teacheth us all things that we rightly know we know nothing as we ought to know farther then Christ Jesus by his Spirit teacheth But I proceed to the next particular propounded in the office or work of a Prophet namely to work miracles this the Prophets before Christ did Moses a type of Christ and the great Prophet of Israel work't many miracles when the Lord sent him to deliver his people And this hath Christ our Prophet done and doth to this day this hee did when he was in the world turning water into wine raysing the dead to life restoring those borne blinde to sight c. and this be still doth Christ our Prophet is ever working miracles The conversion of a soule is a miracle it is the changing of the nature and it is above nature to doe it to raise a man from the dead to life is a miracle and this Christ doth to every soule who is indeed raised Ephes 2. the 1. and 5. verses compared ver 1. and you who were dead in trespasses and sins ver 5. Even when wee were dead in sins hath hee quickned us c. now to quicken to give life to a dead soule is a miracle and this Christ doth ordinarily and hee gives sight unto blinde men it was a miracle for Christ to give sight to the man that was borne blinde beloved every man and woman in the world is borne blinde spiritually blinde and this is a greater miracle to cure such yet this is the ordinary work of Christ and every man naturally is both blinde lame and deaf but Christ when he comes he opens the blinde eyes he un-stops the deaf eares he causeth the lame to walke and the tongue of the dumb to sing Esay 35.5 3 The Prophet did foretell of things to come Moses and the rest did fore-tell Christ c. and so did Christ in many particulars Mat 24. but I passe this also 2 Christ is to be exalted Prophet in the dayes of the Gospel see Act. 3.22 23. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you him shall you hear in all things Use 1. To examine if Christ have been thy Prophet When Christ comes first to the soule he findes men dead and gives life unto them he findes men blinde and gives sight unto them Hath the Lord discovered thy dead condition unto thee and given thee life art borne from above That which is borne of the flesh is flesh and thou wert borne flesh dead in trespasses and sins hath the Lord changed thee from a state of death to a state of life from a state of infidelity to a state of believing thou wert blinde thou wert borne blinde not able to see into spirituall things 1 Cor. 2.14 Hath the Lord opened thine eyes canst say I was blinde but now I see I was dumb but now I speak ô this is worth your consideration Use 2. A word of consolation to the Saints whom the Lord Jesus hath taught what is the comfort you will say 1 He will for ever be thy Prophet and will be ever teaching thee Thou shalt hear a voyce behinde thee saying this is the way walke yee in it when thou turnest to the right hand or to the left the Lord Jesus will be for ever thy Prophet he will never fail thee nor for sake thee his eye shall ever be over thee for good he will direct thee in all thy wayes and is not this a mercy 2 He hath made all the Saints Prophets he hath powred down a spirit of Prophesie upon them that now they are enabled by the spirit of prophesie to speake one to another for edification exhortation and consolation 1 Cor. 14.3 and therefore the men of the world might hence be warned to take heed how they meddle with the Saints to persecute them for they are the Lords Prophets 1 Chron. 16.22 Touch not mine anointed doe my Prophets no harme Christ takes every wrong done to them as done to himselfe therefore you had need look to it for it is that which will work your ruine in the end THE EXALTATION OF CHRIST The alone KING of SAINTS CHAP. III. I Come to the Kingly Office of Christ Christ is the alone King of his people believe it Christ is the alone King of his people Christ is a King and hee hath a Kindome Psal 45.6 His Kingdome is spirituall it is not of this world although it is in the world Christ hath a twofold kingdome here in this world there is the kingdome within the Saints and the kingdome without the one in the heart the other in the Church they are both spirituall 1 Christ rules and reignes in the Saints the kingdom of God is within you beloved Christ hath a kingdom within you if ye are his Christ is in you except yee be reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 And this is a priviledge more then all the Kings in the earth have they may reign here over their subjects but not in them but Christ first reigns in them then over them he reigns I mean spiritually over none but those in whom he reigns Now Christ reigns in the souls of the Saints first opposing all things that are contrary to himself there are other Lords that will seeke to rule in the hearts of the Saints if Christ subdue them not the Devill hee will seek to be Lord he that is the God of the world and rules and reigns in the hearts of the children of disobedience where Christ doth not rule but when the Lord Jesus coms he dispossesseth him and casts him out and so keeps him out The Devill will make many a strong assault throw many a fiery dart at the soule of the Christian endevouring if possible hee can to shake his hold but Christ he is the King hee is the watchman the keeper of Israel hee giveth in power to the weak fainting soul to overcome all those Laws and Edicts Satan shal endevour to set up in the soule so that now the Christian espyes all Satans plots and artificiall devices to trap and ensnare him rejects all his temptations and says as Christ Get thee behind me Satan when the Devill acts and works in others he hath no power over the soule where Christ reigns it is true hee may throw in his darts sometimes make assays eyther to tempt to some evill or to shake the faith of Christians but Christ the King reigns there still conquers him subdues him and so caries on his own work that the gates of hell cannot prevail against that soul where he dwels Thus Christ reigns keeping under Satan beleeve it beloved Christ and Satan cannot reign both in one soul 2 Christ opposes the power of sin in the soul where he reigns sin bears a strong sway in the soul now Christ he opposeth it sets himselfe against it hence it is there is such a strong opposition between the flesh and the spirit that is the spirit of Christ the spirit Iusting against the flesh the flesh
