise Faith in all our Duties in our praying in our hearing and in our partaking of the Lords Table and in our particular Callings and relations otherwise we cannot please God for the Apostle says here Without Faith it is impossible to please Him Thus much for this Text and this Time FINIS
have dominion over the works of thy hand thou hast put all things under his feet all sheep and oxen yea and the beasts of the field the fowl of the air and the fish of the Sea 4. All things that do concern the ordering of the Churches here in this world are given and committed to Christ as Mediator What Officers shall be in his Churches what Discipline Government Censures Ordinances and Worship these things are not left to mens Inventions but all must be ordered as Christ hath appointed in the Word Mat. 28.18 19 20. And Jesus came and spake unto them saying All Power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded The very Apostles were limited that they should teach nothing to be observed in Spiritual matters but what Christ commanded and then much more all Church-Guides in these days for the Father hath given the Power of making Laws and Orders for his Church into Christs hand only No Power on Earth can add or take away from the Sacraments Censures Officers and Ordinances that Christ hath appointed for the Father hath given all things into his hand 5. All Providential Dispensations in this world are given into the hand of Christ all publick and private concernments Thou hast given him Power over all flesh Joh. 17.2 For the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all Judgment unto the Son Joh. 5.22 We must not understand these things as if God the Father had so put things into the hand of Christ as if he had not Power and Authority still over all but the meaning is that he hath given the management of all into Christ's hand as Mediator by way of Honour and Trust to order all for the Glory of God and for the Eternal Salvation of those whom he hath given him to be his Mystical Body And so I come to the Second thing to shew you Why or to what end the Father hath given all things into Christ's hands as Mediator 1. The Father hath done this for his own Glory Phil. 2.11 12. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a Name above every name That every tongue should confess that Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father 'T is for the Glory of God the Father that he hath laid help upon such a mighty One and set such a King upon his holy Hill of Sion 2. The Father hath done this for the Glory of Christ too That all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father Joh. 5.32 Wherefore when he brings in the first begotten into the world he saith Let all the Angels of God worship him Heb. 1.6 3. The Father hath done it for the Churches sake too for the Elects sake he hath given him to be the head over all things to the Church Ephes 1.22 to order all things for the accomplishing and perfecting their Salvation and to that end he hath the heart of man amongst other things given into his hand that Christ hath power as Mediator to make his people willing to close with him Psal 110.3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power Joh. 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me Joh. 12.32 And I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me Application Use 1. Seeing the Father hath given all things into Christ's hand then let us all come to Christ receive him believe in him And this is the very Use that Christ himself makes of this point Mat. 11.27 28. All things are delivered unto me of my Father And no man knoweth the Son but the Father Neither knoweth any man the Father but the Son and he to whomsoever he will reveal him Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Seeing the Father hath given all into Christ's hand come unto him for whatsoever you want come to him for Pardon for Righteousness for peace of Conscience for Knowledg for Sanctification for all Joh. 6.27 Labour not for the meat that perishes but for that meat which endureth to everlasting Life which the Son of man shall give unto you for him hath God the Father sealed He hath Authority and Commission from the Father all things are given into his hand Him hath God the Father sealed therefore come unto him that you may have the meat that endureth to everlasting Life He hath the keys of Hell and of Death He is able to save to the uttermost He is able to rescue you from the very jaws of Hell therefore I say venture your Souls upon him The Father hath appointed him to be Prophet Priest and King come therefore unto him for all that you stand in need of Use 2. Seeing the Father hath given all into Christs hand let all submit to Jesus Christ Psal 2.12 Kiss the Son lest he be Angry and ye perish from the way We are all to do Homage to Christ to be subject to Christ and this is called a Kissing of the Son You read of those that did not bow the knee to Baal nor kissed him It is spoken of the People of God that would not owne Baal and the Idolaters that worshiped the Sun and the Moon because they could not reach them to kiss them therefore they kissed their hand in token of Homage and Subjection to them as is implyed in Job's words Chap. 31.26 27. So that this is one thing that is intended by this Phrase of Kissing the Son that we should do Homage unto him and be Subject unto him Therefore seeing all is given into Christs hand and he shall Judge the Quick and the Dead at his appearing and his Kingdom give dilligence that you may be found of him in Peace that you may be accepted in him as a Saviour and accepted of him as a Judge for we must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ But may some say When we consider what a great Lord Jesus Christ is and that the Father hath made him the Judge of all and that he shall come in all the Glory of the Father with all his holy Angels and all must appear before his Judgment-Seat to give an account the thoughts of Christ begin to be terrible to us sinful guilty creatures we begin to say in our hearts How shall we be able to stand before this great Lord and Judge Answer Christ is a Priest as well as a King a Saviour as well as a Judge So that if you put your trust in him as a Mediator and be found in his Righteousness then you may be able to stand before him else not Therefore labour to know Christ in his Priestly Office and believe in him that you may be washed and made white in his Blood and that he may be the Lord your Righteousness then
