and full discharge unto him their surety and so a virtuall pardon of them Hence the answer or apology of a good conscience unto the cry of sinne the accusation of the law and the concurrence of this answer unto our salvation is made by the Apostle Peter to depend upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ his going into heaven and his being there on the right hand of God and the subjection of Angels authorities and powers unto him 1 Pet. 3.21,22 Hence is it also that the Apostle Paul inferreth the non-condemnation of the elect rather from Christs exaltation then his death because his exaltation is a cleere and full evidence that his death is abundantly satisfactory unto the justice of God Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen againe who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Rom. 8.34 many sin Satan and the law may be ready and very forward to accuse but none of these have any power to condemne for it is Christ that died for us And in the death of such a person as Christ there cannot but be a fulnesse of satisfaction But of this without his resurrection we could have had but little assurance and therefore that with the following parts of his exaltation the Apostle makes the chiefe ground of his confidence yea rather that is risen againe He haith paid the utmost farthing for he is delivered out of prison He is risen nay he is exalted unto a throne a crowne a Kingdome He hath all power given unto him in heaven and earth He is sate downe at the right hand of God and there he hath authority to make intercession in the behalfe of all the elect for whatsoever he pleaseth If he were not disburd'ned of the guilt of our sinne God would never have thus highly exalted him never suffered him to have been thus neare him to have had such power and prevalency with him Because the father hath committed all judgment unto the sonne Joh. 5.22 the sonne himselfe concludeth the freedome of all believers from condemnation Verily verily I say unto you He that Heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life Joh. 5.24 Thus you see how the fulnesse of Christs soveraignty dominion exempts believers from the guilt of sinne Now It is only guilt that makes men afraid of death hell it is the sting of death it is that which puts us into danger of hell fire therefore being freed from guilt we may be confident to be delivered from the wrath to come we need not fear the arrest of death or imprisonment in hell Christ our mediatour hath the keyes of death and therefore unto his death shall not be a prison but a bed or a withdrawing roome a place of repose He hath the keyes of hell and therefore he will suffer none of these to be cast into it for whom he hath prepared a mansion in his fathers house Secondly The fulnesse of Christs authority may comfort all his members against the power rage and raigne of sinne what complaint more usuall with believers then that of the violence of their lusts Oh say they our corruptions are so powerfull and vigorous as that we are afraid they will sometime or other break out unto our either disgrace if not undoing why if they would but looke off from themselves upon Christ Jesus at the right hand of his Father they might behold him invested with authority to mortify their most violent lusts to subdue their most head-strong corruptions He gave his Apostles power against uncleane spirits to cast them out Math. 10.1 and to heale all manner of sicknesse and all manner of diseases He gave the seventy disciples power to tread on Serpents and Scorpions and over all the power of the enemy Luk. 10.19 So he gives unto his disciples and members power to cast out uncleane habits every serpentine lust which are the spawne and broode of that great Serpent Indeed no wind so boisterous impetuous as the unmortified passions of men no sea so tempestuous so rough or restlesse as the hearts of unregenerate men Isa 57.20 The wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest whose waters cast up wire and dirt The sea is calme sometimes but there is a perpetuall tempest in their bosomes their lusts are alwaies raging they are like a troubled sea when it cannot rest they cast up nothing but mire and dirt All their words and actions are not only sinfull but sins mire and dirt But now Christ is such a manner of man as that he can easily rebuke both the very wind seas obey him Mark 4.41 He hath such authority from his father as that he can in all the elect with a word as it were still the wind of passion and calme the sea of sinne and stay it 's proud waves Secondly The fulnesse of Christs power and authority yeelds comfort against the strength malice and temptations of Satan Christ hath the keyes of hell and therefore they that have interest in Christ have no reason slavishly to feare all the Divels in hell Satan indeed is the prince of the power of the aire but what is the power of the aire in comparison of the power of our mediatour All power in heaven and earth Satan is compared to a strong man armed Luk. 11.21 but in the next verse we find that Christ is stronger then he able to overcome and bind him to take from him all his armour wherein he trusted and to divide his spoiles Math. 12.29 Luk. 11.21,22 The Seed of the woman is able to overpower the seed of the serpent the utmost mischiefe that the seed of the serpent the Divell and his instruments can doe is but to bruise the heele and that is no mortall wound for it is farre from either head or heart but the seed of the woman Christ Jesus shall bruise the head of the serpent that is destroy the power the Kingdome and workes of the Divell 1 Jo. 3.8 It is true we wrestle not against flesh blood but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darknesse of this world c. Eph. 6.12 But let us be strong in the Lord Jesus and in the power of his might for it is a power farre above all principality power might and dominion c. Eph. 1.21 Christ is the head of all principality and power Col. 2.10 And therefore Paul had good reason to be perswaded that neither Angels principalities nor powers shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Lastly The fulnesse of Christs authority is a support and comfort unto all that belong unto him against opposition of men whether violent by persecution or fraudulent by heresy schisme Why should any member of the Church be diffident and distrustfull
that have one mind and have given their strength and power unto the Beast make warre with the Lamb the Lamb shall overcome them for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings Rev. 17.13,14 To conclude this first branch of this use of consolation The Apostle Paul having spoken largely of the Soveraignty confer'd upon Christ in his exaltation Heb. 2.5,6,7,8 in the end of the eight verse he moveth a doubt against it but now we see not yet all things put under him we see it indeed with an eye of faith but not with an eye of sense and carnall reason we may say of that as the Apostle doth of the future state of the Saints of God it doth not yet appeare what we shall be but we know that when he shall appeare we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Joh. 3.2 but though it doth not yet appeare yet we believe it and faith is an evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 And the Apostle in his answer unto the doubt layeth downe a very good argument for the strengthening of our faith herein But we see Jesus who was made a little lower then the Angels for the suffering of death crowned with honour and glory vers 9. seeing he is crowned with glory and placed at the right hand of God and then hath all power given unto him in heaven and earth he will exercise this his power and authority for the good of his Church and overthrow of his enemyes and at the last day he will put all either persons or things that oppose him absolutely under his feete he will subdue them and trample upon them as upon a footstoole It is said of him Heb. 10.12,13 He sate downe on the right hand of God from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstoole If he our Soveraigne waits patiently till this worke be done it would be very bad manners in us his subjects to be impatient and not contented to wait the Lords Leisure I proceede unto a second benefit accrewing unto believers by the fulnesse of Christs authority and that is positive subserviency of all things to their salvation seeing he hath all power in heaven and in earth therefore he can make all creatures in heaven and earth to promote the glory and happinesse of his people Are not the Angels all ministring spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heires of salvation All believers are joint heires with Christ Rom. 8.17 Now he is the heire of all things Heb. 1.3 therefore they share with him in this his inheritance and are in a way of subordination to him heires of all things too All things are yours * Nota omnia vestra sunt non quasi omnia bona sint commania uti erant in statu innocentiae aut quasi justi omnium rerum sint propriè domini c. sed vestra sunt non possessione sed fine usu quia scilicet vobis in ministerium auxilium salutis deputata data sunt ita Anselm Amb. Theodoret. S. Thom. Chrysostom data inquam ad usum vel realem vel mentalem qui est in omnibus creaturis agnoscere laudare creatorem hoc est quod vulgò dicitur fideli totus mundus divitiarum est Corn. à