the soul like Manoahs Angel ascends up to God in heaven it is a common proverb that love alwayes descends seldome ascends It is not so between God and beleivers 1 Jo. 4 19. and that love which ascends from us to God what is it but that which first descended from God to us A woman that hath no love no affection for such a person nor any thoughts of him it may be never saw him yet when such a person comes to make known his true love and affection to her it presently begets love in her bosom so Thus the Apostle doth describe it Eph 1.4 see how it begins in the love of God to us and ends in our love to him this is that the eternal love of God aimed at and works up every believer to God loves that he may be loved Where God loves he takes up his rest in that soul Zeph. 3.17 where the soul lovâ—s God it takes up its rest in God Psal 116.7 and values the love of God above richest enjoyments Psal 63.3 Now it cannot live but in the love of God Psal 30.5 Fourthly by actuating the whole foul in a way of service and sincere obedience to God What the Apostle saith of the love of Christ 2 Cor. 5.10 the same is true of the love of God it constrains it besiegeth it hemms us in it takes full possession of the soul brings it under the regency of divine love is wholly at the Command of love 1 John 5.3 This is the love of God Herein is Gods love manifested to be special love to us and herein is our love manifested to be sincere love to him This is the spirit in the wheels that moves all the faculties and affections of the soul to God in a way of duty and obedience In this way God manifests his Communion of love with us Jo. 14.23 and we manifest our Communion of love with God 1 John 1.7 To walk in the light is to walk in a way of holiness and holy obedience to God and whereas many failings and fallings short will be found in the best obedience yet there is a remedy provided the blood of Christ 1. Use This point leads us to the uppermost spring the highest original of grace and glory to believers and that is the love of God not the love of Christ as Mediator but the love of God whence Christ and all spiritual blessings with him originally flow to us In vain shall we seek for any other motive to God in his dispensations of grace to us besides his love Deut. 5.7 8. God hath predestinated you to the adoption called justified sanctified you and will glorifie you only because it pleased the Lord to love you 2. Use Is love the bond of our Communion with God First then it is a very near close intimate Communion Love is a transanimation one soul in another 1 Sam. 18.1 or with another it is a believer engraven in Gods heart appled in Gods eye carried up and down in Gods armes like a beloved disciple lying in Gods Bosom the Place the Seat the Center of love Secondly it is of love therefore a choice Communion Love singles out its object it looks upon many chuseth few the children of his love are a chosen generation 1 Pet. 2.9 God singles some out of all the world to have Communion with and they single God out of all the world to have Communion with him Psal 73.25 Thirdly it is of love therefore a strong Communion Love is strong as death invincible by any opposition conquering every thing that is against it The Love of God pardons all sin swallows up all distances The love of God in communion with the soul sweetens every bitter thing heals all lapses repairs all breaches ends all controversies between God and the soul Hos 145 5. Fourthly it is an everlasting communion because it is of love the love of God in the heart of a believer never faileth 1 Cor. 13.8 much less can the love of God fail in his own heart the love of God is one of the longest and most lasting things in God Psal 36.10 Continue in the Hebrew Draw out at lengthâ— as is the love so is the Communion 3. Use Is love the bond of our Communion with God take that exhortation Jude 21. Keep your selves in the love of God keep up your faith in Gods love keep the apprehensions and manifestations of Gods love warm in your hearts This will keep you in sweet Communion with God which is the life of ouâ— faith the soul of our Christianity thâ— joy of our salvation all joy and peace iâ— believing This is strong consolation Peace that passeth understanding Thiâ— is our stability in grace our security for glory 1 Iohn 4.16 we have known and believed God is love ROM 8.38.36 VVE are come to the third particular viz. the primary and principal subject in which the love ef God to us centred and that is Jesus Christ which is in Christ Jesus Doct. That love of God which is the bond of communion between himself and believers with all its gracious effects Blessings Priviledges is manifested and dispensed to us only in and through Jesus Christ Our life and salvation is first in God himself with whom is the fountain of life and who is the Father of lights in whom our life is said to be hid Coll. 3.3 and so in him it is ours by the eternal purpose of his love and grace in himself This love of God as it was the only moving cause to God of the eternal purpose of his grace concerning us so it is the chief Agent and principal Efficient of all grace in us as we declared in the last Point Yet we must consider the only Medium or means by which God doth manifest his love to us through which he doth dispence all the effects of his eternal love and grace to us is Jesus Christ who is appointed of God to be the only Executor of all his Decrees of love and grace and is ordained to come in as Mediatour in all things between God and us This I shall endeavour to demonstrate 1. Demonst Jesus Christ was anointed with all that love which God the Father had taken up in his own bosom to be laid out on all his elect ones and thus he became Son and Heir of all the love of God to his beloved Hence Christ is made known to us as the eminently beloved one of the Father Mat. 3.17 The beloved with an Amphasis in whom we are said to be accepted Eph. 1.6 his dear Son or the Son of his love into whose Kingdom we are said to be translated Col. 1.13 And from the love of God to him is the love of God derived to us John 17. ult 2. Dem. Jesus Christ alone is the great manifestation of Gods eternal love to us as being the first and most immediate effect of it 1 John 4.10 so as we cannot nor ever could come to the least measure of knowledge of
