the Lord and my spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour There seemes at once to bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on the Lords part 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on our part 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on the Lords part grace on our part glory on the Lords part goodnesse on our part gladnesse with a sober kind of ravishment and spirituall Extasy Wee joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom wee have now received the atonement 1. That which I shall first observe is the grace and benefit of humane reconcilement Wee have received the atonement Secondly the meanes or conveyance and that is our Lord Jesus Christ Last of all the result or extraction which is delight and glory exultation and jucundity together with the circumstance of time or rather indeed the instance of time not future but present not in expectation but fruition now wee are reconciled and now wee are comforted since the death of Christ and the power of his rising Wee joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom wee have now received the atonement All these have their implicite theses and may be easily resolved into enuntiative positions one That man is reconciled unto God Another Christ is the author of this reconcilement A third Wee ought to joy in God alone through Christ our Mediator and Advocate But I proceed after the method I have delivered and shall begin with my first observation which is the grace and benefit of humane reconcilement 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wee have received the atonement Man is an empty thing and hath nought in himselfe but what he doth receive nec quid nec quale nec quantum as the Logicians speak of their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or rather indeed like that antient chaos which Moses would have to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the first of Genesis without forme and beauty a meer solitude and vacuity in so much that a Heathen could say as well in respect of men as of their actions O Curas hominum quantum est in rebus inane St. John tells us wee have received Grace for grace or grace upon grace one grace brings in another and one grace brings in another and one grace drawes in another neither is it mans wisedome but Gods bounty that leadeth to repentance charity meekenesse humility and whatsoever is praise worthy most agreable to that of Bernard Quaevis scintillula in corde accensa c. The least sparke of holy fire kindled in the breast of any Creature must needs arise from the love of God and the infinite grace of his eternall providence Wee receive life in our creation strength in our being knowledge in study comfort in misery patience in trouble help in adversity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same hand that framed us must preserve us neither can wee any more releive our selves then wee could at first make our selves as Justin Martyr has observed in his Apology for Christians Formation conservation reformation consummation are glorious acts but from the Lord as fruits of the divine goodnesse not branches of humane impotence which the Apostle has comprised in a word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Our sufficiency is from God in the 2d to the Corinthians But among all the favours that have been bestowed upon us that of reconcilement is most pretious whereby wee are made friends unto God stronger then our enemyes Lords over the Creature and aequall with the Angells that warte on his throne stand in his presence delight in his worship and rejoyce to doe him service St. Origen is so charitable as to extend his mercy to the Divells and would have them to be saved after a thousand Years compleatly ended howbeit we know the worme dyeth not and their fire never goeth out as wee gather from the words of our Saviour in that finall doome and fatall sentence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 depart from mee yee cursed into everlasting fire provided for the Divell and his Angels Mat. 25. 48. As for the host of blessed Angels that kept their station they are not said to be truly reconciled because they never departed from their obedience yet are they confirmed by the mediation of Christ and seem to have a two fold advancement one in respect of their knowledge because they look into the mystery of our salvation another in respect of their joy because they delight in the worke of our Conversion That which makes the Scruple touching their reconcilement is taken from St Paul in the I st Chapt. of his Ep to the Colossians where he notes of Christ that he sate at peace with the blood of his Crosse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things on Earth and things on Heaven All which is most unquestionable ought to be understood of the holy Angells not in relation to God but in relation to man not as they are reconciled unto him but as they are reconciled unto us and united more firmely with us under one head which is Christ Jesus And therefore if you consider the words of the Text it is not said they but we not all but some We the Saints of God wee the Sonns of God Queis meliore luto finxit praecordia Titan. Chosen freely drawen sweetly renewed by his word quickned by his Spirit WEE have received the grace of divine love and heavenly atonement Before the Apostacy of our father Adam there was a sweet harmony betwixt God and man but as soon as hee fell and had transgressed he ran away and was cast forth of Paradise at what time there was a breach made