Lapide in Locum Universalem enumeratione illustrat Vestri sunt omnes ministri summi infimi c. Vestrae sunt omnes res totus inquam mund us c. Vestra omnis conditio vita mors c. Vestri denique omnes eventus presentes in hac vita prosperi et adversi vel futuri in altera vita Omnia inquit vestra sunt Anabaptistae abutuntur hoc loco ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 facultatum probandam Apostolus verò non loquitur de possessionibus civilibus sed de ordine divino quo omnia debent servire utilitati Ecclesiae quia omnia sunt condita ad piorum salutem communicationem officiorum charitatis quae non tollit justitiam sicut nec Evangelium tollit politias Nec loquitur Apostolus de omnibus individuis sed de omnibus speciebus rerum Pareus in Locum See also Reynold's vanity of the creature pag. 27 28. saith the Apostle speaking of believers 1 Cor. 3.21 not in regard of propriety or possession but only in regard of end or use that is All things so farre as their need and occasion shall be usefull helpfull and serviceable unto the salvation of your soules and this is that which is meant by that usuall saying quoted out of Aug. fideli tâ—tus mundus divitiarum est The Apostle illustrates the universall by an enumeration of particulars vers 22. whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours Of which words I shall out of Pareus give you this short following Paraphrase All ministers are yours the highest and the lowest Paul Apollo Cephas All things are yours the whole world All conditions are yours life and death All events are yours present and future things present or things to come things present in this life whether prosperous or adverse Rom. 8.28 And we know that all things worke together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose Things to come that is all the glory of the new Jerusalem Rev. 21. Lastly upon this fulnesse of Christs authority we may ground exhortations unto severall duties and that regarding either God Christ or our brethren First we may hence be exhorted unto thankfulnesse towards God for that he hath vouchsafed such dignities unto our nature in the person of his sonne Psal 97.1 The Lord reigneth let the earth rejoyce let the multitude of Isles be glad thereof When the multitude saw the cure of the man sick of the Palsy they marveiled and glorified God which had given such power unto men Math. 9.8 How should we marvell and glorify God for the giving of all power in heaven and earth unto the man Christ Jesus for that his head is as the most fine gold Cant. 5.11 * Aynsworth that is his head-ship regiment and kingdome is most glorious like splendent gold Because he is the head of the corner the Psalmist our Saviour himselfe would have us to acknowledge the Lords doing and that it should be marveilous in our eyes Ps 118.22 Math. 21.42 The Apostle Paul entertains it with stupor and admiration what is man sayth he that is the man Christ Jesus that thou art mindfull of him or the Son of man that thou visitest him that thou crownest him with glory and honour and didst set him over the workes of thine hands that thou put'st all things under his feet Heb. 2.6,7,8 In Cant. 3.11 we have an exhortation unto an heedfull and gratefull observation and contemplation of Christ in his exaltation Go forth O daughter of Zion and behold King Solomon with the crowne wherewith his Mother
were partiall in the Law chap. 2. ver 9. we may allude unto the expression and say of many ministers in our dayes that they are partiall towards the ordinances of Christ Some will preach but at no hands meddle with the Sacraments Others will preach and baptize but then they wholly lay aside the Lords Supper as if the administration of it were become a thing scandalous in a minister Another sort are diligent in preaching and forward in dispensation of the Sacraments but then they have no care at all of discipline Why are not all these preaching Sacraments and discipline the ordinances of him that hath all power given unto him in heaven and earth How dare these men so farr transgresse their commission from him as to neglect any one of them The command of ministers to administer all ordinances is a vertuall and implied command of the people to embrace and receive all ordinances If it be our duty to teach them to observe all things whatsoever Christ hath commanded vers 20. They are not then left at liberty to observe what they please Christ's power should awe them as well as us unto universality in their obedience For if they refuse but one ordinance they interpretatively deny his Soveraignty whereas a full and universall conformity unto all his ordinances exalts him now he sits upon his throne crowned with glory