could see this Numb 23.19 This fenced and fortified them there in Gods love against all the sorceries and inchantments of their enemies This also fenced and fortified them in Gods love against the greatest provocations by their own sins Hos 11.8 9. God loved Jacob in the Womb and continued to love him through Old and New Testament Mal. 1.2 Rom. 9.13 Thirdly the faithfulness of God confirmed by Oath by which they are fenced and fortified in the love of God against all their own backslidings and the severest dispensations of Gods displeasure Psal 89.30 33. Nevertheless my loving kindness confirmed by Covenant and Oath v. 34 35. Fourthly the All-sufficiency of God He is God of all grace and hath called them he will settle them 1 Pet. 5.10 Thus they are fenced and fortified in Gods love against all their own wants doubts weaknesses and imperfections 3. Dem. Is taken from the nature and quality of the love of God to believers as it is said to be in Christ Jesus First hence it will appear to be an everlasting love from eternity to eternity the love of God was from everlasting to everlasting Jer. 31 3. and the love of Christ is to everlasting John 13.1 Believers have full security for their continuance in Gods love because it is the love of God in Christ who is to carry it on through all its passages oppositions seeming interruptions to Eternity Secondly the Lord Iesus his love is a victorious love it brings off believers more then Conquerours over all things that can attempt or endanger a separation Rom. 8.35 37. More then Conquerors because whenever they fight with any enemies for the prize the love of Christ they always come off Conquerors not wounded nor wearied nor discouraged nor with any loss but they come off sounder stronger holier fuller of all grace and more confirmed in the love of Christ Thirdly the love of God in Christ is indelible the persons are engraven on his heart it is invincible they are engraven as a Seal on is Arm Cant. 8.6 you may as easily pluck out Christs heart as pluck away believers from his love she is seal'd on his Arm to shew that mighty Power Christ still engageth to keep them in his love to support her infirmities and to subdue all the enemies that rise up against her 4. Dem. Is taken from this love of God as it is scituated in Christ Iesus our Lord. First he is Son and Heir of all Gods love and the Heir is Lord of all Jesus Christ is Lord of all his Fathers love and the love of God the Father is primarily his portion and inheritance Now this Jesus Christ is our Lord so that what he possesseth of Gods love is ours and upon what terms he possesseth it It is for us Iohn 17 23 26. Now who can dispossess Christ Jesus of Gods love or separate him from the love of God No more Secondly the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord is Protection to itself and all that are under it against the violence of all its enemies Cant. 2.4 his Banner over me was love Where the colours is there is the Captain where the Standard or Banner is there is the King The love of God in Christ Iesus our Lord is as a banner displayed in the heart and a believer may say of all the enemies reckoned in the Tex as the Prophet Isa 8.9 10 for Emanuel God is with us Christ Iesus our Lord. Thirdly Christ Iesus our Lord will make believers invincible in the love of God what is the power of all these enemies in the Text to the power of Christ Jesus our Lord he will bring them under believers feet and make them know he hath loved them and they shall never separate them from his love Rev 3.9 5. Dem. Is taken from the nature and quality of that love of God which is in the hearts of believers which is produced by the love of God to us in Christ Jesus First there is more sweetness in the love of Christ then bitterness in all the sorrows troubles afflictions that be fal them for the love of Christ Jacobs seven years servitude seemed nothing to him for his love to Rachel Gen. 29.20 The love of Christ is said to be better then wine Cant. 1.2 4. Wine makes glad the heart Zach. 9.7 it makes a man neither to feel nor remember his sorrows the love of Christ in the foul makes every bitter thing sweet nothing can kill the love of Christ in the heart Secondly this love of Christ in believers hath a mighty potency in it 2 Cor. 5.14 stronger to keep us to Christ then all adverse power to separate us from him It conquers death that conquers all other things it swallows up the grave that swallows up all things consumes coals of fire which consumes all things and many waters Cant. 8.6 7. Thirdly that love by which believers love God as first loved of him dwell in God who then can separate 1 John 4.6 6. Dem. Is taken from the impotencie of all things that encounter a believer fortified in Gods love how mighty soever in themselves and in other Cases yet in this attempt they are impotent They are not able saith the Text to sepâ—rate So that if we shall consider the nature and quality of Saints Communion with God and of that God in whom this love is as in its original and the nature of it as in Christ Iesus as in Christ Iesus our Lord and the nature and quality of it as it is in believers then we may conclude the Point in hand Obj. But some say this Persuasion is not common to other believers Paul had it by revelation Answ First nay Paul had it by the lively exercise of faith on the doctrine of Justification by free grace as the context shews Secondly the Apostle in this Persuasion of faith includes all believers with himself shall not be able to separate us he is much perswaded for others as himself Thirdly though all believers have the same Communion with God and Christ Iesus in love as hath been declared all have not yet the same measure and degree of confidence assurance and full Persuasion of faith in this Fourthly no believers security is founded on the Persuasion of his faith but the Persuasion of his faith is founded on the love of God which is in Christ Iesus his Lord. A believer sins this weakens his faith he griâ—vs the Spirit this weakens his Persuasion he neglects the means this weakens his confidence it may be God for his trial voluntarily withdraws this weakens his assurance yet this stands firm nothing can separate him from Communion with God in love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1. Use For Instruction Let Christians who design and aim at the comfort of Christianity cast their thoughts defires endeavors into this Mould viz. how to compass an assurance of Gods love in Christ While some Christians are endeavoring desiring longing O that I knew
