told this in the City and they went out to see him but I can tell you greater things behold a Jesus that will save you if you come to him from all things that you have wickedly done will it not be worth your study and pains to know him If you should hear of a Physician able in cure you of all Diseases what flocking would there be to him would you not all desire acquaintance with him such an one is Christ he is able to cure you of your worst Diseases to heal all your Soul Infirmities and save you to the utmost certainly he is a Person worth the knowing 5. The Lord our Righteousness Jer. 23.6 with chap. 33.16 He that will be for a Wedding Garment to you he that spreads his Banner of love and casts the Mantle of his own Righteousness to cover your nakedness to hide your Deformities that so the Lord may not see Iniquity in Jacob that he may look on you as comely through his beauty put on you surely there can be nothing more precious to a Self-condemning Sinner than to know this Name The Lord my Righteousness that shelters me from wrath and tâ—at renders me accepted with God Isa 23.24 The Inhabitant shall not say I am sick they shall be forgiven their Iniquities their Righteousness is of me The knowledge therefore of this name of Christ cures the Soul of its Sicknesses of all its discomforts and sadness and fills it with consolation so is most precious 3. In Relation to his Church so he is Head thereof Col. 1.18 He is the head of the body such a head as the Husband is to the Wife Eph. 5.25 so he loveth his Church with his choicest and most tender love he nourisheth and cherisheth his Church v. 29. he takes care to provide for and preserve his Church This Relation is most sweetly set forth in the book of Cant. Chap. 4.9 Thou hast ravished my heart my Sister my Spouse c. thou hast taken away my heart Christ's Heart is wholly taken up with his Church none else have his heart and from these sweet Manifestations of the love of Christ and of the incomperable Excellencies of Christ which the Church contemplates on Chap. 5.10 c. She concludes at last v. 16. His mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether lovely thus she hence concludes as the Apostle Non Eximium duxi c. there is none whose Graces are so excellent whose Love is so burning whose Beauties are so shining whose Dignities so high none that hath all Power all Fulness as Christ therefore I determine not to knâ—w any thing among you save Jesus Christ c. Again such a head he is as the natural head in the body that is the Fountain of Sense and Motion there is the Understanding and Knowledge seated there is the light of the body by it all nourishment is conveyed into the body now such a head is Christ in him dwells all Fulness he hath the Spirit he hath Life in himself he hath Wisdom to inform and instruct to make us wise to Salvation he hath Righteousness to Justify Grace to Sanctify c. so all Spiritual Good Peace Life Grace is treasured up in him how excellent then must the knowledge of him be 4. Consider him in his Offices And so he is 1. A King all power is given him to save his Church and to subdue his Enemies he hath power to save and destroy to give Life and to take it away to raise up to Heaven and to cast down to Hell a King full of Might King of Kings that is able to cast down all Kings that do oppose him to bruise them with a Rod c. for he shall overthrow all the Kingdoms that will not set his Throne to be established amongst them full of Might to save his Members of weak he makes them mighty even him that is feeble mighty as David and the House of David as God as the Angel of the Lord before them thus Christ is a Glorious King Now of all the Persons in a Kingdom the People desires to know the King and Christ being the greatest King it must needs be the most excellent Knowledge to know him as such 2. As Prophet He is that Prophet the Inspirer of all other Prophets The Woman of Samaria apprehended a great deal of Excellency in this that Christ could tell all that she had done but he was a Prophet that knew and could make known far greater things he knew not only what Men had done and what was in their Hearts but what God had done all his works are open to him because what the Father wrought he wrought and all that was in the Fathers heart his eternal saving Purposes his Good Will towards Men his Righteous Decrees Christ knew all For he is in the bosom of the Father as Son of God and knows all things he is the word of God he is that Prophet to make known to Men the gracious Purposes of the Father Joh. 1.18 He is the Lord which teacheth to Profit and tells how Men may be saved he makes known the things belonging to our everlasting Peace is not he worth the knowing above all 3. As Priest humbling himself and becoming obedient to Death Offering himself without Spot to God to take away Sin by one Sacrifice of himself he bare our Griefs and received our Stripes He remains still a merciful high Priest that hath compassion on our Infirmities and knows how to succour them and all this out of meer Love and free Grace Now the Knowledge of Love that is most sweet the knowledge of the greatest Love is the best Knowledge 2. Consider the Effects of this Knowledge further to shew its Excellency And these are 1. Justification and Peace with God This Knowledge of Jesus Christ surpasseth all other Knowledge because this produceth that Peace which passeth all Understanding It begets Peace in the Understanding quiets it against all perplexing doubts that arisâ— from the knowledge of Sin and apprehension oâ— wrath it acquits from Self-condemnation and accusations It satisfies the will and begets a complacency it is well pleased upon the knowledge of Christ and closing in with him in whom God is well pleased It allays all Storms and Tempests of Fears Griefs c. raised by the Conscience that is awakned to see its Sinful and Cursed condition It saith to all diâ—quieting Affections Peace be still thus this Knowledge begets Peace in the Understanding and Will Affections a calmed Spirit a Peace 't is that satisfies nay 't is a Peace that more than satisfies it surpasseth Knowledge it exceeds thoughts it goes beyond desires it passes all and that because Christ is Prince of Peace that is that none hath power to Command to make Peace to give Peace to a Sinner He alone hath power of Life and Death of forgiving and Retaining Sin He makes Peace by the Blood of his Cross dies to make Peace that he might satisfy Divine
Sin and taken great pleasure in it and when they hear what the word says that such must be damned banish'd from the presence of God and be everlastingly tormented with Devils and that this that the word speaks should strike such unspeakable terror to the Heart of Man what doth this argue but that the word is powerful Joh 18.6 as Christ spake but a word and his Enemies that came to take him fell back so that Mens proud and stubborn hearts should fall down before the word and are made to say as the Devils why art thou come to torment us this shews that there is an Almighty God speaking in the word and this fâ—â—ther That some Men yet in a natural condition who love Sin as their own Souls should not dare to commit some Sins because the word pronounceth Judgment and that Men that hate holiness as 't is evident that many do yet out of fear of Judgments denounced in the word should be brought to make some Profession of Holiness that as the unclean Spirit fell down and confessed Christ to be the Son of God so Men of unclean Hearts not renewed are forced to confess the word is of God 2. In the Conversion of Sinners I may say concerning the Word as Christ in his Message to John The Dead are raised the Deaf hear the Dumb speak and tâ— the Poor the Gâ—spel is Preached that a word preached should do this shews it to be the word of God so Men that are dead in Trespasses and Sins are raised by it the word doth bore some Mens Ears and make them hearken and obey it Consider that Men that take such great delight in Sin as we all do by Nature working uncleaness with greediness going to it as an hungry Man to his Meals ready to pine away for the pleasures of Sin and be discontent when we cannot satisfy our Lusts as it was with Ammnon Now that any of us because the word says cease to do Evil Sin no more should loath what we so dearly loved and that our hatred of Sin should be greater than our love was to it and it may be some can tell the time and remember the word that wrought such a mighty change what is to be concluded hence but that this is none other but the word of God Again we know how we love our selves by nature even so as that self-love is the supreme Law with corrupt Nature now that such an one should because the word says if any Man will be my Disciple let him deny himself cast off self-love and self-respects and sacrifice or give himself up to Christ and be his only and prize the Glory of God more than his own good yea choose to undergo the greatest Evils rather than dishonour God this shews the invincible power of the word Again if you have any knowledge of your selves you know what bitter enmity there is in our natures against holiness now that because the word commends holiness any of us should come to delight in it this likewise adds a Seal for the confirmation of this Truth that the word is in truth Gods word Again you know how we naturally love the World even so much that some can even in these plundering times think it better to loose our Lives than our Goods now that any should despise the world for Christ's sake and esteem his Reproaches better Riches only because the word doth commend Christ above the World and propose him as the best Good What doth this argue but a divine efficacy of the word and the power of a God making use of his word as an instrument of his own to bring to pass such mighty works 3. In confounding Christ 's Enemies Psa 8.2 Out of the mouths of Babes hast thou ordained strength to stâ—ll the Enemy this strength of mouth â— Prayer which is grounded on the word and preaching when men come with revengeful Spirits and think to swallow up the People of God the word shall stop and still them the word doth gather Men together and stir them up to fight against Anti-christ Rev. 16 16. and Rev. 17.16 The ten hornes shall hate the Whore c. why the word shall discover her and hence 't is said 2 Thess 2.8 That Man of Sin shall be revealed c. he shall destroy him with the Sword of his Mâ—uth and brightness of his coming Dan. 2.34 A stone cut out of the Mountain without Hands breaks the Feet of the Image and that shall overcome the great Roman Monarchy What is this stone c. a poor weak dispised People of God called by the word believing the same and walking by it these shall overcome all Antichristian powers and as the worm Jacob thresh the Mountains Use To make some application of this by the way Is there such a power in the word and may that be truly said of the word which is falsly of Simon Magus it is the great Power of God 1. Then take heed of despising it Heb. 12.25 see that ye dispise not look well to it if you despise the word you dispise the Power and Authority of God which is in it and which shall be manifested by it either in Conversion or Confusion either in unspeakable Terror or Consolation either it shall be the power of God to save you and then you must believe it and receive it with all readiness or to condemn you if you despise it if it do not now work effectually in you to turn you from Sin into the obedience thereof then it shall Judge you in the last day now you may hear it speaking comfortably to you bringing the glad Tydings to your Souls of good things of a Saviour that is offered to you a Pardon proclaimed Heaven opened to Men that are shut up under Sin and Wrath that is if you will now suffer your Consciences to be awakned to see what condition you are in but if it be not hearkned to it shall speak terribly to you and then you shall not sleep when 't is spoken you shall not sit carelesly under it as you do now but then you shall know the Terrors of the Lord you shall know the power of Divine Wrath to prevent which you should desire to feel the exceeding greatness of his Power in creating Faith in you and the length and breadth of his Love which is revealed therein so when the word is spoken to you let me exhort you as the Prophet Jer. 13.15 Learn be not proud the Lord hath spoken Act. 13.41 Behold ye Despisers and wonder I 'll work that you will not believe If you will not believe what I have said in the Word Precepts and Promises such Judgments shall be brought on you which you would not before believe 2. Believe the Word rest on it be strong in Faith your Faith shall not be in vain you rest not then on a broken reed but on the word of the great God on the great Power of that God The Power of God
him as Jacob by wrestling c. Isa 26.8 9. Hos 12.2 3 4 6. 5. When God gives Precepts and lays Commands on us know that the Holiness Majesty and Goodness of God deserves Obedience and sing as the 24 Elders Rev. 4. ult Thou art worthy O Lord to receive Honour c. you must see the greatest reason of yielding Obedience Now these qualifications make up that honest and good heart Luk. 8.15 That having heard the word keeps it c. by this try the honesty of your hearts many think they have honest hearts because they hate no man do no Injury but are upright in their dealings but here 's a way to try the honesty of your hearts indeed do you not hate some part of the word there is self-denial mortification of Lusts required heavenly mindedness a seeking the praise of God only and not of Men. Joh. 5.42 43 44. Rom. 2.29 Signs of true receiving the word of God 1. Holding fast the word undeâ— Persecutions Luk. 8.15 there are four sorts of Hearers only the last that believe the word aâ—ight and they grow by it and live on it and according to it and when Persecutions do arise for the word's sake a mock or scoff from Men is not so grievous as the word is precious As Christ endured the contradiction of Sinners so can they this is set forth as the highest of Christ's Sufferings Heb. 12.3 Consider him that endured Contradiction of Sinners c. and mockings are called Cruel they are hard to be born Heb. 11.36 these will try whether the word be received and blest so as to see Sin the greatest Evil. 2. If it work effectually to thorough Conviction and Conversion so that all high Imaginations stoop and the strong holds of Sin are demolished Agrippa was almost perswaded So the word did not work effectually in him The Jews did halt between two Opinions when the word works effectually then Men will pitch on Joshua's choice I will serve the Lord Josh 24.15 and the World will be despised for the word's sake You will go into Patmos for the word as John did Revelat. 1.9 rather than leave the word to escape Persecution This Discourse concluding so abruptly seems Imperfect but the Authors Notes proceed no further THE FOURTH DISCOURSE Of working out our Salvation PHILIPPIANS ij xij Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling ver 13. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good Pleasure THese words contain 1. An Exhortation work out Salvation 2. A Direction intimating tâ—e way and manner in which Salvation is to be wrought out which is with fear and trembling 3. An encouragement in this work for it is God which worketh c. or a reason the Apostle gives of his Direction 't is to be wrought with fear and trembling because it is God's work And the Soul of a Believer eyeing and beholding God going on in this work appearing in his glory ought to fear and tremble even at that glory â—â—â—ifested forth therein The Exhortation is to a duty of very great consequence there is no work that so nearly concerns us as this the Apostle here perswades us to set about work out c. so we should give diligent heed to this work Sect. 1. Explaining the sence of the Text. Take the meaning of the words thus work he means not either that Sinners in their natural state can by working raise themselves into a state of spiritual Life nor that Believers when they are spiritually quickned can or should so perform Duties as to think they shall merit Salvation thereby nor so work as the mercenary Pharisees did trusting in their own works Paul was no such Legalist but his meaning is consider the condition of your poor Souls that they are wretched and miserable c. look to the saving of them study the way of Life give not rest to your eyes till you have found it out search the Gospel wherein Salvation is revealed labour to be acquainted with the Mysteries of Christ work out Salvation this is meant two ways 1. Give Diligence to make Salvation sure to your Souls desire that it may be made out to your Spirits in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit Rejoyce in nothing but the assurance of Salvation that as it is wrought out in Christ so also in your Hearts 2. Work out that is Salvation being begun to be wrought desire the perfection and accomplishment of it Christ having begun to save you look to be saved to the utmost by him having received the first fruits of the Spirit groan for the adoption viz. the redemption of the body leaving the first principles of the Doctrine of Christ that is these being well laid go on o perfection Heb. 6.1 Labour to know more of Christ and to receive more from Christ till we attain to the measure of the stature of the fâ—lness of Christ Your own Salvation Your Hearts desire and endeavour must be that others also may be saved but especially look to the saving of your own Souls And indeed you cannot desire the Salvation of others unless the Spirit of God have first stirred up your hearts to desire the Salvation of your Selves With fear and trembling The Apostles meaning is not that you should have doubtful thoughts and perplexing fears about your Salvation like such as are under a Covenant of works whose condition the Apostle sets forth Rom. 10.5 6. Who shall ascend into Heaven c. who can tel whether we shall go to Heaven or Hell Fear and trembling is not opposed to Faith and full assurance but to highmindedness to glorying in the Flesh or to carnal Confidence Rom. 11.20 Be not high minded but fear Again with fear that is see God in Christ working your Salvation reconciling you to himself by his Spirit calling in your hearts and conforming you to himself and so fear and tremble at the glory of Wisdom Power and Love that shines forth from this work For it is God which worketh this is a reason why we should fear take notice of the work of God in Christ and the work of God in the Heart causing his Spirit to dwell in an unclean Soul to make it a holy and spiritual Temple for himself to dwell in let the discovery of God and his glorious approach to your hearts in this great work work fear and reverence in your Hearts this also is an encouragement to work out Salvation and look to be â—aved and to be assured of it because it is a work that God hath undertaken whatever difficulties there are in it God hath undertaken he will master them whatever is to be done by Men as they are to believe they are to repent they are to deny themselves and to take up their Cross and to follow Christ all this God will work in them To will and to do so work it out by Faith in the good pleasure and power of God for the perfecting of
that sins should grieve and but grieve the Godly they should not doubt of Love and fear Wrath if once the Soul trusts in the Name of the Lord and stay upon God If once ye be founded on the Rock Christ then your sins should work grief for God dishonoured not fear of God's Wrath Grief for God dishonoured and Joy in God well pleased by Christ may consist together This is the way oâ— the Gospel but indeed a narrow way too hard to keep in it if ye joy in God notwithstanding sin then not to turn to the left hand of making light of sin or if ye grieve then not to turn to the right hand of questioning the love of God and so remitting joy 7. God may afflict yet not hate he may afflict and that grievously as he did Job and yet be well pleased whom I love I rebuke and chasten c. Rev. 3.19 8. For a Believer to doubt of Salvation that takes hold of Christ and is founded on him is his sin For 1. The Spirit of God doth not witness that he is not a Gâ—ild of God If the Spirit of God doth convince a natural Man that 's out of Christ of his carnal and cursed Estate and then he say he cannot lay claim to the Promises of the Gospel to the Benefits of Christ this is not his Sin because it may be that the Spirit is a Spirit of bondage in him and witnesseth this to him and so 't is true But for such as believe in Christ and look for Salvation no other way such never receive the Spirit of Bondage again to fear Rom. 8.15 that is the Spirit doth not bring them into bondage The Spirit doth not witness that they are not the Children of God for he should witness untruth then but their doubting Hearts bring them into bondage 2. 'T is through wanâ— oâ— Fâ—ith that such doubt of Salvaâ—ion 't is for not believing as they ought and that is their Sin and Christ may repâ—ove them as he did Peter O thou of little Faith wherefore did it thou doubt As God hath made the Salvation of Believers sure in Christ c. so they ought to believe it to be sureâ— and 't is their Sin to doubt of it not to believe is to make God a Liar 1 Joh. 5.10 Section 7. 2. How Believers ought to carry themselves in the want of Assurance 1. Desire it thirâ—â— and long for it account it a Mercy worth the enjoying better than all the World can afford and God hath promised to satisfy the hungry with good things and not to send them empty away so then breath after it as the Hart panteth after the water-brooks 3. Wait with patience of God till he return with joy and peace into the Soul I will wait on God that hideth his Face from the House of Israel Isa 8.17 3. Exercise Faith of adherence when you want the Faith of evidence this is the advice of the Prophet Isa 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord and obeyeth the voice of his Servant that is Christ Iâ—a 42.1 That fears the Lord and serve him in Christ being acquainted with the great Mystery of Godliness here 's Faith of adherence which Judges Christ worthy of Glory and walketh in darkness and sees no light here 's want of Faith of Evidence now what should be done in this case Still trust still hold fast Christ look for Salvation in him and none else trust in the name of the Lord trust to the mercy of God his abundant Grace manifested in giving Christ as sufficient to â—ave you and stay on his God God iâ— his God though he knows it not stay upon him let the Soul he fixed on him and say as Job though he kill me I will trust in him If I perish it shall be at the feet of Mercy and then though you may walk in darkness for a time yet the Lord shall be a light unto you Sâ—ction 8 From the second sense of these words work out that is desire and endeavour this that Salvâ—tion begun to be wrought out may be perfected so much the word signifies Rom. 7.18 How to perform that which is good I find not Doct. 2. The perfecting of Salvation that is begun should be the great desire of all Believers when 't is begun to be wrought they should desire that Salvation may be wrought out a Person begun to be saved should long to be saved to the utmost Here consider a few things 1. The Salvation of Believers shall be perfected This is a work that shall be finished As in the fiâ—st Creation of the World things were imperfect at first but God did not cease Creating till Heaven and Earth were finished and all the Host of them so at the first Conversion when Salvation fiâ—st comes to the Soul it may be it is very imperfect a little Faith a little Love but weak and faint breathings of Spirit but smoking Flax a bruised Reed But God will go on in this work till every Saint be made perfect and all the Host of them Phil. 1.6 He that hath begun a good work will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ He wi l keep Believers till the day of Christ and perfect their Happiness in that day which shall endure for ever Christ dying said it is finished that is the types of the Law are fulfilled what Christ had to do towards the obtaining Man's Redemption was finished for Satisfaction Reconciliation Merit all are fiâ—ished and nothing remains but the application of Christ to the Soul and bestowing the Benefits purchased for the Elect by Christ that Christ lives to finish he died to finish the work of Satisfaction and Reconciliation he lives to finish the work of Sanctification and Glorification He died to finish the work hâ— had to do respecting God's paying the price 〈◊〉 Redemption recompencing him for the d shonoâ—r that was done him by Sin and he lives to finish the work he hath to do respecting the Elect which is to pour out hâ—s Spirit into their â—â—â—â—ts and to form them for himsâ—â—l and to fashion Soul and Body like to himself this is the meaning of that place Rom. 5.10 For if when were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his Life He died to finish a work with the Father for Men making peace for them he lives to finish a work in them which is to make them Holy aâ—d Happy and whatever Enemies there are to the happiness of the Saints Christ shall subdue them 1 Cor. 15.25 He must Reign till he hath put all his Enemies under his Feet and till all his Members be conformed in glory to him and placed in Glory with him Joh. 17.22.24 The Glory that thou hast given me I have given them Now Believers have a right to but they shall also have the possession of it they shall partake in Christ's Glory in all his
love of God in your Electing or accepting Christ on the terms offered chusing him above the World and to serve him rather than your Lusts You may read your own Election or God As 't is said of Mary Magdalen much was forgiven her for she loved much Pardoning love was to be read in her love this is one fruit of the love of God on the Soul So you may say God wills for the Creatures wills This will is of God's working and this testifiâ—s of God's will 2. Such as once will to be saved shall continue to will and to do what they ought in the way of Life They shall not reject Christ they shall not cast of his Yoke they shall so live and do as those that are in the way of Life ought for God will work the immutability of God's Counsel shall cause an immutability in their will of following Christ As nothing shall seperate them from the love of God Angels Principalities Powers c. noâ—hing shall alter God's will towards them so noâ—hing shall alter their will towards God They shall not grow out of the Love of Christ into utter dislike or dis-esteem of him their Conversation shall be in Heaven they shall breath and long for Salvation They shall deny themselves and walk contrary to the World they shâ—ll â—vercome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their Testimony and not love their liveâ— o the Death For God shall work in them both 〈◊〉 will and do of his good pleasure c The End of the Fourth Discourse THE FIFTH DISCOURSE Of Sanctifying the Sabbath or Lord's Day ISAIAH lviij xiij If thou turn away thy Foot from the Sabbath from doing thy Pleasure on my Holy Day and call the Sabbath a delight the Holy of the Lord Honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine own ways not finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words Verse 14. Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride on the high places of the Earth and feed thee with the Heritage of Jacob thy Father For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it THe occasion of making choice of this Text is a late Discourse concerning a Reformation which there is ground to hope there will be in the World which will be usher'd in with some sweeping Judgment and therefore our present work is to prepare for a Storm Many Directions were given how we may prepare for a Storm The last was this Furnish your selves with those Graces with which the day of Reformation will flourish when it comes Now of many Graces mentioned which will live in that day this is one in that great day when the Church shall be glorious through the destruction of Anti-christ by an increase of â—ight so that the Earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord as the Waters coveâ—â—he Sea and the Spouse shall be prepared as a Bride adorn'd to her Husband when the Jews shall be called and the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in and these shall be filled with all the fulness of God and there shall be a Church which shall be the fulness of him which filleth all in all In this glorious day the Sabbath shall be an Holy and Honourable day in the Churches of Christ and the Duties thereof shall be performed with great delight Now if you wiâ—l prepare for a Storm and have some hâ—ding place in the day of the Lord's anger See that you be found in a strict observation of the Lord's day Doctrine When suâ—h a Reformation shall come which shall mak◠〈◊〉 â—hurch glorious on Earth then shall the Sabbath be look'd on by the People of God as Hâ—ly â—nd Honâ—urable and shall be observed as with verâ— much strictne s so with great delight Or in fewer words thus In the last and purest of Gospel time there â—â—ll be a very strict observation of the Sabbath-day â—ich now we call the Lord's day Quest. You will ask what ground there is to conclude this from these words Answ Let the context be well considered and we shall see a Prophecy of such things which as yet have not had a full accomplishment but shall in the lâ—st days And the observation of the Sabbath is made the condition of the Promises here made if the Sabbath be duly kâ—pt then what is promised before and in the Text shall be performed and if it be so then God commands the keeping a Sabbath under the Gospel And as there was before so there was when the Law was given on Sinai a Sabbath given There remains a Sabbath a day of holy rest for the People of God Let us search this Scripture then and see whether there will not câ—me forth of it a Jus Divinum for a Sabbath now under the Gospel The Prophet was sent to shew the House of Jacob their Transgressions and in particular to reprove them of their Hypocrisy in the Duties they performed and especially in their fasting which was a counterfeit Fast and then shews them what is the true Fast and then makes many gracious Promises which is his usual method after reproving present Evils he makes Promises which not only had respect to present times but chiefly to the times of the Gospel as we see plainly in the next Chapter He mentions present Sins and present Judgments ver 16. He complains that no Man did endeavour to set things right and so declares the Lord putting on Righteousness and an Helmet of Salvation to execute Vengeance on his Enemies and then the Effect of this They shall fear the Lord from the West And then the Redeemer shall come to Zion And in this observe how suddenly he falls into Prophecying of Gospel times and the last of them For so he doth as appears Rom. 11.26 There shall come out of Sion the Redeemer and shall turn ungodliness from Jacob. Those words are brought in as a Proof for calling the Jews and bringing in the fulness of the Gentiles In like manner he doth here which will the better appear if we consider the particulars of this Prophecy in this Chapter which will manifest that these chiefly respect the last Gospel times 1. See ver 8. Thy Righteousness shall go before Thee c. that is The Lord thy Righteousness as he is call'd in Jer. 23.6 When we consider that their Righteousness shall go before that 's some evidence of this sense as best Besides in what time is it that Christ and the Church of the Jews shall be called by this Name and why In the place before mentioned it is said Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a Righteous Branch and a King shall Reign and prosper and shall Execute Judgment and Justice in the Earth In his days Judah and Israel shall dwell safely So 't is to be fulfilled when Israel as well as Judah are brought out of bondage then he shall be The Lord our Righteousness Jer.