and honour Cant. 3.11 Behold King Solomon with the crowne wherewith his Mother crowned him in the day of his espousalls and in the day of the gladnesse of his heart Believers in whom Christ is formed Gal. 4.19 who do the will of his father Mat. 12.50 are the mother of Christ and submission unto his scepter and goverment is all the crowne they can set upon the head of him whom God hath already made their King And from this submission no power or greatnesse whatsoever is a priviledge or exemption for what a bubble is any earthly power in comparison of all power in heaven and earth what poor wormes are the greatest Monarchs in respect of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and therefore the Psalmist exhorts the Kings and Iudges of the earth to kisse the Son that is to doe homage unto him Ps 2.10,12 Canutus a King of this land with his own hands set his crowne upon the head of the image of a Crucifix in Winchester His superstition herein was abominable but the intent of his action which I Iudge in charity was to expresse his acknowledgment of Christs soveraignty was very laudable What honourable mention doth Ecclesiasticall story make of such Princes as have submitted unto the discipline as well as doctrine of Christ and how famous have they been in all succeeding ages witnesse what is said of Philippus the first Christian Emperour for his being content to stand amongst the number of the penitents who made confession of their sins as also the praises of Theodosius for that he confessed his fault against the inhabitants of Thessalonica in sight of the people with teares How is Iohn Ducas the Greeke Emperour commended for his patient acquiescence in and penitent submission unto the bold severity of Blemmydes who shut the Church doores against his beloved Concubine Marcesina though she was in all her glory attended with most gallants of the Court The publick acknowledgment which the King of Navarre afterwards King of France made of his fault in vitiating the daughter of a Gentleman of Rochell would have rendred him as renowned as any of those if his other Apostacy like a dead fly in the oyntment of the Apothecary Eccles. 10.1 had not sent forth a stinking savour and eclipsed the glory of all his former actions Thus you have seen how the supreame and lordly power of Christ over all things should stirr up ministers unto a discharge of their function It may in the last place serve further as a motive to observe a due manner in the performance thereof to doe it with diligence and with confidence 1. With diligence for how can they but expect to be cursed that doe the worke of so powerfull a Lord negligently what can they looke for but condemnation that are lazy and slothfull in the service of him that hath all Iudgment committed unto him and hath authority to throw them into hell as well for idlenesse in their callings as profanesse in their lives The Lord of the harvest will punish all loyterers and reward none but such as have been diligent and faithfull labourers in the harvest When the Lord of the vineyard shall in the even of the world the day of judgment take an account of those that he hath sent to labour in his vineyard what will become of those that have been unmindfull of their errand and have stood all their lives long idle wholy neglecting the dressing pruning and fencing of the Lords vineyard what answer can those pastors make unto the great chiefe shepherd that have taken no care at all to secure their flocks from wolves and foxes Heretiques Schismaticks Ministers are but as the ushers of Christ that one master the principall teacher of his Church and will he thinke you take it well of them that are not industrious in the instruction of his disciples The doome of the slothfull and unprofitable servant that laid up his talent in a napkin or hid it in the earth was to be throwne into utter darknesse where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 25.24,25,26,27,30 In warr it is death for sentinels to be taken sleeping and if in the Church the watchmen of Christ the porters of the house be supine remisse and drousy doe you thinke that Christ the master of the house will hold them guiltlesse Ezek. 33.7 Mark 13.34,35 2. From the fulnesse of Christs authority ministers may be encouraged to discharge their function with confidence and that touching the protection of their persons successe and reward of their labour 1. They may hence gather confidence touching the protection of their persons so farr as Christ judgeth it convenient for he that hath all power given unto him in heaven and earth is able easily to put a restraint upon the greatest power on earth so that if he think convenient