The Saints spiritually enjoy Christ also in their externall cloaths and covering so that I say he rightly exalts Christ in his soul that sees Christ to be all and in all to him c. I shall now come to the exaltation of Christ in his offices in the dayes of the Gospel Priest Prophet and King in these is Christ to be exalted 1 He is the great High-Priest of his people Christ Priest and in this particular he is to be exalted in the dayes of the Gospel that is as the alone atonement and peace maker betwixt God and man The Leviticall High-Priests under the Law were a type of Christ our great High-Priest under the Gospel Therefore for my more cleer proceeding I shall indeavour to unfold unto you what was the Office of the High-Priest under the Law wherein Christ the Iewish High-Priests agree wherin they differ and wherein Christ our Gospel High-Priest and those High-Priests agree and wherein they differ What their office is and wherein they agree for those High-Priests in all their administrations typed forth Christ our High-Priest 1 The Office of the High-Priest it was to offer sacrifice for the sins of the people Exod 28.29 Levit. 9. from the 1 to the 7 ver this hath Christ done he hath offered sacrifice for sin and herein Christ doth not onely agree with those High Priests in offering sacrifice for sin but he differs also excelling those High-Priests for they offered sacrifice it is true but it was the flesh and bloud of creatures a lambe a ram goats buls c. Levit 9.3.4 Heb. 9.13 22. But Christ Jesus he offered not the bloud of goats and calves but his own bloud Heb. 9.12 14. his own body Heb. 10.10 Christ hath offered himselfe a sacrifice Ephes 5.2 Christ hath loved us and given himselfe for us an offering and a sacrifice to God c. so you see Christ exceeds in the very first in the offering in the Sacrifice he offers his own body his own bloud upon the crosse a sacrifice for sin and indeed those legall sacrifices were but a type of Christ our sacrifice and in themselves could not doe away sin but as they directed to Christ therefore Christ is called the lamb slain from the beginning or from the foundation of the World Rev. 13.8 1 Pet. 1.18 29. 2 The High-Priests by offering sacrifice were to make a tonement and peace for their own sins and for the sins of the people Levit. 19.7 Moses said unto Aaron goe to the Altar offer thy sin offering and thy burnt offering make an atonement for thy selfe and the people Chap. 15.30 The Priest for the unclean woman was to offer a sin offering and a burnt offering to make an atonement for her before the Lord This was the end wherefore he went into the holy place Cap. 16.3 To make an atonement for the children of Israel before the Lord ver 34. This Christ our High-Priest hath done harke you beloved Christ our High Priest hath offered sacrifice and by his sacrifice he hath put away sin made an attonement that is peace and reconciliation between God and man Rom. 5.10 12. Being enemies were reconciled to God by the death of his Son Nore here is Christ reconciling by his death Christ a sacrifice dying and so reconciling you shall see all along the Scripture that it is Christ a Sacrifice Christ dying that is our reconciliation our attonement and peace Ephes 2.13 They which were somtimes afar off are made night by the bloud of Christ ver 14. he is our peace ver 15. having abolished in his slesh the enmity c. ver 16. and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the Crosse c. You see Christ hath made peace by his bloud having abolished in his flesh the enmity of the Law made reconciliation by his crosse see Col. 1.20 and making peace how through the bloud of his crosse it is by the bloud of his crosse by his death wherein he offered himselfe a Sacrifice for sin that he hath made peace for all his people Note in this also that Christ our High-Priest exceeds those Jewish High-Priests Christ our High-Priest hath indeed made peace and reconciliation for sin he is our peace and that the Jewish High-Priest could not doe their Sacrifice could not make peace farther then the soule was lead unto Christ see Heb. 10.1 The Law having but a shadow of things to come can never with those sacrifices that they offer make the commers thereunto perfect and ver 4. For it is not possible that the bloud of buls and goats should take away sin Christ hath done that which the bloud of buls and goats could not doe that which never a High-Priest in the world could doe he hath taken away sin he hath made peace and every believer receives the atonement from his hands Rom. 5.11 By whom namely Christ we have now received the atonement O beloved What doe your soules say to this Christ hath wrought peace for every soul rightly receiving him he hath done that which the Priest could not do he hath done that thou thy selfe couldest never