and wee became as the Apostle notes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only strangers and aliens but foes enemies to the Lord of glory such as despise his grace and despight his goodnesse with the infinite provocations of enormous impieties We grieve him and hee forsakes us We resist him hee abandons us from the brightnesse of his face and the glory of his presence For Sin is abominable to God neither can his pure eyes endure to behold the filthinesse of our Corruptions whereupon saith Isaiah Your iniquities have separated betwixt God and you Hee did so love us that nothing could take him of and make him leave us but our sins Hee did so hate Sinne that nothing could bring him on and make him love us againe but his Son his dear Sonne his only Sonne the death of his Sonne the oblation of his Sonne who gave himselfe for us an offering and a sacrifice unto God of a sweet smell and pleasant odour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Your iniquities have made a separation betwixt God and you in the 59th of his prophecy It was for sinne that hee left Israel and it was for sin that he cast the Angells down from Heaven It was for sinne that he drowned the old World and it was for sinne that hee destroyed the workes of his creation Though at first hee took pleasure in
Christian Reconcilement OR GOD AT PEACE with MAN IN CHRIST Delivered in a Sermon at St Mary's in Oxford By JOHN WALL Dr in Divinity and PRAEBENDARY Of CHRIST-CHURCH in OXFORD Psalm 37. 4. Delight thou in the Lord and he shall give thee thy hearts desire OXFORD Printed by H. Hall for R. Davis 1658. To the Honourable and truly noble Lady the Lady SARAH HOGHTON Wife to Sr RICHARD HOGHTON Knight and Daughter of PHILIP Lord STANHOPE late Earle of CHESTER-FIELD Grace and Peace be daily multiplied Noble MADAM PArdon my Confidence that I make use of your Name and place so rare a Frontispice before so meane a Piece My desire hath been to honour your Lady-ship some kind of way for those many favours derived to me not only from the Root and Stemm but also from the severall branches of that your noble Generation and Parentage Yet in this I must needs Confesse I honour my selfe while the eminency of your graces casts a lustre upon my Services and the high esteem of those magnetique virtues draws greater acceptance to these endeavours However be pleased to receive this manuall give it some place in your Closet among the Saints of God departed this life with whom you have beene used to Converse frequently in their writings It will not take up much roome and though it Containe little that you may learne yet doth it somewhat that you may remēber the incōparable blessing of Christian atonement which is the very foundation of all our Comfort This I Commend to your pious thoughts and the religious exercise of your diviner Meditations that you may joy in God and be strengthened daily in the Spirituall Vnion which you have with him in Christ Jesus For I well know when the Scriptur's were a delight unto you and you had as Saint Ierome writeth of Marcella a Roman Lady ardorem incredibilem c an incredible desire to read understand the pretious Mysteries of those saving Oracles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the words of the Apostle from a Child wherein I have late evidence that you persevere Constantly to the honour of God and the rejoycing of your Spirit with the Continuall feast of a Good Conscience Sure I am it was the practise of that Honorable Lady your dear Mother now with God blessed for ever whose Goodnesse like an Oyntment poured out left a Sweet Savour in the parts where she lived round about whose paths you tread and seeme to enlarge or make plaine in a Pious aemulation and zealous Imitation of Her choicest Graces But I will not make an Elogie of an Epistle or a Panegyrick of a presentment though you well deserve it least I seeme to dipp my Pen in Oyle and mingle Hony with my Oblation Contrary to the direction given to Moses by God himselfe in those Leviticall instructions The Lord poure a blessing upon you all from the top and head to the severall branches of your Noble Family Irest MADAM Your most Humble Servant in him that took upon him the forme of a Servant our Lord Jesus Christ JOHN WALL CHRISTIAN RECONCILEMENT Rom. 5. 11. Wee joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom wee have now received the atonement WHEN St. Paul wrote to the Saints at Rome there was a ball of contention as t' were throwen betwixt the Iewe and the Gentile And howsoever they were converted as true proselytes to the Doctrine of Christ yet did they burne with jealousy one towards another and receive the gospell with strife and envy and sharpe contests of mutuall reproach and fervent emulation a fault to much used in these our Dayes both in the expressions and impressions of many Christians though interdicted by St. Paul to the Ephesians and condemned by St. James in the very brethren with a note and character of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is meer bitternesse the gaul and wormewood of crabbed Zeale and corrupt affections The Iew boasted of his stock the Gentile of his Wisedome the Iew of his priviledges the Gentile of his Endowments the Iew despised the Gentile as a wild olive the Gentile despised the Iew as a withered branch cut off from the right olive the Iew despised the Gentile as a stranger from the Covenant the Gentile despised the Iew as one despised of God and rejected of him for murdering his only Son and crucifying the Lord of glory But as it is said of Nestor