I had this grace that grace the other grace in truth Do thou endeavor to get thy state cleared up to thee in the love of God in Christ Jesus thy Lord. Hath Christ prayed that the World may know John 17 23. to their Conviction Conversion or Condemnation that God hath loved his And shall not they endeavor to know for this end First live much in Communion with Christ It is the love of God in Christ Jesus See John 17. ult Secondly dearly entertain the sweet Spirit of God Rom. 5.5 2. Use To such as have clear'd up to them their Communion with God in love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Bring up your faith to this Persuasion that nothing shall be able to separate you from Put on the breast-Plate of faith and love Fear no enemy for God hath not 1 Thes 5.8 9. I say to you as Gideon to his men Judg. 7.15 Arise for God hath delivered the whole Host of your enemies into your Hand Nor Death nor Life nor shall be able ROM 8.38 39. Nor Death nor Life shall THE Apostle having raised his Fortress built his Towers fenced and fortified his faith in its Communion with God in love through the Lord Iesus and having taken a distinct view of all his enemies now hangs out a Flag of defrance throws the Gauntlet triumphs in the Conflict over all The first rank of enemies he encounters with is death and life which he overcomes by faith Doct. A Christian fortified in the love of God through Christ or his Communion with God in love hath full security against all the attempts whereby death or life may endanger a separation I. We shall consider how far a believer may be in danger by death and life as to a separation from God and his love First as to death it is a dangerous e 〈◊〉 considered in its abstract nature First death is the punishment Gods Iustice every way fitted and proportioned to sin In the day thou eatest thou 〈◊〉 As sin contains in it all the evâ—l the creature 〈◊〉 do against God so death includes in it all the evils mischiefs miseries the wrath of God can bring upon the creature Secondly the Power of Death was committed to the Devil hence the generality of believers under the Old Testament were all their life kept in bondage through slavish fears Heb. 2.14.15 Thirdly death is a thing can no more have Communion with God then sin can sin is absolute opposition to Gods 〈◊〉 and purity Death is absolute opposition to Gods life and being he is called the living God who is eternal unchangeable immortal Fourthly death is attended with Hell in its first institution Rev. 6.8 which is everlasting separation from God By sin the creature separated it self from Go and its punishment was to be everlastingly separated from God Fifthly the Saints of God have mightily cried out to God when they have been in danger to be separated from God by death Heman Psal 88.3 4 5 10 11 12. David Psal 116.3.4 But death can never separate a believer from his Communion with God in love through Christ lesus First the love of God and the love of Christ never dies Death could not abolish Christs love to believers Iohn 13.1 nor can it abolish the love of believers to Christ Rev. 12 11. The love of Christ to believers and their love to him is strong as death Cant. 8.6 they never encountred death but overcame Secondly Saints have walked in the â—alley of the shadows of death and have â—ept their Communion with God and have not heard nor felt any evil Psal 3.4 Thirdly Christ hath taken the Power of Death out of Satans hand and taken it into his own hands and commanded his people to fear not Rev. 17 18. Fourthly Christ hath executed that revenge threatned Hos 13.14 against Death and the Grave for all the sorrows fears temptations cruelties it hath executed against him and his holy Saints Fifthly Christ hath abolisht death 2 Tim. 1.10 the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifiâ—s to make weak and useless to take away all the power and strength of a thing death is not now as it was its sting is gone Boys play with a Bee when the sting is out Nor only so but Christ â—ath brought in the room of it Life and Immortality hence that Iohn 11.26 Mat. 22.32 Sixthly Saints now die like Christ though in the Grave his soul was separate from his body yet neither was separated from the Godhead Though death may separate between soul and body in a Saint it cannot separate either from Communion with God Rom. 8.11 Seventhly death to Saints strengthens their Communion with God it separates an holy Saint from a filthy world a precious soul from a 〈◊〉 body precious graces from filthy corruptions 〈◊〉 precious Spirit from vile flesh Death to Saints separates only the precious from the vile whereby they come into more intimate Communion with God 2 Cor. 6.17 Eighthly it is not to believers Death and Hell follows it but Death and Heaven follows it Death is so far from separating it carries the soul into the full enjoyment of God Secondly let us consider how far a Christian may be endangered by life Here consider four things First the many errors slips falls backslidings believers are subject to in this life Psal 19.12 James 5.19 20. if any of you erre in judgement or practice How much by these things a believer is endangered to a separation from the love of God and his Communion with God appears Heb. 3.12 Hebr. 10.38 2 Pat. 3.17 Secondly they are endangered in this life by the corrupt customes and conversations of the ungodly with whom they converse in the world how apt Gods people are to this appears by that exhortation Rom. 12.2 How much they are endangered thereby See Psal 106.36 what great Apostacies false Professâ—â—â— have made thereby See 2 Pet. 2.20 Thirdly they are endangered by the profits pleasures promises and allurements of the world By these Demas was brought off from his fellowship in the Gospel 2 Tim. 4.10 Hence that 1 Tim 6.10.11 How much hereby they are endangered to fall from the love of God 1 John 2.15 Fourthly they are endangered by those many afflictions temptations reproaches persecutions that befal them in this life when many afflictions followed the believing Hebrews their 〈◊〉 began to saint their handâ— hang downs their knees grow seeble and their 〈◊〉 were in danger of turning 〈◊〉 from the ways of God Heb. 12. â—â— 1â— When Christ spake bus of his own sufferings to 〈◊〉 he startled and said Master 〈…〉 self when Christ call'd him to be an eye witness of his sufferings Peter 〈◊〉 to sleep he that promised never to forsake Christ to die with him comes to deny him had not Christ prayed aâ—prehand for him his faith bad utterly â—â—â—ed Yet none of these things that 〈◊〉 a believer in life shall 〈◊〉 him First not the first the Office of Christ is to