have done if the Load help thee rightly to look to him and this hee hath done in offering himselfe a Sacrifice for sinne dying upon the crosse How should this informe poor creatures where to look for their peace and atonement O doe not loook for it in duties in teats in professions it is not crying but dying that will take away sin it is not tears but bloud that will make peace Col. 1.20 Heb. 9.22 Without bloud there is no remission believe it if ever thou hast peace thou must have 〈◊〉 from a Christ dying Rom. S. 33 34. Who shall lay any things to the charge of Gods elect it is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed c. Hee dyed for our sins and rose again for our iustification Rom. 4.25 it is through him who hath given himselfe a Sacrifice for sin that you must come to see your sin pardoned if ever you see it pardoned O how doe poor ignorant blind creature deceive themselves seeking peace where it 〈◊〉 not to be found in duties tears c. The dig broken cisterns to themselves that will hold no water They that is the reason they are so empty compaesse themselves about with sparks of their own kindling Esay 50.11 that is the reason they ly down in sorrow they seek the living among the dead that is living consolations amongst dead works and that is the reason they finde it not believe it beloved if ever your soules enjoy true peace it must be let into your soules by a dying Christ if ever you are saved it must be by eying of and believing in the Lord Jesus Esay 45.22 3 The High-Priest was to bear the names of the children of Israel in two srones between their shoulders Exod. 28.12 so hath Christ born not onely the names but
a God able to save after this manner 2 It appears to be a mighty work exceeding the work of the creation or any of the rest of the works of God if we consider the severall circumstances or concomitants thereunto appertaining Beloved the Lord made the world with his word he spake the word and it was done but it was not a word that could save man being falne no no beloved there is more to be done first God must take upon him the nature of man that is the seed of David Rom. 1.3 of Abraham Heb. 2.16 he must bear the sins of sinners 1 Pet. 2.24 and their curse being made a curse for them Gal. 3.13 and their condemnation Rom. 8.3 And to effect this great work of mans salvation He that was in the forme of God and thought it no robbery to be equall with God was found in the forme of a servant became obedient to the death even the death of the Crosse Phil. 2.6 7. here is a great work before mans salvation is accomplished was there ever the like work wrought by God greater then the creation there a word doth it here must be bloud not of an ordinary man but of the Son of God greater then the destroying or building of Nations or Kingdoms here a word doth it Jer. 18.7 8. here must be bloud Heb. 9.22 Thus you see beloved the admirable power of God manifested in this work of reconciliation 2 Use If Christ be the alone High-Priest the alone reconciler and peace-maker betwixt God and man as you have heard he is 1 Tim. 2.5 There is one God and one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus Then here is a word of information to informe us of the vanity and folly of those that create to themselves other grounds of peace and comfort besides Christ Note first that there are many that doe thus create to themselves other grounds of comfort other Saviours besides Christ notwithstanding the Lord hath sayd there is no other name given under heaven whereby you may be saved yet believe it many there are that rest upon duties and performances and make that the ground of their consolation Jer. 2.12 13. They have forsaken me the fountain of living water and have digged unto themselves cisterns broken cisterns that will hold no water my people that is not onely mine by creation but by profession yet they forsake me and digg'd cisterns to themselves how doe men love to draw water out of their own cisterns to create comforts to themselves to kindle sparks of their own fire untill the Lord bring them off from it Mat. 25.1 there were five wise virgins five foolish the foolish have lamps a profession and in that they rest without oyle that is Christ his grace and mercie and note Christ sayth the Kingdome of heaven is like ten virgins and it may be the state of the Church for all that I know men shall content themselves that they are members and boast themselves and comfort themselves in it with a name of Christians a name that they are alive and yet are dead therefore it neerly concerns you beloved to look to it it is not enough that you hear profess pray or be members of Churches unlesse Christ bee yours there is nothing else can make peace but the bloud of the Covenant and many there are that shall deceive themselves 2 See the sin the evill of trusting upon any thing beneath Christ 1 It is a vaine and foolish thing therefore the five Virgins Mat. 25. are called foolish Virgins and well might they be called foolish they content themselves with Lamps without oile how long is that Lampe likely to burn that wants oile think you so that professour that wants Christ It is a foolish thing for a man to be content with the shell without the kernell the shadow without the substance Beloved all things without Christ is but a shadow it will prove nothing hee is the substance of all Ordinances and professions farther then you have Christ in them they are dead O how foolish would you count that man that woman that should strive to catch the shadow leaving the substance It is a vain thing without profit the vanity