on the other side shall the wicked say at the last day they shall know that not one thing fails of the word of God spoken concerning the ungodly they shall set to their seal that God is most just Math. 22.12 that Parable of a marriage of the King's Son most probably is to be understood of the day of Judgment There one was observed that had not a Wedding Garment and when the King askes How camest thou in hither is it fit that thou shouldst be admitted to this Feast c. he was speechless he had not a word to say for himself he was muzled as 1 Cor. 9.9 he could no more speak for himself then a muzled Ox can eat of the Corn he treads out his Conscience speakes against him so how shall he speak for himself when it shall be said that thou wert a Drunkard and never didst repent of this sin and is it fit that having drunk of the Cup of Devils in thy life-time and delighting in nothing else that thou shouldest be admitted to my Feast to partake in Eternal Life Thou that madest nothing of prophaning my Name is it fit thou shouldest dwell in my presence Thou that hadst a form but an Enemy to the power of Godliness when Christ shall thus accuse Wicked Men shall be muzled the Gospel is Preached for a witness Here when the Spirit of God in the word strives with Sinners to convince of sin and would discover their damnable estate They have somewhat to say that as they sin so they do somewhat that is good or will repent hereafter or will repent before they dye c. but then they are all speechless and past excuses 5. Wicked Mens cries and prayers shall not be heard in that day they shall cry Lord Lord they that despised Mercy shall cry they that made light of an invitation to Christ shall earnestly seek to him they that Christ came oft to gather as a Hen her Chickens and they would not then shall cry unto Christ to save them from wrath as the Devils I beseech thee torment me not cast me not into the great deep But refusing to cry in the day of Grace and to hear Christ crying to them their cries shall not be heard in the day of wrath Prov. 1.24 Because I have called that is Christ terming himself Wisdom and ye refused Isa 51.1 2. I have stretched out my hand a gesture of such as made Proclamation to get attention as Acts 21.40 Paul beckened with the hand and there was silence intimating there was no means left untried to perswade them to hearken unto him but what was the Fruit Ye have set at naught my Councel and would none of my reproof But Christ will deal with you as you with him I will laugh at your calamity that is the wicked which make a jest at God's word and mock shall have the just reward of their working they shall be requited in the same kind then shall they call but I will not answer Math. 25.11 The foolish Virgins cry Lord Lord open to us but he answered I know you not Wicked Men would go to Heaven at the last day although now they never think of taking the right way thither 6. Wicked Men shall be rewarded according to their works and what reward see Rom. 2.6 8. he will render to every Man according to his deeds unto them that are contentious and obey not the truth but obey unrighteousness indignation wrath tribulation anguish upon every Soul that doth evil So many expressions are heaped together to set forth the great heap of Judgments prepared for the wicked on the Jew first c. all transgressors without distinction or respect to Persons shall meet with tribulation yet Judgment shall begin at the House of God and those that have better means and more knowledge and do not accordingly shall receive the heavier He that knows his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes Amos 3.2 You only have I known of all the Families of the Earth therefore will I punish you for all your iniquities That is I have chosen accepted priviledged you and you only have known me therefore those sins of ignorance which are not so great in others are in you more inexcusable proceeding from pure malice according hereto at the last day their doom must be sorer Aall Sinners at that day shall be full of wrath All the damned are called Vessels of wrath Now all are not of the same quantity and capaciy one is capable of more another of less but every Vessel full of wrath As throw many vessels into the Sea one is bigger then another and can receive more but every Vessel will be full so the wicked shall be all turned into Hell and to the great deep and all shall be full of wrath though some may have more and some less See the reward of the wicked Math. 25.41 Depart from me from me who am the Way Truth and Life the Light of the World who am that only name given whereby sinners might be saved who am the express image of the Father by whose Blood sins are washt Ye Cursed by the Sentence of the Law into everlasting Fire that is torments prepared for the Devil as Wicked Men are Servants to Satan in sinning so shall they be companions of Satan in suffering Use 2. Exhort Let it be the great business of every day of your life to prepare for that one day of Christ's coming to Judgment that which was Paul's Prayer for Onesiphorus let it be your desire The Lord grant that he may find Mercy of the Lord in that day 2 Tim. 1.18 1. Labour after the knowledge of Christ He shall come in flaming fire to render vengeance on all that know not God 2 Thess 1.18 That is with fiery indignation his anger shall sparkle out in a most dreadful manner against them Know God in his Allsufficiency Faithfulness Majesty Goodness or you shall know him in his wrath Know Christ in his Sweetness fulness of Love Grace c. or else you shall know him in fulness of wrath Take heed that you hate not knowledge now in the time of knowledge if you are in darkness that day shall overtake you as a Thief that is suddenly and that day shall strip and spoil you of all your Joys and Comforts that you delighted most in If you know the Lord aright then will Christ say I know you If you know you shall be known now hear and so hear as that you may learn the Knowledge of Christ 2. Obey the Gospel 1. Believe what Christ commands you to believe this is the first and great command of the Gospel Believe in the Son as God-Man as Mediator and Saviour one that is able to save you to the utmost Then you shall be prepared for that day 2 Tim. 1.12 do as Paul He is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day That is my precious Soul
lowest and meanest Prudence orders the way and means foâ— bringing about that which Wisdom judgeth best to bâ— dâ—ne Prudence is the Guide of Action and s conversant in doing Wisdom counsels and consider Prudence puts upon working that which counsel determines He worketh all things after the counsel of his own will Eph. 1.11 Wisdom is conversant in counsel Prudence in working after that counsel Many men have a great measure of Wisdom and knowledge but they rest in knowing and content themselves in Speculation there is mention of a Servant who knew his Master's will and did it not His Wisdom did not dwell with Prudence he that knoweth to do good and doth it not to him it is sin 't is not so with Christ his Wisdom dwells with Prudence nay he is Wisdom c. Prov. 8.14 As he knows how to do good so he doth it He knows how to convince gain-sayers he knows how to Justifie Sanctifie and Save and how to subdue and destroy his Enemies The pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand Thus Wisdom dwells with Prudence and finds out knowledge of witty Inventions The Scripture discovers many of the witty Inventions of Wisdom dwelling with Prudence foretelling and promising more 1. What a wise Invention was the World the Heavens the Earth and all the Host of them These Works of the Lord are great and to be sought out when we consider the Heavens the work of God's hand the Moon and the Stars which he hath created the Earth and variety of Creatures therein but especially man in the frame of his Body but chiefly his Soul There will be abundant cause of admiring the witty inventions of Wisdom dwelling with Prudence and we may say of all they are fearfully and wonderfully made 2. When man was fallen by the subtil inventions of Satan what a witty Invention came forth of Wisdom dwelling with Prudence to recover man fallen The Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents head Gen. 3.15 3. When the World was to be destroyed by a Flood what a witty invention was there of Wisdom dwelling with Prudence to save Noah and his Family and a stock of all living creatures in the Ark 1 Pet. 3.20 4. When Joseph's Brethren had their witty inventions to make void his Dreams then wisdom dwelling with Prudence had its witty inventions to accomplish them and herein to be admired that their wicked inventions intended by them to frustrate were made the means to further the fulfilling of them Gen. 50 2â— 5. When Pharaoh thought he saw an advantage against the Israelites they are intangled in the Land the Wilderness hath shut them in and now he resolves to pursue and overtake c. But what a witty invention was there of Wisdom dwelling with Prudence for the Salvation of Israel and utter destruction of Pharaoh and his Host at once by the same invention Exod. 14. 6. When Haman had a mischievous invention to destroy the Jews Wisdom dwelling with Prudence had a witty invention to save them and to cut off Haman Esther 6.7 7. There was a witty invention to cut off those three Shadrach Meshach and Abednego by setting up an Image and commanding them to worship it and because they would not worship it they were cast into the fiery Furnace but then Wisdom dwelling with Prudence that is the Son of God appeared in the Furnace and walked with them in the midst of the Fire restraining it that it had not power upon their Bodies or Garments only as we may conceive it did burn up their Bonds for they were cast in in Bonds but walked loose which is worthy of our Observation in that it hints to us God's great design in the fiery Trial at any time happening to the Saints which is to burn up their bonds Lusts within are Bonds these will the Lord consume by the fiery Trial and too often outward things as Riches Glory Prosperity are like the hands of the whorish Woman that is bonds to the Soul which sometimes are loosed by the fiery Trial and what is Death to Saints but the loosing of the bonds of the mortal body that so the Soul may go to its rest Hence Paul â—ays Phil. 1.23 I desire to be dissâ—lved to be unbound to be let loose and to be with Christ which is much better And the design of destâ—oying Daniel in the Dâ—n of Lions was frustrated and ended in the destruction of the contrivers Here we may see 1. That there are Inventions within Inventions of Wisdom dwelling with Prudence within Satans and wicked men's inventions 2. The inventions within that is of Christ are the standing inventions Many are the devices of men's hearts saith Solomon but the counsel of the L rd shall stand Christ's inventions do oveâ—-rule and over come all Satan's and wicked men's inâ—entions As 1. Sometimes making them prove abortive destroying the Wisdom of the Wife and bringing to nothing the understanding of the Prudent 2 Setting them their bounds thus far shâ—ll â—hey come and no farther and here shall theiâ— pâ—oud waves be stayed c. 3. Giving them their tendency which is many times directly contrary to what men aim at making them serve to the Author's destruction men have perished and will perish by their own inventions and fall by their own counsel the Lord will be known by his Judgments herein and his Wisdom must triumph over all the Wisdom of Hell and the World But 1. Of all the witty inventions of Wisdom dwelling with Prudence the most Glorious is that of the Word being made Flesh and so made sin that sinners may be made the Righteousness of God in him Satan had a Subtile invention to destroy the the Lord a more witty invention to save men what an invention was here that one Person should be God-man Creator and Creature Off-spring of David and Root of David his Son and yet his Lord The Salvation of Sinners seemed utterly impossible God had said a sinner must dye There was an invention of fulfilling this Law upon a Surety which undertook for man As an Infinite Person was offended so there must be an infinite satisfaction and price of an infinite value without which man could not be reconciled to God what a glorious invention was here The Surety undertaking this was an infinite Person equal with the Father he gave a life of an Infinite Value he had in the humane nature united to him A Body hast thou prepared me It was the Body of the Son of God and so a Sacrifice of Infinite Value the Priest offering the Sacrifice was infinite the Son of God the Altar Sanctifying the Gift was the Divine Nature What an invention was it for the redeeming of lost man The Incarnation of Christ the Hypostatical union was the chief of the witty inventions of Wisdom dwelling with Prudence 2. The next is the mystical union betwixt Christ and the Vessels of Mercy who are joyned to the Lord and become one Spirit with him being