an antient Counsellor of the Grecians Nestor Componere lites Inter Peliden festinat inter Atriden So doth the Apostle use all diligence to represse the animosity of their carnall spirits and to reduce both to love and unity patience and humility shewing plainly that all were debters unto God and that none had cause to boast of themselves first by reason of their naturall condition they were subject unto wrath then by reason of their spirituall renovation they were justified by faith not of merit but of grace free grace rich grace the grace of God through faith in Christ Jesus All which is copiously delivered in the precedent Chapters and compendiously gathered in the latter verses whereof my Text is a briefe Synopsis Wee joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom wee have now received the atonement Wee joy in tribulation because it tends unto hope wee joy in hope because it ends in glory as the precedent Words doe rightly insinuate But the top of our joy and the crown of our rejoycing is God alone pacified by his Sonne in the wood of his Crosse the blood of his Crosse who indeed is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Theophylact speakes the author of joy the author of rest the author of glory the author of righteousnesse Have our conflicts abounded and have not our Comforts abounded Have our tryals abounded and have not our triumphs abounded Yea doubtlesse as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so doth our consolation abound through Christ Jesus And wee never had more Cause to rejoyce than now wee have in the Day of our peace the blessed re-union of God with us the heavenly redintegration of his infinite love and mercifull Kindnesse Wee joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom wee have now received the atonement These words are exceeding jubilar and not unsuitable with the present time which is dies palmarum or as wee terme it Palme-Sunday a Day of spreading garments unfolding graces discovering holynesse singing praises and crying Hosanna in the highest blessed is hee that cometh in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest not with green bowes of Pagan wildnesse but with palme branches of faith and godlynesse which St. John will have to be most flourishing and victorious with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this is the victory which overcometh the World even your faith the 5th and the 4th of his 1. Ep. You may compare them to the Song of Mary when she cryed My Soul doth magnify
that is Dominus Iesus Christus our Lord Jesus Christ Not Moses or Aaron not an Angell or Cherubim nor any creature of highest order but God alone through Christ his Son Jesus Christ our Lord Jesus Christ as wee read in the Words of my Apostle He is a Lord for his Dominion a Jesus for his salvation a Christ for the dignity of his threefold unction A Lord that doth rule us a Jesus that hath freed us a Christ that shall anoint us with grace holynesse joy and gladnesse to the rich enheritance of immortall blessednesse Give me leave then to put you in mind of a notable saying which I have from St Ambrose vulnus accepit unguentum effudit hee took a sore wound in his naturall body he powred forth a Soveraign balm in his mysticall body a Soveraigne balme a pretious ointment that hath cured our sores and healed our infirmities to all well-pleasing and good acceptance with the God of all comfort and Father of mercies Indeed wee have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Word of reconcilement and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the ministry of reconciliation but the Worke is his the power is his the merit is his the performance is his that made both one by virtue of his passion We are serviceable and instrumentall as suppliant Orators and subordinate cooperators in so great a businesse Hee is the root and the ground the spring and the fountaine of that celestiall agreement and heavenly composition Whereupon saith John We have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the reconciliation for our sinnes As for Paul he is most cleare with a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God hath reconciled us to himselfe through Jesus Christ And againe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God is in Christ reconciling the world unto himselfe 2 Cor. 5. 18 19. How then is it that in the same place we are desired to be reconciled unto God we pray you in Christs steed that yee be reconciled unto God Have we strength enough to do it our selves and are we able to make our owne peace This seemes to contradict the series of the Text and to derogate from the honour of an absolute mediatour Yet if we distinguish the manner 't will be no hard matter to reconcile the Scripture Christ did it fundamentally we conformably Christ authentically and radically we obsequiously and readily with desires answerable and hearty being drawne and converted in the sound of his word and power of his Gospell in the smell of his garments and the savour of his oyntments Insomuch that what he wrought by the wonderfull humiliation of his temporall oeconomy we must apply it to our hearts and consciences by faith repentance charity obedience invocation adoration the frequent exercises of the holy Sacraments and the religious observation of divine ordinances which were given us for no other end but that we may draw neere unto God as loving children Let men please themselves never so much with their severall Idols whether Corporall or spirituall among the dead or among the living there is