of it is this they deceive themselves they thinke they have something when they have nothing Revel 3.19 Because thou sayest thou art rich and increased with goods and hast need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miser able and poor and blinde and naked this is thy folly this is thy vanity thou thinkest that thou hast much to say for thy self because thon hast gotten a forme of godlinesse when the truth is that all without Christ is nothing nay lesse then nothing vanity they cannot helpe thee certainly Christ died in vaine if any thing beneath himselfe can save thee Galath 2.21 But secondly to create comforts to thy selfe beneath Christ is an evill and a bitter thing certainly beloved it will prove very evill and bitter one day eyther here when discovered to thy soul or else hereafter when too late See Jer. 2.19 Know therefore and see that it is an evill thing and a bitter that thouhast forsaken the Lord thy God An evill end bitter thing to forsake the Lord Jesus the fountain and to rest upon any other thing beneath himselfe Object What is the evill of it perhaps you will say Ans The best end of it is sorrow certainly sorrow must needs follow it Esay 50.11 Behold all you that kindle a fire that compasse your selves about with sparks walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks that yee have kindled this shall yee have of mine hand yee shall ly down in sorrow Question What is the reason poor souls walk so sadly and so sorrowfully Answer Is it not because they forsake the Lord the fountain and dig eisternes to themselves kindle a fire of their own and then sit down and thinke to comfort themselves and hence it comes to passe that so many poor souls ly down in sorrow it is not thy case poor soule thou settest up this duty and that duty this prayer and that ordinance and expectest comfort in them and thou wouldest fain compasse thy selfe about with those sparks of prayers and duties c. and this makes thee ly down in sorrow and all because thy soule is not carryed through these to Christ who is the substanee of all Ordinances 3 It is a shamefull thing to rest upon any thing beneath Christ certainly beloved it will make you ashamed one day either here or hereafter see Rom. 6.21 What fruit had you then in those things whereof yee are now ashamed the end of those things is death What were those things deeds of darknesse and certainly to rest upon any thing beneath CHRIST is a deed of darknesse and will cause shame see Ier. 17.13 O Lord the hope of Israel all that forsake thee shall be ashamed And they that depart from me shall be written in
comfortable words to assure us that those corruptions committed after faith shall be pardoned Heb. 8.12 for these sins are indeed contrary to the holy and pure nature of God but hee pardons them and now dost think that Christ would give his life and bloud for thee when thou wast an enemy to him and so reconcile thee to himselfe and Father and now when he findes sin and corruption in thee inabilities to performe holy duties c. which he knew would be in thee before doest think he will now reject thee and cast thee off no no he will not cast thee off do not think it nay know it that God expected no better of thee he knew that thou wouldest have a vain foolish minde full of passion pride and the like farther then he gave thee power to subdue it he knew that without him thou canst doe nothing Iohn 15.5 ô therefore be not discouraged look to the Lord Jesus thy High-Priest who hath reconciled thee when thou wert an enemy Rom. 5.8 9. But God commended his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us much more now being justified by his bloud we shall be saved from wrath through him ver 10. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved 3 A Third thing that many times troubles the Saints it is those temptations and persecutions they are lyable to in this world for the name and sake of Christ For this I shall propound these five considerations as remedies all flowing from Christ our great High-Priest 1 Consider that he hath made the salvation of every believer sure Esay 55.3 The Covenant God makes with his people is the sure mercie of David I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David that is of Christ It is sure the devill may rage and men may rage but they shall never be able to prevail Mat. 16.18 The gates of hell shall not prevail c. Feare not hell thy High-priest hath the keyes of death and hell there shall not one soule goe in there more then Christ thy High-priest permits therefore feare not him that can imprison banish kill the body and cannot kill the soule but feare him that can kill both body and soule be not afraid to confesse Christ before men and devils they shall never be able to separate between God and thy soule see the confidence of the Apostle Paul and this was his comfort and this will be thy comfort Rom. 8.35 38 39. Who shall separate us from the love of God I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord true it is afflictions will come stormes and tempests will arise but you being founded upon the rock Christ Jesus shall stand see Mat. 25. The raine discended and the flouds came and the winde blew and beat upon that house and it fell not for it was founded upon a rock a poor weak soule carryed out of it selfe to Christ built wholly upon him shall stand when perhaps some that have seemed to be far more glorious professors building upon the sand upon duties and professions shall fall 2 Consider that Christ thy High-priest hath gone before thee in every condition therefore it follows Heb. 