it shall not make the least opposition 2. Ministers may hence learne to be confident touching the successe of their labours for he hath the key of the house of David and can open unto them a great and effectuall door though there are many adversaries 1 Cor. 6.9 If he set before the Angell of the Church of Philadelphia an open doore no man can shut it Rev. 3.8 If he give the Gospell a passage no man can hinder it Lastly Ministers may depend upon Christs soveraignty for the reward of their labour The recompence they have from the most of men is contempt affronts and abuses of all sorts But when the chiefe shepheard shall appeare he is able to give them a crowne of glory that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5.4 2.
banner to them that feare thee that it may be displayed because of the trueth If the great men of the world be averse from us slight and contemne us it matters not Christ's desire is unto us Can. 7.10 He will put us as a seale upon his heart and his arme Can. 8.6 Though we have but little favour with the world we have a fulnesse of favour riches of grace with Christ We should not be discouraged at the unspeakable and implacable malice and hatred of our rageing persecutors as long as we have an unexpressible and incomprehensible love of Christ to oppose unto it We should not be dismayed at the depth's of Satans envy and malignity Revel 2.24 For in Chri'sts love there are all dimensions We should not afflict our selves for our povertie meannesse of birth and calling and the like outward abasures For none of them exclude from the grace of Christ He is rich unto all that call upon him We should not therefore despaire of pardon though guilty of many and great enormities For Christ's love passeth knowledge the comprehension of men or Angels and therefore hideth covereth nay quite burieth a multitude of sins All the sinnes of believers But now that prophane persons may not abuse this comfortable doctrine of the fulnesse of Christ's love I shall desire you to take notice of the character that the Scripture giveth of those unto whom it is appropriated The riches of his Glory that is glorious grace is made knowne only on vessells of mercy Rom. 9.23 and vessells of mercy are vessells unto honour sanctified and meet for the masters use and prepared unto every good worke 2 Tim. 2.21 The Lord Jesus Christ is rich in mercy but it is only unto those that call upon him to wit out of an unfeigned faith and undissembled love Rom. 10.12 that have a Spirit of prayer and supplication powred upon them 2. From this fulnesse of Christs love we may be exhorted unto three dutyes 1. Thankefulnesse for it 2. A diligent study and 3. a carefull imitation of it 1. Thankefulnesse for it We will remember thy love more then wine saith the Church unto Christ Cant. 1.4 But she hath a thankfull tongue as well as heart as she remembreth it inwardly in her selfe so with joy and triumph she outwardly publisheth and manifesteth it unto others chap. 2. chap. 3. chap. 7. And this her recognition and commemoration of Christs love is not in a formall dull cold and unpracticall way for it hath such an impression upon her heart as that it makes her even sicke with the love of him Cant. 2.5 It begets in her a love of a most powerfull and unconquerable influence It is a love as strong as death Cant. 8.6 that is it is as forcible and irresistible trampling upon and breaking through all difficulties that occurr in performance of duties unto or undergoing of sufferings for Christ This love is inflamed into jealousy and this jealousy is as cruell or hard as the Grave ibid. that is as inexorable unto all the enemies of Christ unto her most profitable and pleasant sins her darling and most indulged lusts This love is for its intensivenesse motion upwards unto heaven and consumptive efficacy compared unto fire ibid. The coales thereof are as coales of fire which hath a most vehement flame 1. Fire is the hottest of elements So the Churches love of Christ is more solidly intense then her love of any creature whatsoever She is as it were all in a fire with the love of him 2. The motion of fire is upwards towards heaven The love of Christ is as a fiery Chariot whereby a soule is carried up unto heaven 3. Fire burnes all things combustible So love of Christ consumeth all a mans corruptions And whereas elementary fire may be quenched the love of Christ is a celestiall flame Many waters cannot quench it neither can the flouds drowne it Cant. 8.7 It cannot be extinguished or abated by calamities And in the last place it is so sincere and incorrupt as that it cannot be bribed by any treasure If a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would