compassionate their 〈◊〉 Heb. 4.15 to present the sacrifice of himself for the errors of his people Heb. 9.7 See Eâ—â—k 24.10 he will succour their temptations and heal their backslidings he wil keep them from falling from the love of God and Communion with God and present Jude 24. Secondly not the second for Christ hath prayed John 17.15 16. Gal. 1. â— God hath promised to sanctifie them wholly and he will do it Thes 5.23 24. and Christ will do it 2 Tim. 4.18 Thirdly not the third God out-bids the Promises of the world 1 Tim. 4.8 when David in a temptation was ready to quit the ways of God by reason of the many hardships and difficulties and to fall in with the pleasures profits and prosperity of the world God kept him in close Communion Psal 73.23 24. Fourthly not the last because all these afflictions aâ—e made ordered and design'd to work up a believer unto a fitness for everlasting Communion with God in glory 2 Cor. 4.17 Heb. 12.10 Holiness sits for Communion with God 〈◊〉 The reasons of the point Reas 1. Because that God who hath taken believers into Communion with himself in love hath a Sovereignty and Authority over death and life and 〈◊〉 things that concern the state of both Deut. 32.29 Reas 2. All believers have Communion with Christ in his life and death Rom. 5.10 by which death and life and all things that befal them in life and death are sweetned and sanctified to them Thirdly Iesus Christ is to be magnified in believers whether it be by life or death Phil. 1 20. Fourthly Life and Death are reconciled to them who are reconciled to God they are ours as Christ is ours 1 Cor. 3.12.23 Fifthly Life and Death to believers are great advantages in Christ Phil. 1.21 Sixthly a Christians state in life and death is wholly consecrated to God â—om 14.7 8. 1. Use Let this caution believers concerning Life and Death both of them naturally afford many advantages to the enemies of your salvation continually against you In life walk circumâ—â—â—â—â—â— you walk among snares be thou in the sear of the Lord all the day be in the faith of the Lord all the day be faithful unto death Wonder not if you meet with strong Conflicts to the last Attempts will be made to separate you if possible from Use 2. Christians be diligent above all things like the Apostle to fortifie your faith in the love of God which is in c. Here is your comfort and security against all the troubles and temptation in life and all the fears and â—errours of death Life and death are at the Command of God for good and not for evil to his beloved ones with him is the fountain of life to him belongs the issues from death Use 3. This should teach us patience under all the afflictions or suffâ—rings that befal us in life or death Many evils sorrows temptations may sorely afflict the godly in life and death but here is the consolation none shall separate him The Apostle makes no reckoning of all other troubles when a Christian remains inviolable in his Communion with God in love ROM 8.38 39. Nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers WE have seen the Apâ—stle as the mighty Champion of believers encountring conquering and triumphing over the first Rank or Regiment of enemies that appear in this cause viz. that either attempt or endanger a separation The second Rank or Regimeat follow Angels Principalities Powers Life and Death are but certain states and conditions wherin Saints may be endanger'd abstractly considered are unactiver hangs in themselves but Angels Principalities and Powers are living Agents that have a mighty activity in them to hurt and endanger the welfare of such an they oppos Interpreters agree not in stating the quality of these three Agents First some by Angels Principalities and Powers understand the whole Host of good Angels distinguisht by their orders degrees and dignities as Cor. 1.16 The good Angels are called Principalities and Powers Secondly by Angels Principalities and Powers some understand the whole Host of Angels good an bad those in Heaven are called Principalitie and Powers Eph. 3.10 so are those in Hell Eph. 6.12 Thirdly but I rather judge the Apostle here intends three particular and distinct Agents all the creatures in Heaven Earth and Hâ—ll for by his last expression And no other Creature it appears he intended to take in all creatures By Angels I understand the good Angell in Heaven by Principalities the Rulers Magistrates Governours of this world Tit. 3.1 Luke 12.11 by Powers the Angels of darkness Eph. 6.12 Dect The Point is That neither Angels who are the Powers and Principalitie of Heaven nor men who are the Powers and Principalities of this world nor Devils whâ— are the Powers and Principalities of Hell shall ever be able to separate I shall consider the first particular touching Angels First why the Apostle ranketh good Angels among them who attempt or endanger to separate seeing there is no cause of fear or real danger from them in such a cause Answ 1. Because I answer first the good Angels stand not by their own strength if lest to themselves and the fraiâ—ty of their own nature they might fall from their present station become Apostates and turn as bad enemies to believers as Devils are Their stability and unchangeableness is not from any natural power of inherent grace in themselves The Apostle here speaks by suprosition not as if the good Angels would really attempt to do it but if they should they could not It is like that speech Gal. 1.8 If an Angel Saints in the height of their saith and confidence of security in God have supposed such dangers as never were like to be and triumphed over them as if they had really been Psal 46.1 4. This wonderfully magnifies the security of Saints in Gods love that it is above all real or imaginary possible or â—upposed dangers Thirdly the Apostle holds forth the greatest Hyperbole of faith the Elevation of a soul wrapt up in Gods love above and beyond every creature of the highest Perfection Therefore he takes in the latitude of the whole creature that is below God himself not only men and devils but even the Angels and triumphs over them in this Cause Fourthly the Apostle here speaks as a man going into the field to meet his enemie who in the height of his resolution in the confidence of his strength and skill in his weapon bids his enemy chuse his Weapon chuse his Ground chuse his Second to his best advantage So the Apostle arm'd with Gods love enclosed in Gods bosom and confident nothing shall separate him bids his enemy in this cause chuse his Weapon Life or death Chuse his Ground Earth Hell or Heaven chuse his Second Men or Devils or the whole Host of Angels if these shall appear against him he fears not to encounter them be doubts not of victory over them By this the