you may have boldness to stand before him and not be ashamed and confounded at his coming Therefore I say now come to him as a Saviour before whom at last you must come as a Judge Use 3. Seeing all things are given into Christ's hand let not Believers fear these black storms of Persecution that may come upon them in this world The same Jesus that shed his Blood for his People he hath the ordering over-ruling and disposing of all things Know that nothing can come upon you but it must pass through the hand of Christ therefore fear not Not only men but Devils also are subject to his Power yea he hath Power over our Lusts and Corruptions therefore they shall not have dominion over us And in the worst times fear not that the People of God will be rooted out no Christ sitteth upon the floud he sitteth King for ever Object But if the ordering of all things is given into Christ's hand it seems strange that he suffers many times his Enemies to be the chief in Power and his People to be low and persecuted Answer Christ suffers it yea orders it so that he may have the greater Glory in carrying on his work against so much opposition The Gospel never prevailed more in the world than when the Rulers were Heathens and Persecutors and Christ hath Glory too in punishing his Enemies here and hereafter And as for the People of God they are the more Spiritual and Heavenly and Courageous in times of Persecution Use 4. Seeing all things are given into Christ's hand this may assure us of the perseverance of Believers What should hinder it Christ is above Satan above the corruption of their hearts and seeing the Father hath given them to him he will keep them unto the end Joh. 17.12 Those whom thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost save the Son of Perdition And as for Judas called here the Son of Perdition he never was a Believer in the sense that the rest were Joh. 6.64 but a Devil vers 70. Though Judas was given to Christ to be an Apostle for a time and given into Christs hand as the very Devils are so as that he shall punish them for ever yet Judas was never so given to Christ to redeem to save to bring to Glory to be a Member of his Mystical Body For those that are so given to Christ not one of them can be lost seeing Christ hath taken the charge of their Salvation and wants neither Wisdom nor Faithfulness nor Love nor Power to bring them safe to Heaven Now I come to vers 36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life And he that believeth not the Son shall not see Life but the wrath of God abideth on him Here you have the Conclusion of this Heavenly Sermon or Speech of John the Baptist He had set forth Christ's Glory and Excellency as the Churches Bridegroom vers 29. He that hath the Bride is the Bridegroom but the friend of the Bridegroom which standeth and heareth him rejoyceth greatly because of the Bridegrooms voice This my joy therefore is fulfilled He had shewn how he must increase and be glorious in the eyes of all that he came from above from Heaven and is above all that the Father sent him and gave him the Spirit above measure that the Father loved him and hath given all things into hand And now he comes to make the Use and Application of this That men would believe on the Name of the Son of God This Duty of Believing on Christ is pressed by two strong Arguments or Motives The first Argument is taken from the great benefit that comes by believing on Christ He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life This is a great benefit indeed Life is very desirable especialy everlasting Life yea for further encouragement to believe in Christ he saith That he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life Not only that he shall have it but he hath it already he hath everlasting Life The second Argument is taken from the contrary namely The great Danger the great Evil and Misery that will be the portion of all those that do not believe the Son And this is set out not only Privatively he shall not see Life but Positively as an addition to that misery The wrath of God abideth on them Doct. 1. That he that believes on Christ the Son of God hath everlasting Life Doct. 2. That he that believeth not the Son that believeth not in the Lord Jesus shall not see Life but the wrath of God abideth on him Doct. 1. That whosoever believeth on Christ the Son of God hath everlasting Life This is much spoken of That he that believeth on the Son is delivered from the wrath to come Joh. 3.14 15 16. As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting Life Joh. 6.40 This is the will of him that sent me that every one that seeth the Son and believeth on him should have everlasting Life And vers 47. Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on me hath everlasting Life He speaks it with an Asseveration Verily verily he that believeth on me hath everlasting Life Joh. 20.31 But these things are written that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have Life through his Name 1. Let us enquire what is meant by this everlasting Life that is the Portion of every one that believeth in Christ 2. What is this believing this Faith upon which a Man or Woman comes to have everlasting Life 3. To give you some Demonstrations or Arguments to prove that he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life Because possibly some may Question it 4. Shew you in what Sense he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life already for the Text saith such an one hath everlasting Life 1. Let us enquire what is meant by this everlasting Life which is the Portion of every believing Soul By everlasting Life here we are not to understand that Life that consists in the Union of Body and Soul No Brethren though our Bodies and Souls should be everlastingly united and never be seperated by Death yet that is not the everlasting Life here spoken of yea and the Damned at the Resurrection shall have their Bodies and Souls united together and shall so continue to Eternity and yet they never see this everlasting Life This everlasting Life in the Text is the greatest hapiness that we are capable of It consists in Two things 1. Freedom from all sin and from all evils whatsoever called 1 Thess 5.9 The obtaining of Salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ 2. The enjoyment of all that is Perfectly Good Grace and Glory Psal 84.11 this state is called the better Country even an Heavenly Heb. 11.16 God is the Believers God and he hath prepared for