utterly be contemned ib. If your love of Christ reach not this height we have described it comes short of a due gratitude we are unthankfull for Christs fulnesse of love if it be not as a loadstone to attract from us a love of him with all our hearts soules and might In the language of the Scripture we are utterly forgetfull of Christs love if it do not constraine unto duty and restraine from sin We despise the riches of Christs goodnesse grace and bounty forbearance and long-suffering if it do not lead us unto a strict and severe repentance 2. The fulnesse of Christs love may provoke unto a most diligent study of it It is an inexhaust fountaine an unfathomeable ocean a bottomelesse unsearcheable mine There is therefore more then enough in it to satisfy the restlesse inquiries of those that are most curious and thirsty after knowledge In Eph. 3.13,16,17,18 There be 4. Motives unto this study of Christs love 1. The comprehensivenesse 2. the incomprehensiblenesse of this love 3. The subject and 4. the influence of the knowledge thereof 1. The comprehensivenesse of the Love of Christ It takes in all the d Paulus nihil per istas dimensiones intelligit quam Christi charitatem de quâ continuò post significans eum cui verè perfectè cognita est undequaque sapere ae si diaeisset quaquaâ—versùm respiciant homines nihil reperient in salutis doctrinâ quod non huc referendum sit Continet enim una Christi dilectio omnes sapientiae numeros ideo quo facilior sit sensus ita resolvi debent verba ut valeatis comprehendere Christi dilectionem quae est longitudo latitudo profunditas alâ—…tudo sapientiae nostrae hoc est tota perfectio Similitudinem enim sumit à Mathematicis ut à partibus totum desigâ—et Quoniam hic omnium ferè communis est morbus rerum inutilium studio ardere utilis vallè est ista admonitio quod scire nobis expediat quid Dominus considerare nos velit sursum deorsum ad dextram sinistram à fronte à tergo Dilectio Christi nobis proponitur in cujus meditatione nos exerceamus dies ac noctes in quam nos quasi demergamus Hanc unam qui tenet satis habet extra eam nihil est solidum nihil utile nihil â—enique rectum aut sanum Circumeas licet coelum terras maria non altius transcendes quin legitimum sapiendi finem transilias Calvin in Ephes 3. v. 18. dimensions the length breadth depth height of spirituall wisedome all the objects of saving knowledge which are some way or other reducible unto it And hereupon that great Doctor of the Gentiles resolved to study privately and to preach publikely nothing but what did some way or other referre unto that
Now that this progressive fulnesse is attainable here in this life may be evinced From the commendations that are given in Scripture unto the Saints for it from the exhortations to it from the prophesies promises and relations of it from the prayers both of petition and thanksgiving for it that occurre in Scripture 1. From the commendations that are given in Scripture unto the Saints for it as unto Elizabeth Luk. 1.41 Zacharias v. 67. Stephen Act. 6.8 7.55 Dorcas Act. 9.36 and Barnabas Act. 11.24 one part of the character of the Angell of the Church of Smyrna is that notwithstanding his outward poverty he was yet rich Rev. 2.9 to wit inwardly towards God Luk. 12.21 with true riches Luk. 16.11 Paul witnesseth of the Corinthians 2 Cor. 8.7 that they did abound in every thing in faith and utterance and knowledge and diligence and in their love towards the Ministers of the Gospel and he gives also as large a testimony of the better part of the Romans such as were strong and growne Christians I my selfe also saith he am perswaded of you my brethren that ye also are full of goodnesse filled with all knowledge able to admonish one another Rom. 15.14 In which words we have three things considerable 1. What fort of fulnesse it was that the Apostle speakes of 2. The matter of it goodnesse and all knowledge 3. The result or sequel of it That ye may be able also to admonish one another 1. Enquire we what sore or kind of fulnesse it was There is a twofold fulnesse of grace one of parts another of degrees 1. Of parts when one hath all the graces of sanctification for sort or kind And such a fulnesse is conferred upon even the weakest in the faith and that at their first conversion for then they have so much grace as doth in some measure enable them for the mortifying of every lust for the performance of all duties whether of the first or second Table In a second place there is a fulnesse of degrees and that againe either absolute or comparative Now the Romanes were not in regard of degrees absolutely full of goodnesse filled with all knowledge For such a perfection of fulnesse Paul himselfe