4.15 He was in all points tempted like unto us yet without sin O how should the consideration of this helpe thee through thy temptations art troubled with sin so was Christ with thy sin yet himself without sin he was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 yea and a curse for sin too and that thou shalt never be Gal. 3.13 art troubled with the Devill with temptations it may be to pride to the world c. so was Christ Mat. 4. Art persecuted so was Christ art contradicted of sinners so was Christ Heb. 12 3. art mocked scorned set out at nought so was Christ John 8.48 52. art accused perhaps for an Incendiary or pervertor of the City of the Nation so was Christ Luke 23.2 They began to accuse him saying we found this fellow perverting the Nation 3 Consider that Christ hath not only gone before in the Saints sufferings whereby hee is sensible and feelingly sensible of all the Saints sufferings but hee goes with them into their sufferings Consider Christ will be as deep in thy affliction as thy self hee takes all as done to himself Acts 9. Saul Saul why persecutest thou Me. Christ wil go with thee into thy affliction Esay 41.3 When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not over flow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt and Esay 41.10 Feare not for I am with thee what to do not for nothing I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousnesse and this you see verified Dan. 3.25 Acts 12.7 8 6.25 in all which Christ manifested his gracious presence both for support and preservation 4 Use Is a word of consolation beloved all the Saints consolation flows frō the manifestation of Gods love in Christ their High-priest Many are the consolations that issues forth to the Saints from this full fountain of grace all received in by faith a Christians justification which he receives by faith it comes in by the bloud of CHRIST Romans 5.9 Beloved it is Christ dying that is a Christians justification Rom. 8.33 and that is the reason why the Apostle is so carefull to make known a crucified Christ 1 Co. 15.3 Christ dying for sin because it was the first truth to be received for a sinners justification but now beloved supposing I speak to those that have received this dying Christ as their alone justification I shall rather passe this first particular and come to speak of the true effects of this receiving Christ and all flows from Christ as our High-priest The first is reconciliation and peace with God every man and woman that have indeed received Christ in a way of believing as they are justified so they have peace with God this is a truth the Lord helpe you to see it Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith wee have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ And this peace Christ hath made for us by his bloud Col. 1.20 And having made peace by the bloud of his crosse c. this is a sweet mercy a rich grace for a poore sinfull creature to be reconciled to and made one with the God of Heaven think upon it beloved is not this a ground of consolation now God has nothing against thee to whom he hath given faith in his Son although it is true the Devill hee
spirits are ever carryed forth against sin 2 The Saints cannot but deny sin as they stand related to Christ in relation to his glory Christ is holy and he will have a holy people that may be for his praise and honour 1 Pet. 2.9 But yee are a chosen generation a royall priesthood a holy Nation a peculiar people why That yee should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darknesse into his marvelous light Christ hath made you and I holy that so we might shew forth his praise that is that so we might give occasion to praise God Are not the eyes of the world upon the Saints expecting much from them although it is true they doe not nay they cannot love holinesse yet they expect the Saints to be holy and to deny sin are they not ready to watch opportunities to scandall Saints and truth withall and would it not be a very sad and grievous thing if those that professe themselves to be for Christ should give just cause of offence would it not be very dishonourable to the name of the Gospel and profession of Christ therefore Christ teaches men and women where he comes to deny ungodlinesse and sin and to live soberly righteously and godly in this world It is his exhortation Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven Let your light shine before the men of the world that they may have no cause to speak evill but rather cause to glorisie God Let your light so shine before the Saints that they may rejoyce and glorifie God A close walking with God is that which gives great cause of joy and rejoycing in each other and an occasion of praysing God one for another so the Apostle Rom. 1.8 I thank God through Jesus Christ for you all that your faith is spoken of through all the world How was their faith spoken of it was the fruit of their faith their obedience in walking up with God answerable to that faith they professed for by our works we manifest our faith so likewise Phil. 1.3 5. the Apostle thanks God for their constant fellowship in the Gospel from their first submitting to it This is a cause of joy But on the contrary for such as beare the name of Christians to live in and delight in sin to be vain and carnall and earthly this is a cause of sorrow and weeping amongst Saints Phil. 3.18 For many walke of whom I told you before and now tell you weeping they are enemies to the crosse of Christ they cause the crosse of Christ and the way of Christ to bee evill spoken of a cause of sadnesse indeed to the