Christ have cause to fear him because of his wisdom when Saul saw that David behaved himself very wisely he was afraid of him 1 Sam. 18.15 5. Walk circumspectedly not as Fools but as wise Eph. 5.15 walk as wise before him that hath such Riches of wisdom when we are amongst wise men we will speak and act as wisely as we can much more being before the wise Lord of Heaven and Earth be wiâ—e to consider the day of visitation the things of Peace be exact in our walkings and doings have Eyes before behind and within as the beasts have Rev. 4.6 8. the Body hath not so but the Mind should look before to see the Lord before us his will and Glory look to the Joy before us look behind to see what we were in the Flesh and to Satan pursuing the world persecuting have Eyes within to see our failings imperfections wants and what is amiss within us 6. Let there be Wisdom dwelling within you so as 't is with Christ that is we should know and do know and obey know and love if ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them John 13.17 Be doers and not hearers only otherwise knowledge will but aggravate sin and increase Judgment As we should have Eyes within before and behind so also Wings Rev. 4.8 we should make haste and not delay to keep the Righteous Judgments of God CHAP. VI. THere are in Christ Riches of Power Job 9.4 He is Wise in Heart and mighty in Strength not only strong but mighty in strength he excels therein so that the strongest Creatures have no strength in comparison of him verse 19. If I speak of strength lo he is strong what do we speak of the strength of Men Sampson Goliah and David's worthies c. he hath strength worthy of praise lo he is strong Solomon was a type of Christ in Wisdom David in his glorious Conquests so Sampson in his strength 1. There is his Power and Strength as he is God the Lord God Omnipotent all thinngs are possible to his Power by this he weigheth the Mountains in Scales and the Hills in a Ballance and takes up the Isles as a very little thing to which the Power of the Nations is nothing yea less than nothing and vanity Isa 40.17 2. There is the Power as Mediator thus 1. There is the Power of his Death which may be called the weakness of Christ but yet stronger than Man than Satan than the World than Sin there is a conquering Power of his Death Heb. 2.14 By Death he destroyed him that had the Power of Death that is the Devil in his works Kingdom c. Satan had his power by means of Sin and that being satisfied for there is Redemption from his power The Death of Christ was not so destroying to Christ's own as to Satan's Kingdom and to the old Man which was Crucified with Christ when a dead-Man touched the bones of Elisha he was raised to live 2 Kings 13.21 and much more when Christ dying is touched by Faith those that are dead shall live Rom. 5.10 We were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son and if there be so great a Power in his Death what is the Power of his Life If so great a Power of Christ Crucified what is the Power of Christ Crowned If so great a Power of Christ in the Grave what is the Power of Christ on the Throne of his Glory 2. There is the Power of his Resurrection Phi. 2.10 That I may know him and the Power of his Resurrection which hath a justifying Power He was raised for our Justification Rom. 4.25 As the bonds of his Death were loosed and Prison Doors opened so this declared he had paid the uttermost Farthing and thereby the bonds of Captivity were loosed to the Vessels of Mercy who being under the bonds of Guilt were loosed thereby and enlarged There 's a raising Power of his Resurrection a saving Power of his Life Christ quickened becomes a quickning Spirit Because he lives the Elect shall live also John 14.19 He is a quickning Spirit to the Soul that is Planted in the likeness of his Resurrection and shall be to the Body the same Spirit by which he was quickened shall quicken your mortal Bodies Rom. 8.11 what a glorious Power is this And what reason had Paul to desire so much the Power of his Resurrection and how happy are they that have the experimental knowledge of it 3. There is the Power that Christ hath with the Father in his Mediation and Intercession If Jacob had Power with God then how much more Christ who could say I know thou always hearest me let me alone said the Lord to Moses c. Exod. 32.10 What was this but to shew what Power Christ as Mediator hath to hinder Divine Wrath from consuming Sinners having taken it upon himself he saves from wrath such as believe in him as on the other side he hath Power to draw forth wrath against Antichrist and all his Enemies Rev. 8.3 5. The golden Censer is filled with Fire and cast into the Earth This is a sweet consideration for true Believers that 't is Christ their Head Saviour Redeemer c. who hath Power to dispense good and evil Grace and wrath having a loosing and binding Power in some sort in relation to the Fathers Love and Wrath. 4. Christ hath Power over himself and his own wrath Num. 14.17 When the People murmured because of the evil report brought upon Canaan and the Lord threatned to destroy them Moses makes intercession Let the Power of my Lord be great as thou hast said the Lord gracious c. and now pardon the Iniquities of thy Servants When the Lord pardons he hath Power over his own wrath when men are offended and provoked they have not always Power to keep themselves from revenge Simeon and Levi had not Power over their own wrath which Jacob cursed because 't was cruel but the Lord hath Power over his Wrath to turn it from believing convinced humbled repenting sinners when the Lord knows and we know also our manifold transgressions and mighty sins Amos 5.12 'T is comfortable to know that the Lord hath a mighty Power to pardon even mighty sins as Christ lays hold on the Fathers strength so we may on his and make Peace Isa 27.9 5. Christ hath Power over Men's Heart 1. Of the Elect to change them and to turn them from sin unto God to take away the heart of Unbelief the heart of stone he can humble the proud heart and make the rebellious heart to yield How soon can Christ make us other Men Saul why Persecutest thâ—u me I am Jesus and what said Saul Lord what wouldest thou have me to do Acts 9.4.6 2. Of wicked men he can bind up and bound their Malice he can melt and incline their hearts towards his Servants as he did once and again the heart of Saul towards David of Ahashuerus towards Mordecai
last must their Souls be brought The Kingdom of Christ is the wealthy Place Into that the Church at last shall be brought The Israelites had great Afflictions in Egypt and were led through the Water of the Red Sea and through Fire afterwards the burning at Taberah the stinging of the fiery Serpents and at last were brought into Canaan the wealthy Place were they enjoyed Vineyards they planted not Houses they built not so the Church is under hard bondage in Egypt Spiritually so called and that may have great Tryals in the Wilderness but at last it must enter into that Rest that remains and that wealthy place prepared for it or moist well watered Land as the words import or into a Refreshing as the Greek hath it Suitable to this the Apostle speaks Of times of refreshing from the presenee of the Lord Act. 3.19 After these sore afflicting times under the Reign of that Man of Sin shall be times of most sweet and abundant refreshing from the presence of the Lord when he shall consume Antichrist with the Spirit of his Mouth and destroy him by the brightness of his coming and so make the Kingdoms of the World his own Kingdom 4. See that you have a true right to those true Riches you must have Christ that you may have his Riches he that hath the Son hath life 1 Joh. 5.12 he that hath Christ hath his Riches you must be in Covenant have the Lord for your God be his People and all is yours ye are Christ's 1 Cor. 3.22 23. you must have Christ as Saviour and Lord and Christ must have you to be his Servants and Followers to be his Spouse and Members do not content your selves with a Thought and Opinion that his Riches are yours but see that it be so indeed Laodicea thought her self to be Rich but was Poor as worldly Mens inward thoughts are as Psa 49.11 that their Houses shall continue and so the inward thoughts of some are that they have an Interest in the Riches of Christ when they are none of theirs as he that getteth Riches and not by right shall leave them in the midst of his Days and in the end shall be a Fool Jer. 17.11 So he that thinks he hath Christ's Riches and hath them not indeed in the end shall be a Fool Math. 13.12 From him that hath not shall be taken away that which he hath he that hath a Name and not the thing a Name to live to be rich in having Christ and is dead and without Christ indeed shall have his Name taken away He that hath a form of Godliness and not the Power shall have the form taken away He that hath Gifts and not Grace shall have his Gifts taken from him he that hath a Lamp and not Oyle shall have his Lamp taken from him as 't is said concerning Judas his Bishoprick let another take it but on the other side to him that hath shall be given He that indeed is partaker of the Unsearchable Riches of Christ shall then have them more yea more abundantly The End of the First Discourse THE SECOND DISCOURSE OF Knowing CHRIST Crucified 1. CORINTHIANS ij.ij. For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him Crucified THere were two sorts of men that took offence at Paul's Preaching Jews and Greeks as appears in Chap. 1.22 1. Jews The Preaching of Christ Crucified was to them a stumbling block they dreamt that the Messiah should abide always John 12. â—4 and never die or be crucified they expected a Messiah that should restore the Kingdom to Israel and that which was to be understood mainly in a Spiritual sense they understood carnally of outward and mundane Peace and Glory They that had such high and large expectations of temporal felicity would not believe in a Crucified Messias that Life Salvation Eternal Glory and an everlasting Kingdom should spring from a Cross from a cursed death upon it their vailed understandings and carnal hearts could not be perswaded of They expected likewise some visible convincing Sign to Evidence to all the World that he was the Messias without which they will not believe Chap. 1.2 The Jews require a Sign 2. Greeks who were Philosophers Disputers of this World had wise and subtil heads these Greeks seek after Wisdom they apprehended there was no wisdom in Paul's Preaching Chrâ—st Crucified 1. Because he did not speak Reason they deemed it commendable wisdom to deny assent to that which was not made apparent by Arguments clearing it to Mens Reason Paul Preached naked Truths only upon the Testimony and Authority of God Now as Thomas would not believe unless he did feel so will not these Greeks unless these Truths be evidenced to Reason The Jews seek after a Sign the Greeks after a Convincing Reason The Jew will have it made evident to his Sense by a Miracle the Greek by a sound Argument to his Reason that Christ Crucified is the Saviour of the World so Natural Reason and Carnal Wisdom is made the rule and standard for the proof and trial of Divine Truths 2. They dislike his manner of Preaching 't was not sufficiently adorn'd with Wit and Eloquence the Truths that he Preached were not set before them in a comely dress they conceived both wisdom of Matter and wisdom of words to be wanting Truths of God Soul saving Truths are rejected because they were not delivered in enticing words of Man's Wisdom here 's the ground of the Offence To these groundless grounds of Offence the Apostle replies by urging his Commission given by Christ his Practice grounded on and conformed to that Commission and the Reasons why such a Commission was given him 1. He shews his Commission Chap. 1.17 Christ sent me not to Baptize but to Preach not with wisdom of words c. not to Baptize c that is this was not my principal work that he set me about but to Preach which is the greater and more noble work Verbum est vis Sacramenti Preaching is the means to beget Life Sacraments do but seal and confirm what is begotten the Church may sometimes subsist without the Administration of Sacraments for a time as the Jews in the Wilderness but not without the Preaching of the word though Hypocrites are of a contrary mind herein if they have Sacraments administred and their ordinary Service kept up no matter how little preaching there be but says Paul Christ sent me not to Baptize that is to Baptize and not to Preach or to Baptize as my chief and principal work but to Preach and that not with wisdom of Words His Commission was not to go and preach wisdom of words or to go in the strength of natural Wisdom or rational Arguments to convince their Judgments or with enticing words of mans wisdom with well-set Sentences and Eloquent Phrases to move their Affections but declare plain and naked Truths set Christ Jesus before them as Crucified urge the Testimony and Authority