no creature in heaven or in earth in the center of the one or circle of the other that can bring us to God but only Christ Jesus The Angell of the Covenant the first borne of every creature the great high priest that took the censer of his flesh and laid upon it the burning coales of divine love and offered up the sweet incense of a pure heart and a gracious spirit Is he not the way and the doore the way in whom we go the doore by whom we enter As no man comes to the sonne unlesse the father draw him so no man comes to the father unlesse the sonne doth bring him Abraham is ignorant and Israel knowes us not as we read in that Evangelicall prophet Nec defensoribus istis Tempus eget For behold Christ is here cloathed with our flesh that he may invest us with his righteousnesse and present us to the father holy and unblameable without spot in his sight a greater then Moses a greater then Aaron a greater then Elias a greater then Solamon or any prophet since the world began And therefore God must needs be angry if we do not kisse the Sonne his deare Sonne his beloved Sonne in whom alone he is well pleased and by whom alone we are truly reconciled kisse the mouth of his word and pretious oracles kisse the hand of his power and wondrous miracles kisse the feet of his justice and sure mercies his sure mercies and steadfast promises that stand as the Sunne and continue as the Moone for ever in the heavens These we must kisse and these we must embrace looking towards Jesus the author and finisher of our course if ever we mean to have God our friend or the light of his countenance to shine upon us It was for Joseph's sake that his brethren were so courteously received and it is for Christs sake that we are so graciously reconciled He came into the world as Joseph came into Egypt for the good and the benefit for the protection and the liberty the help and the comfort the provision and the safety of all his brethren And therefore Augustine will have him to be a figure of Christ with a typum gessit salvatoris in one of his sermons inscribed de tempore both alike sold both a like spoyled one throwne into a pit another into a grave one cast into a dungeon another into hell by a voluntary condescention though exalted at length that he might save us as well from death as from derth the derth of his word and the death of our soules in that burning lake of intollerable woe and insupportable misery And therefore saith Bernard mortem pertulit at mortem sustulit he suffered death but he abolished death and destroyed him that had the power of death with his owne weapon Sweet Jesu who shall declare the strange procurement of our gracious reconcilement in that rare Conjunction of both natures by the power of the Godhead by the patience of the man-hood by the majesty of the one by the humility of the other This enabled thee to beare that to overcome this to endure that to satisfy this to descend and lay downe thy life that to ascend and take it up againe that we may be advanced above those angelicall Thrones and sit together with thee in heavenly places St Chrysostome is astonished with it and cries out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how comes this work this great work to be acted and accomplished And therefore I will not take upon me to describe the manner of it further then I have direction from the Apostle who gives you a twofold explication in the 1 Chap. of the Epist to the Collos that he doth reconcile us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the body of his flesh through death and that he doth reconcile us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the blood of his crosse where you have death and blood and a
bruised the head of the Serpent and brake the head of the Leviathan in the midst of the waters sporting with him that sported therein with the staffe of his Crosse and the rod of his power his eternall power and God-head Rom. 1. Who then shall lay any thing to our charg It is God that justifieth who shall condemne It is Christ that died yea rather which is risen againe and sits at the right hand of God and makes intercession for us as we have it in that brave challenge graciously set downe and couragiously sent forth by that Champion of God and trumpet of the Gospel the Doctor of the Gentiles and vessell of election in plaine scorne and open defence of spirituall wickednesse in highest places We joy in God we joy over death we joy in God we joy over sinne we joy in God we joy over the grave we joy in God we joy and crow as it were over hell and Satan with all the powers of that infernall kingdome and may safely tread upon Serpents and Scorpions as the Apostles did without hurt and danger in the name of Christ and strength of our redeemer that hath set up his crosse as a glorious Trophy in the midst of the Nation to the everlasting reproach and eternall confusion of the Dragon and his angels Of this we have both an embleme and example an Embleme in the woman that was cloathed with the Sun and had the Moon under her feet an example in the Apostle when he brake forth into that triumphant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory The sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the law but thanks be to God who hath given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ And therefore saith God by the mouth of his Servant Qui gloriatur in me glorietur let him that glorieth glory in me that he understandeth me and that he knoweth me who sheweth mercy and judgment and righteousnesse upon the earth Jer. 9. Give me leave then to put you in mind of those everlasting joyes which shall never be taken from you not of meat and of drinke not of harp and viol in the luxury of the greatest feasts but of God and of Christ the Word and his Spirit Quo nihil speciosius quo nihil pretiosius in the sweet language of that incomparable Father then which nothing is more amiable and specious for grace and beauty nothing more admirable and pretious for substance and value lest it be said of you as it was of the Pharisees Luk. 7. 