of our Iustification look upon the Righteousness of Christ or know the glory God intends us Many things that concern our salvation have yet no other subsisting in us but what saith giveth them which yet are actually accomplisht in Christ they are in us yet imperfect which are compleated in Christ Fifthly it informs first of the infinite loveliness 1. Of Christ who had all the pourings out of divine love on him all the love of God that was due to himself and to all the Saints besides Secondly the infinite capacity of Christs Person who can contain in himself all the love and all the Priviledges of the love of God to all his Elect both in grace and glory Thirdly the infinite love of Christ to us in being willing to impart to us a share of that love of God that grace and glory of God that was only due to him in the right of the first and only begotten 2. Use For instruction 1. When we go to God for any manifestation of his love or any dispensation of love in any spiritual or heavenly blessings go out of your selves get into Christ in him alone we can know his love and receive the blessings of iâ— Eph 1.3 Nothing comes to us immediately from God but mediately in and through Christ who is Mediatour between God and us in all things divine have hath decreed for us Secondly how much doth it concern us a mong the highest and chiefell concernments of salvation to have our union with Christ our interest in Christ cleared up There only we can know what divine love purposed for us from everlasting what it hath done for us what it hath further to bestow upon us how it is forming and fashioning us by degrees into a blessed Conformity with the Son of God in grace and glory Thirdly let this teach us how to manifest our love to God how to return our love to God in faith and all the duties of our worship and obedience after the manner of all the dispensations of Gods love to us that is do all to God in and through Iesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 Col. 3.17 3. Use In point of Consolation 1. Admirable comfort to be loved of God with any kind of love is sweet but to be loved of God in Christ to be loved as Christ this excelleth To have fellowship with Christ in his sufferings afflictions reproaches is great honour but to have fellowship with Christ in the love of God and all the wonderful effects of it This is to Admiration Secondly therefore the love of God hust needs abide and the state of Saints â—ternal immurable unchangeable in Gods love because â—t is in Christ Iesus â—nd they maâ—e of God to be not in â—hemselves but in Christ ROM 8.38 For I am Perswaded WE are come to the fourth ground of this great Persuasion of the Apostle â—rist Jesus our Lord. Mark the order First here is a marvellous and mysteâ—ns yet real Communion between God â—â—d believers Secondly the Bond of this Commuâ—â—on is the love of God in himself Thirdly the great manifestation and â—ensation of this love of God to us â—n Christ Iesus Now follows the â—â—th This Christ Iesus is our Lord. Doct. We are to consider that Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 great Lord Christ is to be considered in a twofold capacity as the eternal Son of God and as God-Man or Mediator In both respects he is a Lord. 1. As he is the only begotten Son of God by eternal generation So he is Lord of the whole Creation of God all things have their being and sustentation of him Col. 16.17 Heb. 1.3 He is called the Image the first-born Col. 1.15 The first-born in Scripture notes Principality Lordship and Dominion the first-born is Heir of all and the Heir is called Lord of all Gal. 4.1 From this his Primogeniture the Apostle inferreth his Lordship or Dominion over the Angels Heb. 1.6 Secondly as he is Mediatour God-man so he is Lord. 1. By Ordination or Constitution Heb. 1. 2. Him hath God appointed See that John 3.35 The Man Christ is made Lord of all Acts 2.26 He hath this Lordship by Patent from the Father he hath it by Commission John 5.22 He hath committed all Judgment to him by Judgement here we are to understand an absolute dominion and sovereignty over all things and all persons in heaven earth and hell Phil. 2.9 10 11. Hence we have the four beasts with twenty four Elders with the Angels Rev. 5 11 12 13. Thus the Man Christ is said to be made higher then the Kings of the earth Psa 89.27 Rev. 19.16 Secondly by Unction he is anointed with the power of a Lord Acts 10.38 and this power is universal Mat. 28.18 And he is anointed with the spirit of Wisdom and that Wisdom is proportionable to his Power that all Power and this all Wisdom Col. 2.3 By both these he is throughly furnisht for the administration of that dominion which belongs to him as Lord Power to protect Wisdom to govern all his subjects and servants Power to crush Wisdom to defeat all the counsels of his enemies Power able by weakness to confound things that are mighty and Wisdome able by foolishness to bring to nought the understanding of the Prudent and both these anointed with Righteousness the stability of every Kingdom and the Perpetuity of Christs Heb. 1.8 Thirdly by Conquest and Victory he hath overcome all his enemies he hath overcome the strong man Satan taken away his Armour divided the spoils of that Kingdom of darkness Luke 11.21 he hath overcome the wrath of God the severity of his Justice the Malediction of the Law Gal. 3 13. He hath blâ—tted out spoiled Principalities Col. 2.14.15 Jer. 12.31 He hath overcom sin Dan. 9. 