Saints 3 Reason Why Christ teacheth his to deny self wisdome self love self will and all of self is because they are to take up their crosse and to follow Christ that is they must expect reproaches afflictions tribulations for the name and sake of Christ John 16.33 In the world you shall have tribulations Now what wise man in the world can or will suffer reproch the losse of the world and the worlds reputation the losse of friends liberty ease it may be of life it selfe in a word all that is neer and deer to the carnall man what man but a foole thinks the wise men of the world is there that will lose all on such light terms as the gaining of a crucified Christ A man not taught of Jesus as the truth is in Jesus can never suffer with comfort and joy these things the Saints are like to suffer for the name of Iesus Self wisdom and self love will come in O sayth wise selse when it eyes that persecution those hardships that are like to follow those that follow Christ May I not passe by such atruth and such a practice and it be a Christian and get to heaven what need I to adventure my selfe upon such hardships when perhaps for the neglecting of such or such an opinion or practice I may attain my liberty my good reputation Is it not a sad thing that men professing Christ should thus consult with flesh and bloud the Apostle Paul did not so when hee was converted to the faith of Iesus hee consulted not with flesh and bloud Gal. 1.16 It is self wisdom and self love that sets men to consulting with flesh and bloud but flesh and bloud cannot inherit the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15.50 That is a man not taught of Christ not made partaker of his divine nature and grace bearing only the image of the earthly Adam cannot enter into the Kingdome of Heaven When a man shall come to submit to Gospell Ordinances which are contemptible in the eyes of the world for which hee is like to suffer shame and disgrace here is need of self deniall O sayth the self denying Christian Let mee submit to Christ to every truth to every ordinance although I suffer losse in the world reproch and shame from my friends and acquaintance though I loose the love of my best friends whether father mother husband wife c. yet sayth the self denying Christian Christ hath sayd that who so loveth father mother wife or children more then me is not worthy of me and the love that CHRIST hath shed abroad in my heart by his Spirit Rom. 5.5 constraineth me to deny my selfe and follow Christ in all conditions 2 Cor. 5.14 Thus you see the self denying soul and none else is meet to be a Diseiple a follower of Christ hee is ready to take up the crosse daily and to follow him 4 Christ teacheth his to deny self sufficiency and self strength that so they may be able to hold out in the evill day when a day of adversity comes when a man is put to it eyther by his spiritual or temporal enemy Blessed are they then that trust in the Lord Psal 2.12 Men standing upon their own strength are gone Esay 40.30 The youth shall faint and be we ary the young men shall utterly fail that is those that apprehend a power in themselves to stand but Verse 31. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint If men stand upon their own strength they are like to fall Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall But they that see an insufficiency in themselves and trust upon the name of the Lord shall be as mount Sion that shall never be moved Psal 125.1 but abideth for ever Christ would have his work to be a perfect and fair work his covenant a sure covenant Esay 55.3 Therefore hee undertakes not only to bring men and women intocovenant but to keep them there Ier. 32.40 I will not turn from them they shall not depart from me sayth the Lord. But if Christ had left the power of standing to man hee might
have been as likely to fall away as Adam nay and more likely for there is a body of sin left still in the Saints matter for the Deuill to work upon but Adam was without sin therefore there is no possibility for that man to stand that stands upon his owne strength But it is in the strength of Christ the believer stands without me ye can do nothing Iohn 15.5 You cannot pray or perform any duty acceptably Rom. 8.26 much lesse stand and hold out to the end against all spirituall oppositions a Christian is to encounter withall The fifth and last reason why Christ teacheth this grace of self denyall to the Saints is that so they might live in love and peace one with another If every Saint should seeke to please himself and love himselfe and to have his own will in every thing how is it possible love and peace should be continued amongst the Saints if there should not be a bearing with and forbearing one with another if the strong should not beare the infirmities of the weak and not please themselves but God hath so tempered the body together that they should all seek the good of each other in love that there should be no Schism in the body but that the members should have the same care one of another as of themselves 1 Cor. 12.25 that every one might secke not their own but one anothers good That they might all grow up together a compleat body a holy temple in the Lord. Use 1 A word of examination and tryall hath Christ bin thy Prophet hath he taught thee this lesson of self denyall this is a very needfull use not only for carnall men but for Saints it was the exhortation of the Apostle 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves prove your selves know you not Christ is in you except ye be reprobates Christ is in every Saint and if there what