disclaimeth Phil. 3.12 as being the alone priviledge of triumphant Saints Their fulnesse then was onely comparative in comparison of such imperfect beginnings as were in novices and babes in Christ such as were weake in the faith 2 We have the matter of this fulnesse goodnesse and all knowledge 1. Goodnesse by which the Greeke Expositours as Beza informeth me understand vertue in generall and oppose it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unto wickednesse so that it comprehendeth all vertuous and gracious habits whatsoever 2. All knowledge that is the knowledge of all things necessary unto faith godlinesse and salvation 3. Lastly we have the result or sequel of this fulnesse Qualification of them for the duty of mutual admonition unto which is requisite a gracious heart and a gifted head Because they were full of goodnesse they had hearts propense unto so good a worke Because they were filled with all knowledge they were able to mannage it for the best advantage unto Gods glory and their owne edification The foure beasts were full of eyes before behind and within Rev. 4.6,8 that is the ministers of the Gospell comprehended under the foure Evangelists were full of knowledge and vigilant care They were full of eyes before to looke towards God and behind to looke towards their people and within to looke to themselves A second Argument for the attainablenesse of this progressive fulnesse is the exhortations that occurre in scripture unto it Paul exhorts the Corinthians to be perfect 2 Cor. 13.11 to perfect holinesse in the feare of the Lord 2 Cor. 7.1 and to be abounding in the worke of the Lord 1 Cor. 15.58 The Colossians to abound in faith Col. 2.7 the Hebrewes to goe on unto perfection Heb. 6.1 He beseecheth the Thessalonians by the Lord Jesus to abound more and more to wit in spirituals that is in graces and duties Thirdly there are Prophecies of this progressive fulnesse in the old Testament Esay 33.5 The Lord is exalted Christ is risen and ascended into heaven for he dwelleth on high that is he sitteth at the right hand of the Father And the fruit hereof is the filling of the Church with grace and goodnesse He hath filled Sion with judgement and righteousnesse The spirit shall be powred upon us from on high And the wildernesse shall be a fruitfull field Isaiah 32.15 The desert shall rejoyce and blossome as the Rose It shall blossome abundantly the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it The excellency of Carmel and Sharon Esay 35.1,2 A fourth Argument is the promise that is made in Scripture of this progressive fulnesse Whosoever hath to him shall be given and he shall have more abundance Our Saviour propounds this promise twice 1. In the parable of the sower unto the having or possession of grace Math. 13.12 2. In the parable of the talents unto the diligent use of grace 1. In the parable of the sower unto the having or possession of grace and then the words may be thus paraphrased Whosoever hath the initials of sanctifying and saving grace the beginnings of faith and repentance unto him shall be given increase thereof Phil. 1.6 and this increase shall not be sparing but very plentifull And he shall have more abundance The good ground the honest and believing heart that heareth the word and understandeth it beareth fruit and bringeth forth some an hundred fold some sixty some thirty Math. 13.23 a sparke shall grow to be a flame That light which at first was but as the dawning shall at last shine more more unto the perfect day He that abideth in me and I in him saith our Saviour the same bringeth forth much fruit John 15.5 And the reason hereof wee may fetch from the second verse of the same chapter Every branch that beareth fruit the father purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit The * Mr. John Goodwin in his Pagans debt and dowry Arminians will not allow this promise to be restrained unto the elect and the regenerate but would extend it unto the generalitie of mankind unto even the Heathen unto whom the sound of the Gospell never came But this our restraint of the words I shall justify out of our renowned Twisse Vindic. grat lib. 3. pag. 140 141 142. by three arguments first from the caution premised vers 9. secondly from the words immediatly foregoing vers 11. of which they are a confirmation 3. From the words following which are an illustration of them by way of Antithesis or opposition 1. From the caution premised vers 9. who hath eares to heare let him heare Where by eares is meant the inward eare of faith and spirituall understanding Now that they who have eares to heare are the same with our Saviours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