24. He hath overcome the world Iohn 16.24 He hath abolisht death 2 Tim. 1.10 Rev. 1.18 Secondly we are to consider Jesus Christ as the Lord of his Church Lord of all believers Col. 1.18 that he might have the Preeminence or Lordship All believers acknowledge him to be their Lord 1 Cor. 8.6 when they first receive him by saith they receive him as a Lord Col. 2.6 Thus the Angels preach'd him to the faith of men when he was first-born into the world Luke 2.11 Thus the Apostles preach'd him when they exhibited him to the saith of the world by the Gospel Acts 10. 30. Every particular believer may say of Christ as David My Lord Psal 110. 1. and as Thomas John 10.28 Let us consider what the nature and quality of Christs Dominion or Lordship over believers is and then how it is exercised 1. The quality of Christs dominion of Lordship over believers and his whole Church is a dominion of grace Rom. 6.14 a Kingdom of righteousness and grace Rom. 5.21 Grace hath reigned through Righteousness by Iesus Christ our Lord. Secondly it is exercised in a way of grace he is called a gracious Lord 1 Pot. 2.3 First by converting their souls by pulling down the
strong holds of sin and Satan in their Consciences by casting down the imaginations and bringing them into subjection 2 Cor. 10.4 5. This he doth Ministerially by the Word of Reconciliation effectually by his Spirit Thus being delivered from the power of darkness they are translated into the Kingdom of Gods dear Son and Christ is become their Lord. Secondly he is the only Lord of their saith as he is Authour of it Heb. 12.2 To him only we can say as that poor man Lord I believe help my unbelief as the disciples Lord increase our saith And he only is the object or matter of our faith the Apostle preach'd him the only Lord our faith 2 Cor. 4. 5. It is highest sacriledge horrible usurpation to impose any thing to be believed for salvation which Christ hath not commanded Thirdly he is Lord by justifying their persons and forgiving their sins he is called the Lord our Righteousness Ier. 23.6 He is to us a Melchizedech a King of Righteousness Heb. 7.2 To forgive sin is Royalty the Prerogative of such a Person who hath dominion over us as a Prince and Lord Acts 5.31 Fourthly by ruling leading governing them whom he hath justified and pardoned Isa 55.6 This he doth by writing his Laws in their hearts by giving a spiritual understanding in the knowledge of his Will by forming and fashioning their affections and conversations into holy obedience to the heavenly and spiritual nature of his Kingdom Fifthly by affording all needful supplies to all their wants by affording mercy and grace to help Joseph was made Lord of Egypt and he had all the Granaries and Store-houses at his Command to dispence So Christ is Lord of all his Fathers Treasures and he giveth all things 2 Pet. 1.3 Sixthly in protecting upholding succouring them in all their dangers amidst all their temptations infirmities discouragements 2 Cor. 12.9 by his compassions pltying them Heb. 4.15 by his power and grace helping them by his care and wisdom proportioning their strength to their trials to him every believer may say Lord save me or I perish Seventhly in overcoming all the enemies of their salvation the two Heads or Generals whereof are Satan Rom. 16.20 and Antichrist Rev. 17.14 Eighthly he hath manifested himself to be our Lord when he died for us and rose for us and sate down at the right hand of God for us and hath quickned us together and raised us together and set us together with himself in heavenly places Eph. 25 6. Thirdly consider how much this consideration that Christ lesus is our Lord doth afford to this triumph or ful persuasion of faith that nothing can separate us from the love of God He is our Lord and Lord over all creatures in Heaven Earth and Hell Lord over Angels Men Devils Lord over Life and Death Lord over all Prineipalities and Powers Lord in the heighths and Lord in the depths Lord over things present and Lord over things to come such as have a Lord so full of Love Power Wisdom Compassions Grace can never fall from the Love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. 1. Use Is Christ Iesus a Lord over all creatures here is encouragement for any poor creature that lies under the sense of sin and wrath to come to Christ and say Lord save me or I must perish Doth the wrath of God threaten thee run to Christ and say be mâ—rciful to me O Lord under the shadow of thy wings I come for shelter Dost thou feel a dominion of sin a tyranny of prevalling lusts leading the captive come and say Lord many lores have dominion over me O let me be under the Dominion and Government of thy grace Doth Satan pursue Conscieâ—ce accuse Law condemn Death threaten Hell open upon thee Come to Christ who hath spoiled Satan pacified Conscience satisfied Law abolisht death triumph'd over Hell he is Lord over all hath swallowed up all in victory Dost thou want a Righteousness to lustifie thee Christ is Lord of Righteousness Dost thou want Pardon of sin Christ is Lord and hath power to forgive sin Dost thou want any grace within the whole compass of the Promises Ordinances Treasures of God Christ is Lord of all Dost thou want a good title to Heaven Christ is Prince of life and Lord of Glory 2. Use Is Christ Iesus in a special manner the Lord of his Church the Lord of believers I. Let us own Iesus Christ to be our Lord for this end two things are necessary First Faith when the Apostle represents this Lord absent to us he saith We walk by faith 2 Cor. 5 6 7. Other lords are present with us to command encourage oversee over rule and to reward us Christ is absent therefore to stand in awe of him to be diligent in his Work to do to suffer for him to fear to offend him to endeavor that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him this requires much faith Secondly the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12.3 It is not every one that saith Lord Lord Many that live under the Education and external Profession of the Gospel in words call Christ Lord yet they will never yield up themselves in obedience to him as their Lord without the over-ruling grace and power of the Holy Ghost II. As ye have received Christ Iesus the Lord so walk in him Col. 6.2 Give up your selves consciences thoughts desires the secrets of your souls and the conversations of your lives to be guided ordered governed by his Word and Will Thirdly honour Christ Iesus your Lord both in life and