know that you are elected until you believe in Christ by this you may know your Election if the Gospel of the Grace of God come to your heart with such Power of the Holy Ghost as to draw and fix your heart to Jesus the Mediator Though God's Eternal Election be a great Truth which you may find of great use for your establishing in the Grace of God afterwards yet that which now concerns the convinced â—â—â—er is to cast himself upon Christ to belieâ—â—â— Christ and when you have received him 〈◊〉 are in a state of acceptation with God through him then you shall know in due time that this great Love of God towards you is not of yesterday but that he ordained and appointed you to obtain this Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord before the Foundation of the World was laid Use 4. This Doctrine concerning believing in Christ may teach us our great Blindness and Ignorance of the way of Life and Salvation until some Gospel-light shine upon us Men are more easily convinced that it is their Duty to pray to God and to live soberly and righteously than they are convinced of the necessity of going out of themselves to Christ that they may have Everlasting Life by believing on him The way of the Gospel is new and strange until the Holy Ghost convinces us of this way of Righteousness and Life Therefore study the Gospel study upon Jesus the Mediator hear him Preached and the Lord draw our hearts effectually unto Jesus Christ that so believing on the Son we may have the beginning of Everlasting Life here and the full enjoyment of it in Heaven SERMON II. John V. 25. Verily verily I say unto you the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live I Shall spend but a little time in the coherence of these words only take notice of two main things in this Chapter 1. A Narration of a great Miracle that Christ wrought in healing a man that had an infirmity thirty and eight years vers 8 9. 2. Christ's Apology that he made for himself against the Jews for what he had done It being upon the Sabbath-day that Christ healed the man they pretended that Christ had broaken the Sabbath Vers 16. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus and sought to slay him because he had done these things on the Sabbath-day The men of the world will always make some pretence to persecute Christ and his People but Christ Justifies his Action in making the man whole upon the Sabbath-day and though he might have Justified the act as being a work of mercy which may consist with the most strict observation of the Sabbath yet our Saviour vindicates himself upon a higher Ground and Reason namely by asserting his Divine Nature and God-head Saith he Vers 17. My Fathâ—â— worketh hitherto and I work Therfore the Jews sought the more to kill him because he had not only broken the Sabbath as they Ignorantly thought he had done but said also that God was his Father making himself equal with God Our Saviour sheweth that the Father worketh upon the Sabbath-day in doing good shewing mercy and kindness yet with perfect rest in himself and so doth the Son He sheweth how he being the Son of God and equal with God doth co-operate with the Father in all his works which the Father doth Vers 20. yea and that as Mediator God-man the Father hath committed all unto him He raiseth Dead Bodies and he raises Dead Souls Verily verily I say unto you the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall Live In the 28. Vers Our Saviour speaks of his raising those that are dead in their Graves But in the Text he speaks of raising those that are dead in their Sins You have this great work of Christ in raising dead souls set forth by Four circumstances 1. By the Time when The hour is coming and now is 2. By the Means and way by which he would do this great work of raising dead Souls and that is by his voice The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live 3. By the Certainty of it I say unto you I that am the Truth 4. By an Attestation and Asseveration Verily verily It shall be so I attest it Verily verily I say unto you The Hour is coming and now is Christ did always gather and call and make alive the Elect people But the time was now come when he would send forth his Apostles to Preach amongst the Gentiles to gather the Elect people that were scattered abroad And therefore he saith The hour is coming and now is when the dead even amongst the Gentiles shall hear the voice of the Son of God and live And our Saviour speaks to the same purpose Joh. 10.15 16. I lay down my Life for the sheep And other sheep I have which are not of this fold which are not of the people of the Jews them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice Doct. That those that are spiritually dead dead in trespasses and sins by hearing the voice of the Son of God are made to live Ephes 2.1 And you hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins that is the estate of all men by nature But Christ can make dead Souls alive He can do it by a word and as easily as we can speak a word You read of several that Christ raised up from bodily Death when he was here upon the Earth and he did it by speaking to them Mark 5.41 one was Jairus his Daughter And he took the Damsel by the hand and said unto her Tabitha cumi which is being interpreted Damsel I say unto thee arise And straightway the Damsel arose And the Widows Son Luk. 7.14 15. And he came and touched the Bier and they that bare him stood still and he said I say unto thee youngman arise and he that was dead sate up and began to speak And so Lazarus Joh. 11. when he had been dead four days vers 43 44. He cried with a loud voice Lazarus come forth and he that was dead came forth And as Christ raised up those that were bodily dead by his Voice by his Word So if he say the word if he say to one that is dead in sin Rise up Come forth the dead Soul shall live Verily verily the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live For the opening the Point 1. That by Nature we are Spiritually dead 2. What that Life is that Christ gives to dead sinners 3. What this Voice of the Son of God is by which dead sinners are made to live 4. What the Lord doth work upon those that are dead in sin when he makes them spiritually alive 5.