shall bring to pass whatever the word hath said if you can believe Whatever ye shall ask believe ye shall receive it and ye shall receive it 't is the word of God I will never fail thee nor forsake thee Believe and the Power of God shall make it good John 3.36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life If any drink of the Waters I shall give when thou passest through the Waters I will be with thee and through the Fires c. Isa 43.2 Whoever shall gather together against thee shall fall c. Rest now on these Promises the Power of God shall make them good How much comfort do we loose what weaknesses and failings are we subject to how much Sin do we fall into and how much sorrow do we create to our selves and all for want of resting on the Divine Power and Efficacy of the word So say to Unbelief Get thee behind me Satan thou art an offence to me the greatest Enemy to Peace and Holiness Hereby 't is that we savour not the things of God his precious word but the things that be of Men. Arg. 2. 'T is drawn from the Holiness of the Word Holiness consists in a conformity to the will of God and giving Glory to him This is a Principle ingrafted in Man's heart That God is to be worshipped and that all Glory must be given to him and that his Will is the Supreme Law now in the word is the will of God perfectly revealed The Moral Law requires that which none can deny but 't is most just and equal that it should be done In the Law of Nature we Sinners could never have read the will of God but he having given the Moral Law which is nothing but the Law of Nature so much is lest of the Law of Nature that there is none but in their Judgments must needs be convinced that we are bound in Conscience to obey it so that the word gives us a perfect rule of Holiness it shews what God is it advances him infinitly above all things which we must set to our Seals should be so it says he is God and there 's none besides him that of him are all things that he is the chief good and our happiness stands in enjoying him and in his favour is our life And it shews that he must be worshipped with our whole selves Soul and Body that it is the worship of the Heart and Spirit he specially requires i. e. that we fear him and love him and put our trust in him it shews the vanity of the Creature and infinite perfection of God it discovers the Evil of Sin and the Beauty of Holiness 't is a Creature-emptying and God-advancing word Whereas in other Doctrines and Religions besides the word 't is otherwise as in Popery and Popish Traditions there is much Ceremony but little Substance outward pompous and bodily service little or none of the heart The honour that is due to God is given to Saints Idols are worshipped instead of God And in the Turkish Alcoran happiness is placed in outward pleasures and carnal delights Now it is far otherwise in the Scriptures In a word these three things well weighed if we can judge of any thing in matters of Religion viz. That the Scripture still gives all Glory to God and places all Happiness in God and that it sets forth conformity to God and communion with God as our perfection and also shews an exact way for attaining to both the Law as a rule for conformity and Christ as the way to communion with God these things being seriously considered by us would amount to a demonstrative and most convincing Argument That this is the very word of God Use This may shew us that if we would be Holy we must look to the word and take that for our rule If we would Glorify God and be Glorified by God Study the word and if we would worship God aright we must take the word for our rule Evermore to the Law and Testimony Isa 8.20 if you speak not and walk not according to this rule 't is because there is no light in you If the Custom and Tradition of men prevail more then the word 't is because you are ignorant of the holiness and perfection of the word Arg. 3. Is drawn from the fulfilling of Prophecies and Promises Prophecies of the Old Testament exactly fulfilled in the New As those great Prophecies of Christ concerning which we often find this or that was said or done That it might be fulfilled which was spoke by the Prophets Math. 1.22.2.15 8.17 12.17 13.35 21.4 27 35. Mark 14.49 15.28 Luke 4.21 John 12.38 13.18.17.12 And many Prophecies of the word have been fulfilled as that which is spoken of the Beast Rev. 13. having seven Heads and ten Horns and another v. 11. a Beast having two Horns like a Lamb which set forth the Civil and Ecclesiastical Roman Empire and when the Pope got both into his hands he was both these Beasts and that Babylon spoken of is Rome for that is the only City that hath reigned over the Kings of the Earth Rev. 17.18 Those that will Study the Revelations and observe the workings of God's Providence shall see some of those Prophecies now fulfilling And so for Promises Some there are that can say God hath been as good to them as his word to them he hath said Call on me on the time of trouble I will hear some do know that God is a a God hearing Prayers Christ says Come to me c. some have come to Christ and been refreshed by him and some having had unspeakable Terrors yet thus have been filled with as great Consolations Use This should be a means to strengthen our Faith in the word know assuredly that as Paul said Act. 27.25 it shall be even as he hath said it shall be to those that fear him and trust in him as he hath promised The People of God heretofore have so found and acknowledged 1 Kin. 8.56 Blessed be the Lord that hath given rest to his People according to all that he hath promised there hath not failed one word of all his good promises and many of us have had sweet experience of Promises being fulfilled which is the sweetness of a Mercy to see it first in a promise by Faith and then to receive it out of the bowels of the promise now this should be food to nourish our Faith Psa 74.14 Thou breakest the Heads of Leviathan in pieces that is destroyed Pharaoh and his great Host in the Sea and gavest him to be Meat for the People inhabiting the Wilderness that is to be meat for Faith so should those promises that God hath fulfilled be to us God hath broken the heads of many Leviathans some inward Corruptions are subdued Armies of the ungodly are many times scatter'd this should be food for our Faith why should we doubt of the fulfilling any promise when God hath begun to fulfil
some this is our Manna Bread fâ—om Heaven to sustain us whilst we inhabit the Wilderness Truth 3. To make all these Arguments demonstrative and convincing is required an inward work of the Spirit upon the Heart to this external light of Arguments must be added the internal light of the Spirit For the things of God knoweth no Man but the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.11 so says Christ to Laodicea that she might see I counsel thee to buy of me Eye-salve that is beg of me my Spirit The Spirit inwardly inlightâ—ing the Heart is the Eye-salve Rev 3.18 1 Joh. 2.27 the anointing which you have received of him abideth in you and teacheth you all things and is Truth The anointing that is the Spirit wherewith you are anointed He is Truth so as that he cannot lye and he must give Testimony to the Truth in our Hearts else we shall not believe it by a divine Faith and he is Truth so as that 't is an Office he hath undertaken in the New Covenant to lead into all Truth as he was promised by Christ Joh. 16.13 The Spirit of Truth will guide you into all Truth Joh. 15.26 The Spirit of Truth shall testify of me and so of the Scripture he shall say to the Soul that Christ who is spoken of in the Gospel is the Son of God that the Scripture is the word of God he shall ascertain the Heart of this and this two ways 1. By a moral work as the opening and expounding the word in the Ministry of it by exhortations perswasions Therein Truth is held forth and propounded to be embraced and believed as the word of God and this work of God may be resisted as the Jews did resist the Holy Ghost Act. 7.51 2. By a Physical work upon the heart working a change in the Faculty renewing us in the Spirit of our Minds bringing in a spiritual light into the Soul to enable it to discern the things of God when this is done then we shall know the word of God with as great yea greater certainty than that the Sun shines when we see it for certainty of Faith is greater than certainty of Sense Then we shall see the Authority of God in his word when thus we have the Spirit of Truth then shall we receive the word as it is in Truth the word of God so that we may attain the full assurance of Faith in this particular we must wait for the promise of the Holy Ghost as Act. 1.4 14. we cannot believe the word as it is outwardly propounded to us unless it be inwardly revealed to our Hearts now the Spirit of Truth who of necessity must be received by us before we can believe is the Spirit of Promise Eph. 1.13 that is a Spirit promised ask him so and he shall be given to us 2. The knowledge of the Scripture to be the word of God containing the Mysteries of Salvation is necessary to Salvation Joh. 17.3 This is Life Eternal to know God and Christ the distinct knowledge of God as Creator as Omnipotent most holy is necessary and as most good and that Man's happiness consists in the enjoyment of God and that Man is fallen from God and hath lost his Image in Holiness and his presence which is Life this is evident that we in our natural condition are alienated from the life of God and are ignorant of him Eph. 4.18 now the Scripture makes God known and shews how we fell from Gâ—d and the principal scope of it is to dâ—scover Christ to the World as a Saviour and Mediator by whom Sinners are reconciled to God and restored to Communion with him now then that we may be saved its necessary that we search the Scriptures for these only are able to make us wiâ—e to Salvation so we shall know God our Selves and a Saviour 2 Tim. 3.16 there is knowledge of God by his Creatures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are known by the things that are made Rom. 1 2â— and there is Scripture-knowledge of God there God is known in his Son the fulness of the Godhead is in him he is the express Image of the Father 3. The knowledge of what the Scripture reveals is sufficient to Salvation this is enough to make the Man of God perfect there is no need of Mens additions there 's nothing more that 's needful to be done this furnishes to all good works nothing more to be believed Joh. 20.31 Many more Signs Jesus did but these are written that ye might believe what the Scripture reveals is Gold and Silver fit to help towards raising up a spiritâ—al building what is added by Men is Wood Hay and Stubble 1 Cor. 3.12 we say in matters that appertain to the worship of God and our Salvation as our Saviour of Communication Math. 5.37 let your Communication be yea yea nay nay for whatever is more than these cometh of Evil so whatever more than the word is urged or practised in matters of Religion cometh of Evil i. e. from the Devil principally and from our own corrupt and proud hearts immediately as if they were wiser than God and could teach him how he may be served and we saved God hath sealed up his word in such a manner as that no addition may be made to it See the Law Deut. 4.2 Ye shall not add to the word which I command nor diminâ—sh from it by that the Jewish Talmud is excluded and for Prophets we may observe that the Gospel is begun with what the Prophets are concluded as Malachy the last Prophet concludes Mal. 4.5 with this Behold I will send you Elija the Prophet and Mark begins with this Chap. 1.1 2. The beginning of the Gospel as it is written in the Prophets behold I send my M ssenger By this those Books justly called Apocrypha are excluded and the last book of the New Testament Rev. 22.18 is concluded thus Whoever shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the Plagues that are written therein Consider two things first that there must be no detracting and secondly no adding c. 4. The Scripture is clear in those things which are absolutely necessary to Salvation it shews plainly what is to be believed Three Persons One God what is to be done the word is nigh in thy mouth and in thy heart if thou shalt believe in thine heart and confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus thou shalt be saved that word doth most plainly deliver things necessary to Salvation true indeed some things are hard to be understood 2 Pet. 3.16 yet enough to Salvation is plainly discovered so that if any do perish through Ignorance their Ignorance shall not excuse them the Scripture is clear in this that we are lost and undone Creatures by nature that all we like Sheep have gone astray and that Christ Jesus came into the World to save Sinners and that only such as believe in him renouncing their own Righteousness or abilities to do any thing in
the business of their Salvation I say such only shall not perish but have everlasting life the Scripture is plain in this that only Saints shall see God that no Whoremongers c. shall see God If Persons be of very weak capacities yet such is the plainess and clearness of the Scriptures in things that are absolutely necessary that they may understand them here is milk for Babes as well as stronger meats for more experienced Christians As there are great Depths for Elephans to swim so shallows for Lambs to wade through as there are some things hard to be understood which the unlearned do wrest c. so there others easy to be understood which the unlearned may follow to their Salvation then let none plead their want of parts as a ground of their neglect of the word as if it were only for men of Learning to search into it but as all have Souls to save so let all that have the use of Understanding and Reason search the word that they may be saved and great encouragement there is because if Men are willing to learn and know the things of their Salvation and of Christ's Kingdom they have a Promise from God to be taught Joh. 6.45 Hebr. 8.10 we know God did inable Children to sing Hosanna to Christ Math. 2â— Isa 32.4 The heart of the rash inconsiderate Men shall understand knowledge and the Tongue of the Stammerer shall be ready to speak plainly they shall be all taught of God that are willing to learn of God and the Spirit that leads into all truth is a Spirit of Promise Use first Reproof of two sorts 1. Those that receive not the word of God with so much respect as the word of Man And it is to be observed for the most part that if the word be not received with the respect that is due to the word of God then it is received with less respect than is due to the word of Man If the word be not embraced as God's 't is despised more than Man's If Men love it not above any word they hate it more than any word and what 's the reason 1. Because it is a great Enemy to what Men do naturally love as their own Souls If they receive not the word so as above all to desire to yield obedience to it then they hate it for it reproves for an Herodias it forbids that which is Mens great delight to follow it contemns the World and it condemns Sinners Hence if the word be not embraced as the word of God with that Fear and Reverence that is due to it 't is hated and despised more than the word of Man Thus 't is with all those that take delight in Sin and greedily hunt after the things of the World and care for nothing but to satisfy their own Lusts and desires they can't but hate the Light because their deeds are evil There is hardly a medium betwixt these two a receiving of and submitting to the whole word as God's and a hatred of it in some parts at least every Sinner hath such a disposition to the word as Ahab to Michaiah I hate him because he Prophecies not good to me so the word gives not a tolleration to commit Sin which is only good in a