death Rom. 14 7.8 9. Fourthly let us be faithful sincere constant and abundant in his service we have a Lord that can and will reward us 1 Cor. 15. ult Fifthly if Christ Iesus be our Lord let us trust him and live in dependance upon him for our present subsistence and future expectations the Lord never failed them that waited on him ROM 8 38 39. I am Perswaded THE Apostle having taken himself and all believers to their strong holds which is Communion with God and having strengthned this Communion with God by love and fortified this love of God in Christ Iesus and having engaged Christ Iesus his Lord his Leader the Captain of our salvation Now he prepares for the encounter 1. He takes a view of all his adversaries and then encourageth his faith against them all I am Perswaded Expects an assault from all kind of enemies Satan mustering his Aemies from the four quarters of Heaven Earth and Hell compassing the Camp of the Saints endeavoring to overthrew the beloved City the strong hold of Gods beloved ones he musters death and life Doct. Such as are beloved of God in Christ Iesus may yea must expect to encounter all kinds of enemies or evils possible or imaginable in this world I. In these enemies the Apostle reckons up in the Text which befal Saints on the Account of Gods love to them First consider the reality of them they are
all things which have a true real being and subsistence there is life and there is death The Apostle doth not fight with his own shadow or in fighting only beat the Air he doth not propound to himself or us dangers evils enemies which have only a notional aiery empty existence but such as have a real solid being not one of them but believers may expect to encounter with at one time or other Secondly the multitude of them the Apostle reckons up but the chief Heads Leaders and Commanders of these evils enemies and dangers eight in number Death Life c. How many Armies of dangers evils enemies may march under the Conduct of every one of these Commanders are innumerable Psal 40.12 how many under death how many under life c. Thirdly the variety of them they are of divers kinds some arise from life some from death They are managed by variety of Agents and Instruments some by Angels good and bad some by Principalities and Powers They are inflicted at divers times some from the present some from the future They come from divers places some from the heighth some from the depth Fourthly the strange contrariety in them Death is opposite to life good Angels to bad the Principalities and Powers of the World opposite to one another things present opposite to things to come heighths to depths Here is Ephraim against Manassch and Manassch against Ephraim but both against Iudah here is Herod and Pilate at variance between themselves but both against Christ from these opposite interests arise dangers to the people and how contrary soever each to other yet they all one way or other endanger the salvation of Saints and most of them vigorously endeavor and design their destruction to the utmost These are the evils afflictions which may befal them who are in the love of God Little less the Apostle had declared before verse 35 36 37. should befal them upon the account of Christs love which is Tribulation Here the world is mustering up all its forces and arming it self with all the weapons of its indignation against them who are loved of Christ 1. Observe from hence all the evils the power and malice of the world can inflict may befal them that are under Christs love These here reckoned are the worst and they comprehend all the evils the world can inflict Secondly not only the worst of evils in the world may befal such but this in the highest degree not only tribulation but tribulation with distress not only distress but distreâ—s with persecution nor only persecution but persecution with famine nor only famine but famine with nakedness nor only nakedness but peril of life nor only peril of life but the destruction of the sword Not only to be troubled but to be distressed nor only distressed but persecuted nor persecuted only but famish'd nor only famish'd but stript naked nor only stript naked but in peril of life nor in peril only but killed by the sword killed all the day long This is misery to the height There are two evils which are commonly made to comprehend all the miseries in hell The pain of loss and the pain of sense Both these in their kind may befal those in this world who are under the love of God First Pain that ariseth from loss loss of all their outward comforts dearest relations and sweetest enjoyments of the world Mar. 10.28 29 what hath a man to lose more Paul Phil. 3.8 I have suffered the loss of all Secondly Pain of sense Heb. 11.35 36.37 Tortured You say these were of the Church of the Old Testament the New Testament Church hath greater Priviledges No compare Psal 44.22 with Rom. 8.36 the Apostle speaks in the same words as the Prophet as the words are the same the conditions are the same no difference between that Church and this and this in respect to afflictions We are killed all the day not one day but every day nor one part of the day but all the day though this slaughter do not befal every one in the Church every day yet it is probable no day passeth wherein more or fewer are slain in one place or other the Church suffereth every where in her Members and every day though every particular Member doth not We are counted as sheep sheep are killed to feed and to feast the ungodly world hunger and thirst as much after the blood and flesh of Saints feed and feast on it with as much delight as men do on slaughtered sheep hence that 1 Cor. 15.19 Secondly we are to demonstrate that all the evils afflictions that Saints suffet in this world either from God or from the world are upon the account of Gods love to them in Christ I All they suffer from God or his more immediate Instruments and Agents is 1. Because he hath loved them all his chastisements are from love Heb. 12.6 Rev. 3.19 Secondly as they are from love so they are for love for the further manifestation of Gods love to them and for the strengthning of their Communion with God in love Zach. 13.9 I. All they suffer from the power and malice of Satan and the world is upon the account of Gods love to them First either because God loves them there is an irreconcileable enmity between