32. Cantavimus non Saltastis we have Piped unto you but ye have not Danced we have Sung unto you but yee have not rejoyced you may peradventure have joyed in the pleasant noise of musicall instruments yee have not rejoyced at the Word of God and sound of his Gospell in sober dances of Spirituall rejoycings with this he is pleased with that he is grieved in this he is glorified in that he is dishonoured and sometimes mightily blasphemed I will not deny but that we may rejoyce in the outward comforts of humane life and take pleasure in the very creature joy in health joy in beauty joy in wealth joy in safety joy in Arts and Sciences Tongues and Languages friends and favours priviledges and preferments the gifts of nature and the graces of the Spirit whereby we are enabled to promote the honour of God and benefit of his Servants In these we may rejoyce in these we may triumph as they are blessings of our heavenly Father and pledges of his love so it be with a twofold Caution and respect the one of thankfulnesse in the right acknowledgment of divine bounty from whence they come the other of subordination in the reall intendment of divine glory whereunto they runne For that is finis debitus as Aquinas speaks and ought to be the maine aime of our best faculties and most eminent perfections In this sense we interpret the words of St Paul and are to understand that deprecation of the Apostle God forbid I should rejoyce in any thing but the Crosse of our Lord Jesus Christ not primarily and wholy but conditionally and moderately in order to Christ and the advancement of his glory And therefore as Aristotle said when they brought him two sorts of wine the one from Rhodes the other from Lesbos with allusion to his Scholars Menedemus and Theophrastus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. That of Rhodes is good but this of Lesbos is the sweeter So do I professe of earthly joy and heavenly joy corporall joy and spirituall joy the joy of the Creature and the joy of the Creator that may be good this is better that may be pleasant this is sweeter that may be usefull this is needfull and such as ought most to be desired Faine would I draw you to it that your hearts may rejoyce and your joy may be full when that which is perfect shall come and that which is imperfect shall be done away For in his presence there is fulnesse of joy and at his right hand there are pleasures for ever more But where I faile let Augustine go on and make supply with his gaudete in one of his Sermons de Verbis Domini Gaudete in Domino non in saeculo Gaudete in veritate non in falsitate Gaudete in spe aeternitatis non in store vanitatis rejoyce in the Lord not in the world rejoyce in the truth not in falshood rejoyce in the hope of life and glory not in the flower and flourish of Pride and of vanity All this is strongly enforced by the Word of God which indeed is mighty in operation and sharper then a two edged sword to divide betwixt the Soule and the Spirit the joynts and the marrow the world and your heart the earth and your affections I might send you to the Prophet David for ample direction who writes many Psalmes of this argument with a jubilate in Deo O be joyfull in the Lord all yee Lands serve the Lord with gladnesse and come before his presence with a song And with a Venite exultemus in Domino O Come let us sing unto the Lord let us heartily rejoyce in the strength of our Salvation let us come before his presence with thanks-giving and shew our selves glad in him with Psalmes But I shall leave you to a shorter compendium out of the Apostle Philip. 4. 4. where he gives you a double charge and bids you rejoyce in the Lord with an Iterum dico Againe I say rejoyce that he may awake you from the dreames of secular fancies and bring you to the joyes of Spirituall extasies I scarce remember a place in the Volume of this Book of greater emphasis that doth more insinuate into the heart of men with a sweeter Eccho of forcible ingemination and patheticall instruction then what I last spake unto rejoyce in the Lord and againe I say rejoyce Therefore I wish it may have a deep impression with you and be as nailes fastned by the masters of assemblies never to be removed and forgotten that yet may affect it and that it may lift you up from wordly desires and earthly Cogitations as the Spirit did Ezekiel when it took him by a lock of the haire and brought him to Jerusalem lift you up and bring you on to Jerusalem the vision of peace the fruition of blisse the new Jerusalem the celestiall Jerusalem Jerusalem which is above the Mother of us all Where amongst other songs and doxologies of praise and thanks-giving we may remember this and sing aloud upon our beds with Patriarches and Prophets with Apostles and Evangelists with Martyrs and Confessors with Saints and Angells We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have now received the atonement Which the Lord Grant for Christ his sake to whom with the Father and the holy Spirit three persons and one God be ascribed all Power Majesty and Dominion now and for ever AMEN FINIS