natural Man's Eye and therefore 't is hated 2. Pride is another reason That which is generally condemned to be the Devil's first Sin is our great Sin Pride the Devil thought himself too high to submit so he rebelled against God that he might Rule he 'll uphold and maintain a Kingdom against God rather than submit to God though he know that he shall be destroyed for it in the end now there is this devilish disposition in every one of our hearts the pride of them lifts us up against God we of our selves chuse to be our own Lords though we destroy our selves hereby rather than Christ rule over us that we might be saved Who is Lord over us is a question arising from that proud disposition of our Hearts the proud Men in Jeremiah said as for the word thou hast spoken in the Name of the Lord we will not do it this we all do if God do reveal his word and not work by his Spirit 2. Those are to be reproved that receive it but as the word of Man some do in a sort receive the word and think that they receive it aright yet 't is but as the word of Man as 1. When they have nothing else to ground their Faith upon then humane Testimony if the should be asked why they believe the word to be God's can give no other reason then that their Fathers and Mothers said so and 't is generally so believed and embraced now those that believe it because others believe it receive it only as the word of Man so the Papists receive it as the word of Men and all that have no testimony from the Spirit no true work on their hearts c. 2. Those that perform Duties that are required in the word to be seen of Men as did the Pharisees they Fasted Prayed and gave Almes were zealous of the Law all to be seen of Men they sought the praise of Men now they that do any thing that the word requires to be seen of Men see not God in his word they that love the praise of Men and out of that seem to be Religious receive the word only as the word of Men then says our Saviour how can ye believe 't is impossible ye should receive the word as God's and believe it by a divine Faith if ye seek Honour one of another Joh. 5.44 therefore if you come to pray and hear only to satisfy Man's expectations of you you receive it but as Man's word 3. Those that take up Mens Ordinances as of equal authority with the word are as zealous for a humane form of prayer as for the word c. they that make Man's words equal with God's make God's word no better than Man's therefore said our Saviour Math. 15.3 9. By your Traditions you make void c. you urge your Traditions as if they were so necessary as the word and hereby you make void the word That hath not any authority amongst you as the word of God for Men to set their Thresholds by God's their Posts by his is to defile his holy name Ezek. 43.7 8. that iâ— by making God no better than Man 4. When Men look on the word as binding the outward Man and not the heart that Religion consists in a bodily exercise that it is sufficient if we come with our bodies before God and honour him with our lips as Men think it enough if you yield outward obedience to their commands for they have no power over the Conscience Now if it be thus in matters of Religion that our hearts are not brought into obedience to the word that we think our thoughts and affections are free and our hearts being loose c.
The Pharisees gave this Interpretation of the Law anger hatred speculative uncleanness they thought were no breaches of the Law when 't is thus the word is received but as the word of Man Now how many are there that in these ways only receive the word of God 5. When the word is received but in word only 1 Thess 15. The Gospel came not to you in word only but in Power The word comes only in word when 't is not accompanied and set home on the heart by power of the Holy Ghost as on Lydia and the Jailor Act. 16. Use 2. Exhort To stir you up to look on and to receive the word as the word of God Hear and give ear be not proud for the Lord hath spoken Jer. 13.15 'T is God that speaks in the word God speaks Promises God speaks Threatnings and Commands look on each of these as coming out of the mouth of God the word is called the Spirit of Christ 's mouth 2 Thess 2.8 you must not only receive it in the Letter so indeed only it comes from Man but as the Spirit of Christ's mouth as breathed out of his mouth and so as that it proves not a dead and an ineffectual Letter but a quickning Spirit in you that is a new principle of Life a new Soul in you so as that you live by the word act and do all according to it Now for direction that the word may be received by us as the word of God know that something is due to the whole word and every part of it as more general duties and something is to be done that is some special Duties with respect to the several parts of the word as distinguished one from another 1. That which is due to the whole word consider in these particulars 1. Faith you must believe it to be the word of God upon a clear apprehension of the Divine Authority of it your assent must be grounded on the testimony of God Consider there is a divine Faith and a humane Faith this is when we believe a thing upon Man's testimony given of it as the Samaritans believed in Christ for the saying of the woman this was but a humane Faith Divine Faith is when we believe a thing and give an assent to the truth of it upon a divine testimony that is given to it as the Samaritans believed in Christ when they heard him and said now we have heard him and know that this is the Christ this was a divine Faith now this is necessary to a right receiving of the word Quest Where is this Divine Testimony that is given to the word Answ 'T is contained in the word it self for as there is a light in the Sun sufficient to discover it self so that when the Sun shines it s own light shews it to be the Sun so there is a divine Light in the word sufficient to shew it to be the word of God Quest Why do not all then believe it to be so Answ Because Men are blind and know nothing of the things of God neither are they able to judge of them the light of the Sun discovers the Sun but 't is to those that can see the light of it so the word shews its divine Authority but to those that are inlightned so we must have the Spirit as eye-salve restoring our Spiritual Sight and then we shall see clearly the word to be the word of God and this is the first duty we must receive the word as the Thess Chap. 1.15 the Gospel came not in word but power and in the Holy Ghost and much assurance 2. Fear Isa 66.2 To him God looks that trembles at his word There is twofold trembling at God's word 1. Slavish only out of fear of Judgment thus Ahab and thus Felix trembled 2. Filial this is here meant God looks to that heart that when it looks to God and sees any thing of him trembles now this is a disposition of heart that 's required to the right receiving the word you must tremble at the word that is first there must be in you an holy awfulness humility and â—everence of Spirit suitable to the Greatness and Majesty Goodness Glory of that God that gave his word this is contrary to that pride of heart which is in every one of us by nature when ever we have any manifestations or goings forth of the Glory of God the out goings of our hearts must be suited hereto 2. You must have an apprehension of your own vileness and nothingness Ezek. 2.18 there was an appearance of the Glory of God when I saw it I fell on my Face as apprehending his own unworthyness to behold it 2. There are special duties that respect several parts of the word 1. Histories related as of the Creation of the fall of Man drowning the world c. here you must believe the report as made by God and give not God occasion to complain as the Prophet Lord who hath believed our report and look on all these as written for our Learning on whom the ends of the World are come 2. There is a Saviour described and set forth which is the main scope of the Scripture the eternally begotten word revealed in the written word that came to destroy the works of the Devil to save Sinners c. him you must embrace withal your hearts entertain him as Abraham did the whole word is a Gospel bringing glad tydings of Christ the old Testament is Gospel throughout in which Christ is though more darkly set forth and in the New Testament more clearly so that this is to embrace the word to receive him whose name is the word of God Rev. 19.13 to see Christ in his fulness of Glory Merit c. and to receive him as the word of the Father this is to receive the word in power to receive Christ into our hearts and to have him revealed in us and to have him formed within us so as that Christ live acts and rules in us 3. There are Promises Now to receive these as the word of God is to quiet our Souls in dependance on them and assurance that they shall be fulfilled that as his faithfulness hinds him so his Power shall bring forth his Promises into Act. Say as Paul I believe God that it shall be as he hath said that not one jot shall pass unfulfilled you must know Christ to be the faithful witness Rev. 1.5 4. When Judgments are threatned know that there is a Righteousness and Faithfulness in God that engages him to make them good we are as averse from believing Threatnings as Promises therefore as God has confirmed his Promises by an Oath so Threatnings likewise Amos. 9.8.10 The Sinners among God's People said Evil shall not overtake nor prevent us Deut. 32.40 If I lift up my hand to Heaven and say I live for ever I will make mine Arrows drunk with Blood Now to receive this word is to fear God and to prepare to meet
suffer Death for them the Spirit works to will and to do to consent to be saved by Christ to take Christ for Saviour and Lord and to believe in him as the Author of and to follow him as the Câ—â—tain of Salvation 2. There 's a most glorious manifestation of God in this work All God's works are God's manifestations they are his visible appearances and out-goings The Creation was the first manifestation of God The Heavens declare his Glory and ths Firmament shew his handy work Psa 19 1. Rom. 1. His eternal Power and Godhead is seen by the things that are made as 't is said of Christ Joh. 2.11 This beginning of Miracles he did and manifested forth his Glory The most glorious manifestation of God is in Christ the Word being made Flesh the fulness of the Godhead in him being made Flesh made Lord and King He has Love Power and Wisdom to set up his Kingdom and to make his Enemies his Foot-stool This is the greatness of Gods works Godman being made by this work that is the Union of God and Man in one Person the effect of this work The second Glorious Manifestation next to this is in saving Sinners by Christ He shall come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in them that bâ—lieve A Manifestation of Power exceeding greatness of Power As great a work to save a Sinner as to raise Christ from the dead Of Wisdom in finding out a way to save Sinners so as that Justice might be satisfied and love be abundantly discovered an infinite Satisfaction an infinite Obedience and an infinite price to be paid Where should such be found Men were not able to give it Angels could not bring it The Son of God became Man and Mediator an infinite Person undertakes to lay â—down his Life and to yield Obedience and so an infinite Price is paid and infinite Obedience is yielded c. Here the Wisdom of God is most clearly seen And Lastly Here 's a most glorious discovery of Mercy and Grace he makes known the Riches of his Grace on the Vessels of Mercy When Sinners aâ—e Enemies and nothing lovely God loves the Elect so as to give Christ to taste Death for them and Christ loves not his Life to Death He that was in the form of God humbles himself and puts himself into the miserable condition of Sinners that he might translate them into his own Glorious Estate whom he will make like to himself and partakers with him of the Divine Nature and of all his Glorious Priviledges 3. This Glorious manifestation of God in the Soul cannot but work fear and trembling in it Fear will be the effect of the discoveries of God to the Creature There is so much Majesty Glory and Greatness in it that will awe the Heart of the Creature When God appears in the Glory of his Justice and Almighty Power Then the wicked shall fear The Kings and Captains c. shall cry to the Mountains to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. And the discovery of the infinite goodness of God will work fear in the Hearts of the Saints they shall fear the Lord and his Goodness because his goodness is the goodness of God that is infinite and exceeding great goodness to sinful nothing Creatures The apprehension of this should work fear Hos 3.5 Section 12. Now this fear consists 1. In admiration of this Glory reveal'd Such Wisdom and Grace that if it be apprehended will raise the Soul in holy admiration of God David said he was fearfully and wonderfully made Psa 139.14 In respect of the excellent frame of the Body such variety of parts and so fitly composed therein may be seen so much of the Wisdom and Power of God as may make the Heart wonder and fear that God that made him so Persons that are sav'd are fearfully and wonderfully sav'd if it be reveal'd in the Soul how this work is undertaken and carried by the Trinity The Father loving from Eternity Christ dying in the fulness of time and the Spirit living and acting in the Soul making it his own Habitation Sinners become the Apple of God's Eye precious c. Christ's Members Joynt Heirs with Christ Sinners having access to God and are partakers of the Divine Nature What a fearful and wonderful thing is this So much favour shewn by God to a Sinner when there is so vast a disproportion betwixt him and God may well beget admiration When Saul said he would give David his Daughter to Wife 1 Sam. 18.18 He replys What am I What is my Life or my Father's Family in Israel that I should be Son in Law to the King The apprehension of the great disproportion betwixt him and Saul was the cause of his so much admiring at the favour that was shewn him so there is the greatest disproportion betwixt God and Sinners As Men and as Sinners As Men they are not so much as a drop to the Ocean And as Sinners as great as is between Light and Darkness c. That such Creatures should be comprehended in love and brought near to God c. What am I and what is my Life that I should be brought hitherto Deut. 28.58 Thou shalt fear this great and dreadful name the Lord thy God God that is Infinite Thy God that art a poor and inconsiderable Creature God that is so holy thy God that art so unholy God that is Just and will not clear the Guilty thy God that hasâ— so much abounded with Sin clearing thee of Guilt that hast so much abounded with Guilt This Name This is dreadful this is a wonderful and dreadful Manifestation of God As the Psalmist says They that know thy Name they will put their trust in thee So they that know this Name The Lord thy God will fear and tremble They cannot but admire at such Infinite Grace when the Son of God was made Man the Word made Flesh and Crown'd c. This was a dreadful Manifestation of God! There 's cause to admire at the Grace that was shewn to the humane Nature of Christ whence as the Apostle says Heb. 2.6 One testifies What is Man that thou art mindful of him c. Thou Crownest him with Glory and Honour And Christ himself is said to fear as Man So as Man he is most deeply sensible of and affected with the Grace shewn to the humane nature So a Believer may say What am I that God should be so mindful of me That he should visit me with Salvation-love That I that am the lowest and worst of Creatures fit for Hell and to be a Companion for Devils should be Co-Heir with Christ and partaker with him of all his Glory 2. In Humility The discovery of such Grace and Goodness will bring down high Imaginations and beget lowliness of Mind it will convince the Creature of its own emptiness and nothingness This hath been the effect of the appearance of God both to Men and Angels Isa 6.2 The