doth he there Surely hee is not there for nought he will be ever teaching the soul hee will be there as they Prophet shewing thee the way thou shalt walk in Consider a little now I beseech thee hath Christ taught thee to deny thy owne righteousnesse canst look upon it all as filthinesse or else art thou stuffed and filled with thine own righteousnesse lifted up as high as the heavens in thine own conceit like the proud Pharisee I thank God I am not as bad as other men I pray and performe duty I have a good heart and as good a mind to God as any man If this be thy condition the Lord Iesus hath never been thy Prophet thou art yet in the gall of bitternesse and bond of iniquity Thousayst thou art rich and wantest nothing when the truth is if the Lord open thine eyes to see it thou art poore and miserable and wretched and blind and naked Hath Christ taught thee to deny vngodlines and sin or else canst thou take pleasure in unrighteousnesse I dare say it that some there are in the world that have high thoughts of of themselves yet indeed make a mocke of sin take pleasure in unrighteousnesse if this be thy condition the Lord Christ hath never taught thy soule 2 Pet. 1.9 Christ teacheth to be holy and humble hee gives power against sin and Iust 1 Cor. 6.9.10 11. Consider you who have been taught of God hath hee taught your souls this lesson to deny your owne wisdome will end strength and all to lay down all as nothing at the feet of Jesus The Lord help you and I a little now to examine our selves how much of self yet remayns self wisdome self glorying and boasting self love self ends O how doth the Devill crowd in these things into the soules of the Saints the Lord help you and I to see it and give us power against it certainly if it be with your souls as it is with mee you have some experience of these things hardly can you performe any duty but self will present it selfe to your view in one shape or another Now where Christ teaches he ever sets the soule a work against those sins and causes the soule ever to have high thoughts of it selfe and to have high thoughts of God and of the Saints esteeming every one better then himselfe 2 Wherein you finde you come short in this duty selfe denyall looke up to the Lord for help and assistance it is the Lord that teacheth to profit therefore if you want any thing the exhortation of James is Aske of God who giveth to all men liber ally upbraydeth none Jam. 1.5 For every good gift comes down from God ver 17. Therefore have recourse to heaven make known thy condition to the Lord Jesus this thou maist doe thou oughtest to doe it thou must goe to God and tell him what thou wantest what grace thy soule needs tell him thou hast a poore-selfeseekeing-heart that will not stoppe farther then he bends it and bows it looke to him and he will help thee come unto him and he will ease thee and give thee thy hearts desire Note this one word where God hath begun this work in any measure though you find much of self and it is thy burthen yet here is a ground of comfort for such a soule it is mercy thou seest that evill of self that is in thee and that it is thy burthen The comfort is 1 that Jesus Christ hath beene thy Prophet hee hath taught thee in some measure to deny thy selfe and given thee a desire after the perfection of this grace 2 That where Jesus hath began this work he will finish it he will perfect it to the days of Christ 8 Thou mayst live upon him henceforth and expect teachings from him new manifestations new discoveries of grace and love new influences of power from himself as thou stanlest in need for his own honour the Saints good or thine own consolation Heb. 13.5 Thus much for the first which is Self-deniall 2 Where Christ becomes a Prophet hee eacheth that soule to yield universall obedince to himselfe this is an effect of the teaching of Christ Mat. 28.20 teaching them to observe and doe all things whatsoever I shall say unto you and Acts 3.22 23. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you him shall you heare in all things c. And this obedience Christ doth not only require as he is a King but he teacheth it as he is a Prophet See Esay 54.13 And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy children It is the covenant of grace Heb. 8.10 I will put my laws into their mind and write them in their hearts c. Hee will make them a willing people hee will teach them to yield willing obedience he will teach them to do spirituall things with an appetite with a minde to them now this obedience flows from faith it is a fruit an effect of faith Rom. 1.5 Christ first teacheth faith and then obedience Quest What are
Christ constr ains them 2 Cor. 5.14 3 Christ sets up in his Kingdome the Law of meeknesse and humility and that in opposition to the Law of pride and vaineglory Learn of me sayth Christ for I am meeke and lowly in heart Mat. 11.29 and this Christ sets up in the hearts of his people for he makes them partakers of his own graces Joh. 1.16 it is a fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.23 and of the Law of Christ set up in the soules of the Saints against which there is no law can prevail It is true there will be a rising somtimes in the spirits of the Saints pride will thrust it selfe in and be ready to life up the creature in the apprehension of some selfe excellencie although there is no cause yet this is a truth I believe it those that have any experience of the Kingdome of Christ or of the working of corruption know it right well pride will be pirking in ready to lift up the creature above measure either somtimes Externally to make