33.14 At the same time the Church of the Jews shall be call'd the Lord our Righteousn ss So here Thy Righteousness that is the Lord thy Righteousness c. So this Prophecy reaches to that time of the Gospel when the Jews shall be called especially considering what follows The Glory of the Lord shall be thy Rereward that is there shall be a time when the Lord's presence with and providence towards his Church shall be as eminently haply more eminently on with and towards the Jews than when they came out of Egypt Then the Lord their Ruler went before them in a Cloud and Pillar of Fire and when Pharaoh pursued them the Cloud and Pillar went behind them so then the Glory of the Lord was their Rereward And now in this time not only the Lord as Ruler not only David their King but the Lord their Righteousness shall go before them and the Glory of Power and Grace shall be their Rereward 2. Verse 10. Then shall thy light rise in obscurity and thy darkness be as the noon-day Compare Isai 60.1 Thy light is come the Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee One observes that the word in the Original is of the Dual number and so translates it Sicut Duo meridies As two Noons as if two Suns should shine together there shall be greater light then ever was before The Lord shall appear in greater Glory so that it 's no more said the Lord liveth that brought them up out of Egypt but that brought them out all Lands Jer. 16.15 which was not fulfilled at their return from Babylon but must be in the last days of the Gospel 3. Verse 11. The Lord shall guide thee continually and satisfy thy Soul in drought as he did in the Wilderness and make fat thy bones and thou shalt be like a watered Garden and like a Spring of Water whose Waters fail not The best exposition is Psa 72.7 In his days shall the Righteous flourish and abundance of Peace as long as the Moon endureth They shall be in a flourishing condition their Souls shall wonderfully prosper their Garden the Paradice of God shall yield them Fruit enough The Tree of Life shall yield them all manner of Fruits to nourish and refresh their Souls And the Waters of life better than the Jews Honey out of the Rock shall flow abundantly And observe that the flourishing state shall continue He shall guide thee continually and Waters fâ—il thee not And in the other place so long as the Moon endureth or till there be no Moon that is no change in the Chuâ—ches Prosperity and Peace The Moon is often changing then the lâ—ght of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun Isa 3â— 26 That iâ— as there shall be a greater so a never-failing â—ight Light fails in the Moon but not in the Sun Light shall not fail Waters shall nâ—t fail Now was it thus with the Jews after their return from Babylon Can we find any thing like a full accomplishment of this Prophecy No ceâ—tainly We must wait for the full accomplishment of it hereafter 4. Verse 12. And they that be of thee shall build the old waste places The Captivâ—ty in Babylon lasted but one Generation the waste places thereby could not be very old Thou shall raise up the Foundation of many Generations That is either 1. Which have lain waste many Generations much longer then during the Babylonish Captivity so had not its full accomplishment after their return from thence Or 2. After their return from Babylon the Foundation of their Temple was laid and then the work was interrupted which after some Generations was reviv'd and that Temple built and the top-stone lay'd So one in answer to this under the Gospel says the Foundation was lay'd by the Apostles but Spiritual Temples have not been built up answerable to the Apostles Foundation Satan and the Man of Sin have hindred this work but at last there shall be a Temple and glorious Church built upon those Foundations like to them that were laid by the Apostles and the top-stone shall be laid crying to it Grace Grace The Grace that shall appear to be in it shall make to cry Grace Grace to it 3. Calvin gives the sence thus We may refer it to the times to come thou shalt raise up the Foundations that shall continue very long c. As if he had said other Buildings have not long continued as the Temple c. but this shall continue many Ages It hath been but a day of small things with the Church yet these small things small Assemblies and the small numbers of witnesses have continued in all Ages since the Apostles much more that large and glorious Temple and City of God which is to be built up will continue many Generations till at last it will be translated into Heaven when as before Christ presented it to himself a glorious Church so at last he shall present it to the Father when he shall deliver up the Kingdom to him and God will be All in All. 5. There is more yet in this Verse Thâ—u shalt be call d the Repairer of the breaches the restorer of the Paths to dwell in All breaches made in the Church either by the Persecution and Violence of Enemies or by the Saints divisions shall be made up And the Restorer of Paths to dwell in By Paths we are to understand the ways of God's Commands and Ordinances the way of Divine worship instituted by God And all ways and paths of will-worship made and invented by Men Anti-christian Paths shall be for ever forsaken And the Paths of the Apostles and Primitive Christians which they walk't in shall be perfectly restored to the Church which for a long time the Man of Sin hath hedged up Compare with this Ezek. 43.11 Shew them the form of the House and the fashion thereof and the goings out thereof and the comings in thereof and all the forms thereof and all the Ordinances Forms and Laws that they may keep the whole Form thereof and all the Ordinances thereof The meaning is the paths of the Temple the goings out and comings in shall be restored and be as well known to the Saints as the ways are now to the places of meeting and they shall walk freely in them Lastly Observe the expression they shall dwell in thesâ— paths they shall continue and abide in them they shall not turn out of them to the Right-hand or to the Left-hand but as Isa 30.21 Thou shalt hear a Voice behind thee saying this is the way walk in it when thou shalt be ready to or should without this Voice be turned to the Right-hand or Left See what these paths are Isa 38.8 where is a Prophecy of Christ's Kingdom An high way and a way it shall be called the way of Holyness the unclean shall not pass over it No Prophane or Hypocritical Persons for they are most unclean and within are like Painted Sepulchres but
must not Buy Sell Plow c. so we must not talk of these things on the Sabbath 't is prophane and prophaning talk This is the negative part shewing what is forbidden Next is the affirmative part 1. Call the Sabbath a delight The Jews did bear burdens on the Sabbath and thereby prophaned it many there are who if they bear no burden on their backs yet when they are engag'd in Sabbath-work bear burdens on their Hearts The Sabbath it self is a burden these do but prophane the Sabbath to whom Sabbath-Duties are a burden This is Evangelical True Spiritual keeping a Sabbath to call it a delight Psa 43.4 I will go to the Altar of God unto God my exceeding Joy So when you go about Sabbath-work and come to Ordinances your aim should be to have Communion with God and to meet with him to worship him and to receive Blessings from him that you may be able to say I will go to God my exceeding Joy Call Sabbath-work as well as Sabbath-blessings Sabbath-profit Sabbath-advantages a delight Delight to do the Will of God as well as delight in the Mercies he bestows upon you If you will remember the Sabbath to keep it Holy you must remember it and call it a delight and not only call it a delight but let it be so indeed and then your keeping of the Sabbath is the delight of God 2. The Holy of the Lord. 1. Made Holy by the Lord's Institution If you obserâ—â— a Sabbath as Commanded by Men only or as â— ving but the stamp of Humane Authority that â—s buâ— the Holy of Men but see the stamp of Divine Authâ—rity and look on the Sabbath as being from Heaven and not of Men. Honour Christ as Lord of 〈◊〉 Sabbath 2. And made Holy to the Lord to his Praise and Glory made for Holy Work and that for this High and Holy End to Glorify God 3. Honourable It hath been dishonoured and made contemptible by Men that have denied the Divine Right thereof and Men have been made Lords of it and many make themselves Lords of it doing and finding their own Pleasure and so make void this Law to themselves But as God will have a time to magnify his whole Law and make it Honourable so this of the Sabbath Isa 42.21 Thus you see with how much strictness and spirituality the Sabbath ought to be kept As there was an outward strictness required of the Jews for its observation beyond what is now as for not kindling a Fire c. so this was a type of that spiritual strictness here foretold which should be under the Gospel in the observation of it God forbad the kindling a fire on the Hearth That was a Type to shew that we should not kindle a fire of worldly Lusts in your Hearts nor warm your selves with any delightful thoughts of any matter of Profit or Pleasure c. and this reason may be given why God should forbid the kindling of Fire to the Jews God dealt with the Jews as a Soveraign and many things that were commanded was to declare his Soveraignty and to prove them whether they would be obedient to him So was the multitude of the Sacrifices and Oblations and so this command for not kindling a fire must be to declare his Soveraignty But under the Gospel 't is a time to declare his Kindness and Love his abundant Grace after that the Kindness and love of God appeared towards Man Tit. 3.4 Now God will have Mercy and not Sacrifice In this sense that he will declare his Soveraignty but will deal in a more gracious and merciful way as all Providences So all Ordinances and Commands are full of Grace Observe when God proclaims his Name before Moses Exod. 34.6 't is thus The Lord the Lord God gracious and merciful c. And that will not clear the Guilty We may take notice of three branches of this Name of God which have respect to three different times for the more convenient manifestation of them not but that all of them are manifested enough at all times 1. The Lord. So the time of the Law was for the manifestation of this branch of God's Name 2. The Lord gracious and merciful long-suffering abundant in goodness so the accepted time and day of Salvation under the Gospel is the time for the manifestation hereof 3. 3. That will not clear the guilty Now the day of Judgment will be the time for the manifestation of this part of God's Name Those that come in their guilt before him shall feel the power of that wrath which now perhaps they little fear Quest. If the Sabbath be to be kept with so much strictness Who then can keep a Sabbath Answ 1. This is the Law and thus it ought to be though we cannot come up to that strictness and spirituality which we ought to do 2. The Will and Desire should be as exact as is commanded and should beget in you your utmost endeavour and care and then shall you be accepted 3. Call it Holy and Honourable a delight Be sound in your Principles set your Seal to the truth of it 1. Call it so in your Judgment and inward Conviction or Assent and Consent 2. Call it so in word Justify it as the Holy of the Lord speak Honorably of it and for it 3. Call it so in your works do that which may honour the day and the Lord in keeping it When we consider the high degree of exactness and spirituality which there ought to be in keeping a Sabbath which is here laid down it much confirms the Interpretation of extending this to Gospel times and to the last and best times of the Gospel in which as God will liberally fulfil promises so he will in such a measure give his Spirit that the Saints shall more liberally fulfil this and other Commands when as all the Law so this of the Sabbath shall be written in the Heart God will have a time to make Men more Holy and obedient more agreeable to his Laws both for substance and circumstance matter and manner and it shall bear much more proportion and run more parallel with his Laws then hitherto Thus much I can boldly affirm haply more Consider Psal 102.18 This shall be written for the Generations to come and the People that shall be created shall praise the Lord or the new ercated People c. As this strict injunction binds always and makes it our Duty to keep a Sabbath so the new created People the Saints of the new Heaven and Earth shall praise the Lord they shall observe it in this manner c. when the Divine Nature shall deeply overspread all their Faculties when the Saints in Duties shall fly on the wings of the Spirit and shew the vigour of the new Nature which is part of that day of Reformation then will something be done to purpose as in all other Christian Duties so in this of turning away thy Foot c. Rev. 22.3
14.5 The Lord thy God shall come and all his Saints with thee and Christ shall be glorified in his Saints and admired in them that believe in making them of Sinners Holy of Corruptible Incorruptible changing vile bodies c. 4. At this time he shall have subdued all his Enemies he shall appear in the Glory of a Conqueror This is hinted in that word Seat he shall sit down in his Seat He appeared to Stephen as standing at the Right-Hand of God Acts. 7.56 ready for Action taking his Power rising up to scatter his Enemies And to John as Riding on a White Horse going on Conquering and to Conquer which work he is now about Then he shall sit on a Seat having Conquered by his Power and taken his Enemies as Rev. 19.21 The Beast and false Prophet were taken he shall judicially proceed against them for opposing him As God Creating the World in Six Days rested the Seventh so Christ having Conquered the World shall sit down and rest from fighting and shall proceed to Judge for that he shall appear in the Glory of a Conqueror 1. Of Sin by having satisfied for it removing the guilt and condemning power as to the Saints Heb. 9.28 he shall appear the second time without Sin the meaning is the first time of his appearing in the Flesh he came with the guilt and burden of Sins the Sins of the Elect imputed to him then made Sin the Lord hath layed on him the iniquities of us all as Aaron confessed the Sins of the Israelites over the head of the Goat and sent him into a Land not inhabited But the second time he shall come without Sin without guilt â— Sin 's no longer imputed he being sent away with Sin imputed to the Grave he returns without them having left them in the Land of forgetfulness i. e. the Grave never to be brought in remembrance against Saints because of the full satisfaction he made so that he shall appear without Sin that is to the Saints a Conqueror of Sin 2. Of the Law He was made under the Law being Lord of the Law he suffered that to try its strength upon him and the Law wrought wrath and brought death on him but by the merit of his obedience overcame for he being Lord of the Law that suffered the Curse of it God was more honoured hereby than dishonoured by the transgression of the Law for which he suffered and so Conquered the Law 3. Of Death O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victory And Christ shall appear as Conqueror of Death Rev. 1.18 I am he that liveth and was dead and am alive for evermore He hath the Keys of Death and Hell he that was dead and layed in the Sepulchre with a Stone rolled on the mouth of it and Sepulchre sealed he hath Conquered Death and gotten the Keys that is Power to deliver over to or keep from Hell 4. He shall appear as Conqueror of wicked Men and evil Angels Against such Men he shall pronounce Sentence of everlasting Condemnation for their opposing and not believing in him As for evil Angels Jude 6. he hath reserved the Angels in chains of darkness to the Judgment of great day As Prisoners are kept in Prison bound till the Assizes come so are they by God's Power that they cannot escape Doct. 2. All Men shall stand and appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ to receive a Sentence out of his Mouth suitable to what they were and had done in the Body Christ shall be Judge of all Heb. 12.23 Abraham called him the Judge of all the Earth Gen. 18.25 in which negative question is implied an affirmative position that God above all others must and will do right because from his Judgment there is no appeal Acts 10.42 Judge of Quick and Dead of those who being found alive at his coming shall be changed and and of those which shall be raised from the dead to come to Judgment 2 Tim. 4.1 Christ shall Judge the Quick and Dead at his appearing and Kingdom when his Kingdom shall be manifest to all the World as well as over all the World Yea the Man Christ Jesus shall be Judge of evil Angels they are not in full torment Why art thou come to torment us before the time Math. 8.29 All their ease and mitigation of torments is that they have a power over the wicked and rule in them tempting to Sin thus revenging themselves on God and revenge is sweet Luk. 8.31 They besought him much that he would not command them to go out into the deep into Hell For Explication shall be shewn after what form and manner Christ shall proceed in Judgment 1. All shall be cited and called to appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ None shall hide himself then the wicked shall seek to hide in holes of the Rocks and call on the Mountains to hide them c. but thence shall they be taken Math. 24.31 He shall send his Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet and they shall gather his Elect 1 Cor. 15.52 1. Thess 4.16 As the people of God were Assembled in their Solemn Feasts and Fasts by the sound of a Trumpet and as an Mount Sinai the Law was given with a most loud and dreadful sound so the Summons of all to Judgment shall be some such sound which is here callâ—d the last trump When it shall be all shall know what this sound means And those that would not hear the sound of the Gospel nor understand what that meant and called Men to shall know the meaning of the Voice of the Archangel and shall hear the sound of the last Trump 2. As all so in this order That is first the Elect shall be Summoned and Judged and then the wicked this may be gathered from divers places Math. 24.31 he shall send his Angels and they shall gather the Elect c. and 25.34 the King first speaks to them on his Right Hand 1 Cor. 15.23 every Man in his order first Christ then they that are Christ's then shall he put down all rule c. 1 Thes 4.16 the dead in Christ shall rise first You may take this Argument for a further declaration of it The Godly shall be Judges of the wicked 1 Cor. 6.2 Do ye not know that the Saints shall Judge the World c. Christ is primary Judge that hath authority to give Sentence Saints by way of astipulation applauding the equity and righteousness of his Judgment and in and through Christ triumphing over the World Now this dignity affirmed of Saints argues their being first judged that they have received their Blessing Ye shall sit on twelve Thrones Judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Math. 19. 3. Those that are called to Christ's Judgment-Seat shall be examined and give account of the things done in the Body that is of thoughts words and works 2 Cor. 5.10 that every one may receive the things done in the body that is reward
of Satan's wrath against the Godly now they breath out threatnings but the comfort is their wrath shall turn to the praise of God because wicked Men's wrath shall work for the good of Saints therein the power and wisdom of God hath praise but the last day is a day of Christ's wrath against the wicked and 't is true this wrath shall turn to the praise of God but who is there to restrain his wrath To be under the wrath of Man or Satan is a most miserable conditon if there be none to restrain it but worse under Christ's wrath 2. All sinful works shall be remembred and brought in upon an inditement against them blessed is he at that day whose iniquity is forgiven and sin covered that hath Christ for his Righteousness and Faith to put him on But the wicked shall have nothing to do with this blessedness now they seek it not now 't is not esteemed by them so great a blessedness as it is now Men establish their own righteousness and will not submit to the Righteousness of God but at the last day when Wicked Men shall know the worth and want of Christ's Righteousness then there shall be no possibility of having it then the Books are opened and the sins of the ungodly discovered and as the Spirit Promised to the Godly to bring to remembrance what Christ said to open the mysteries of the Gospel c. So on the other side then the Spirit shall bring to remembrance all that the Wicked have done all idle words all oaths filthy communication all vain thoughts sinful affections so many times eating and drinking to excess c. All their sins shall dog them to the Judgment-seat of Christ Christ shall take notice of all the unkindness shewn to him those only are mention'd Math. 25.44 to shew they are great and most provoking sins but as under one great duty commanded all are implyed so under one great sin forbidden all others are forbidden And so under these great sins and injuries done to Christ all others are included I was hungry c. and these shall go away into everlasting punishment and in the upshot these were injuries done to the Members of Christ which he makes his own injuries by Compassion as the Head suffers when the Members suffer this you reckon a small matter to pass by a Member of Christ and not supply his wants and if so for not feeding Christ in his Members how much more for going about to starve Christ in his Members by taking away the Bread of Life from them if for not visiting when sick and in prison how much more for wounding of Saints in Name Body Estates and for casting of Saints into prison 3. No works of theirs which for matter are good shall be remembred and accepted of in that day every work being weighed in the Ballance like Belshazzar being found too light whatever proceeds not from Faith in Christ nor is done out of zeal to the Glory of God shall be found too light and for wicked Men's works as hearing the Word doing Justice giving Almes they shall not plead any thing for you your Holy things shall not plead against iniquity because there is iniquity in your holy things self-love seeking Men's praise no sincere love to the Lord Jesus no judging Christ worthy of obedience If you do a good turn to a Man for your own ends what thanks do you deserve For know whatever good you do if it proceed not from a pure heart a good Conscience towards God Faith in the Lord Jesus c. it shall be reckoned but among your sins Math. 7.21 Not every one that saith Lord Lord that in words will call Christ Lord but deny it in works shall enter into Heaven shall be judged meet for that Kingdom But he that doth the will of my Father 'T is not enough to do what is good but to do it as the will of the Father out of obedience to his command with an aim at his honour yet that 's not all but he that doth the will of my Father that obeys the will of the Father as he is Christ's Father knowing the Son as the Father doing the will of the Father for Christ's sake coming to the Father through the Son moved with love to Christ he shall enter Heaven Objection But is this necessary will some plead at the last day that the will of the Father of thy Father as thy Father must be done Is it for thy sake c. Why that we can plead Lord Lord have we not Prophecied in thy Name c. Then Christ shall say Depart from me I never knew you I never knew you Born again Converted made new Creatures I never saw you deny your selves out of sincere love to me and zeal of my honour I never saw you in my Kingdom of Grace so I will not now admit you to any fellowship or acquaintance with me Depart ye workers of Iniquity whatever you have done I look on you but as workers of iniquity your good works that you plead I reckon but amongst your sins How sad a time will it be then with Wicked Men who shall say is our Religion vain Shall none of our works and doings proffit Have we prayed and taken so much pains from time to time Sabbath after Sabbath and all in vain will God forget all what a miserable case are we then in Even so it shall be nothing remembred if you are not regenerated if not a new Creature if you have not true Faith in the Lord Jesus resting in him alone for Salvation 4. When their sinful works shall be set before them in order and imperfection of their good works shewn then the wicked shall be convinced of both in their own Consciences now Wicked Men will not be convinced of sin nor judge aright of their performances they are past feeling Eph. 4.19 The Greek word signifies them that having done any thing amiss can't grieve or take shame to themselves as Drunkards past feeling Swearers past feeling 1 Tim. 4.2 Having the Conscience seared with a hot Iron That is either professing themselves to be the people of God their Consciences are stigmatized with the works of many foul and enormous crimes a metaphor taken from Rogues who are burnt in the Hand or some other part of the body or Conscience so insensible of sin and their dangerous estate by it and of the fearful Judgments of God as dead and hard Flesh feared with a hot Iron Thus 't is for the most part with wicked Men here but when they are called to Judgment then their Conscience shall recover feeling then it shall do its office in accusing judging here wicked Men make God a liar they have beâ—ied the Lord and said no evil shall come on us then they shall set to their seal that God is true his word is true his threatnings are true then as Joshua said ye know that not one thing hath fail'd Chap 23.14 so