a difference betwixt himselfe and others as nobility of birth parents or kinted honour in the world Externall carnall excellencies O how will it worke somtimes upon the heart of a poore creature as if he were sombody above others O is not thy soule sensible of this somtimes dear Christian I cannot but think it is But then comes in Christ with his law of meeknesse of humility and puls down this pride of heart and lays it low and brings the soule again to lay all in the dust what is honour sayth the believing soule what is nobility of birth this is my honour that I am a sonne a daughter of Iesus Christ and so the soule comes down ready to doe any service of love to the meanest Saint and now the Saints come to serve one another in love and now they come again to see that they are all one in Christ Iesus Somtimes Internally or with relation to Internall gifts received although we have nothing but what we receive yet this is the basenesse of mans nature it wil grow proude be ready to be lifted up even with those graces received is it not so with thy heart art thou not naturally proude doth it not presse in upon thee somtimes I know it doth and I dare say it troubles thee that art a Christian But now Christ comes with his law and casts all down to the ground lays low those mountains those strong lusts that exalt themselves thus against the Kingdome of Christ for this pride is absolutely against the Kingdome of Christ he will not have such things in his Kingdom it will thrust it selfe in but the Law of Christ discovers it and vanquisheth it and keeps the soule in an humble lowly meeke condition O consider of it where pride domineers and rules Christ hath no Kingdome in that soule there Christ dwels there he reigns where he hath made the soule humble faith in Christ doth not make men proud and high no no it is the greatest enemy to it in the world a proud heart did never can never believe before brought low in the sense of its own nothingnesse and emptynesse 4 Christ sets up in the hearts of his Saints in his Kingdom the law of patience and contentednesse in opposition to anger impatiencie and discontentednesse Rash anger impatiencic peevishnesse of spirit how will they arise and be striving somtimes in the hearts of Christians for a small matter how will the heart be out of order and distemper what words will be ready to flow forth the heart being in this temper but now in the heart of a Christian Christ puts in execution his law of patience and quietnesse of spirit O sayth Christ to the soule thou must be patient and meeke thou must learn of me didst thou ever read that I was moved to anger and impatiencie to fret and fume no not against mine enemies and then sayth the soule ô what a fool am I thus to fret and then to be angry how unlike to Christ am I and then down coms that proud peevish spirit into the dust and so foolish was I and ignorant I was even a beast before thee and then the soule is turned again into a sweet disposition of love a compound of patience not easily provoked not easily again stirred to wrath Somtimes in the soule of a Christian is apt to arise perhaps some impatiencie and discontentednesse under afflictions and persecutions hardly can it bear with patience some heart rising this way may arise but then in comes Christ purting in execution the Law of patience and contentednesse and puls downe all those impatient discontented thoughts and then let patience have her perfect worke and the soule is quieted and contented and willingly submits unto the minde of Jesus and then it can say with the Apostle Paul Phil. 4.11 I have learn'd in what estate soever I am therewith to bee content and now the soule is quieted and waits patiently upon the Lord and now the soule sayth ô how unlike am I to Christ 3 he suffered meekly as a lamb dumb before the shearer and opened not his mouth for me a sinner he suffered for me the just for the unjust that hee might bring me to God and shall not I be contented to suffer reproach and shame for him and then come what will come patience possesseth the soule 5 Christ sets up the Law of heavenly mindednesse in the heart of a Christian and indeed it is no wonder for his Kingdom is there heaven is there The Kingdome of heaven is within you Luke 17.21 and therefore needs must Christ set up this Law in his Kingdome and that in opposition to earthly mindednesse sinfulnesse or any thing that is opposite to holynesse and heavenlynesse and you know how the spirits of men nay of Christians are apt to be below the Lord Jesus somtimes on earthly object somtimes vaine proud unprofitable things run in the mind but Christ he comes and scatters those low things and raiseth the heart to himselfe and keeps the heart in such a temper that nothing can satisfie it but himself and when it loseth its heavenly temper its heavenly glory it is presently troubled and it cannot possibly take comfort in any thing beneath the Lord Jesus and here is a continuall combat and conflict between the flesh and the spirit the corrupt nature and the divine nature and certainly here corruption and Satan manytimes brings sadnesse upon the spirits of the Saints in darkning in overshadowing their heavenly enjoyment I meane in way of sense although they can never shake the faith of the soule in whom Christ dwels Mat. 16. The gates of Hell shall not prevaile against it Consider now doe you finde Christs Kingdom Christs laws these set up in your hearts do you find Christ opposing lust and corruption within you or do you not If Christ be there you will finde it in some measure I confesse it that Christ according