God and the world God hates the world and the world hates God and all that God loves and because God loves them Wherefore did Cain hate his brother because God shewed more love to Abel in accepting his offering wherfore did Ishmael persecute Isaac because God shewed more love to Isaac why did Esau hate Iacob because God loved Iacob and Secondly or because they love God more then the world wherefore did Pharaoh persecute Moses because he loved Christ the reproaches of Christ and the sufferings of his people above all preferments pleasures of sin in Pharaoh's Court or the rich treasures of Egypt Heb. 11 24 5 6. Thirdly or because hereby they might bring them out of love credit favour with God so much is imported Rom. 8.35 But they are never more in account with God more in Gods love then in and under the sufferings Heb. 11.38 Fourthly or because hereby they design to bring them out of love with God and Christ and the ways of God So much seems to be implied Psal 119 87. Psal 38.20 No Courtesiâ—s will oblige the ungedly except the godly will leave doing good The Grounds of this Point 1. To make all the Children conformable to his own Son and all the Brethren conformable to their elder Brother Rom 8.29 All our sufferings and afflictions are Christs Cup it is one and the same Cup Christ and his disciples drank of Mat. 20.23 And Christ saith Te shall indeed drink Now this Cup of Christ had in it not one or two only but a mixture of many bitter ingredients Secondly to conrâ—m Saints in the faith of Gods love and the love of Christ Acts 14.22 Consider here First the Apostles did
affirm concerning afflictions with the same certainty they preach'd the Gospel Secondly they affirm not concerning a few but many afflictions Thirdly they declare in some respect a necessity Fourthly this is the way that leads to Gods Kingdom Fifthly hereby they confirm believers and strengthen them to continue in the faith of Gods love Thirdly to make full trial of the sincerity constancy strength of our love to God and to Iesus Christ Cant. 8.7 When Peter had fully declared his love to Christ then Christ tells him of his sufferings for him John 21.17 18. Because some pretend love to Christ as the stony ground which gladly received the Gospel but when persecution came fell away Others who pretend love to Christ can suffer in some kinds but not in others some can suffer a while but not long therefore God hath appointed many great of divers kinds yea sufferings to the last not only some present but some to come to try the sincerity of our love to Christ to the utmost 1. Use This Point convinceth the world and the generality of men who yet live within the sound of the Gospel of gross ignorance misapprehension They judge of the love of God and the ways of God as they are attended with outward peace liberty security from evils en mies dangers by that worldly felicity that attends them Secondly it reproves those who are informed in this truth and therefore dare not engage for God cannot love the ways of God because they know they must thereby expose themselves to so many kinds of sufferings and afflictions Most men love a dainty nice delicate Profession they can love Christ and his Priviledges but not Christ and his sufferings they can like the love of God in Christ but not the manisestations of that love through so many afflictions these cry out as the base Iews to Christ Come thee down from the Cross and we will believe in thee profess thee c. Thirdly for Exhortation to young Christians who are considering and consulting about giving themselves up to Christ and his ways to take that Councel of Christ Luke 14.28 31. to sit down seriously and consider what it will cost you to consider whether with our ten thousand the Promises Graces Comforts Priviledges we have in the Gospel we can meet twenty thousand such is the number of the afflictions trials temptations will encounter us Secondly to those who are engaged in the faith love Profession of Christ do not fancy to your selves some few some small some kind of troubles state the condition aright expect many and great and of several kinds all what is in the text It is true for our comfort all these in the text are not commonly the portion of every Saint but of the whole Church and God divideth to every Saint as he sees good But it stands us in hand to prepare for every one for the greatest men arm themselves all over because they know not where the blow will light Fourthly for Instruction Judge not of your selves nor other Christians by the multitude magnitude and variety of the greatest troubles that do befal you or them they are all founded in the love of God to you in Christ Iesus your Lord. ROM 8.38 39. For I am Perswaded THE Apostle having attained a full assurance of the love of God in Christ he builds his strong holds fortifies his saith in that love and then takes a view of all his enemies to the utmost which might be supposed to endanger him as to a falling off or falling away from this state and then by faith triumphs over all as weak impotent things as unable by their several or Conjunct power or concurrent strength to break the Communion Saints have with God in love through Christ lesus their Lord. The word I am perswaded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports A Persuasion that ariseth from strong conviction fulness of evidence undeniable Arguments therefore notes a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which comes from the same word which is A Persuasion with full confidence of faith Eph. 3.12 see Rom. 14.14 2 Tim. 1.12 It is joyned with a certain knowledge of the thing therefore the Persuasion must be certain and this certain Persuasion cannot be less then a strong confidence and full assurance of faith Doct. Such as have truly believed the Love of God in Christ Iesus their Lord may have a full Persuasion of faith they shall continue in the Communion of that love against all enemies that shall attempt a separation from it This I shall endeavor to demonstrate I From the nature of that Communion believers have with God in Christ Iesus First it is a fellowship with the Father and his Son Christ Iesus 1 John 1.2 In which observe first the reality and certainty of this Communion truly our Fellowship Secondly this Communion is a Priviledge common to every believer with the chiefest and highest Apostles one of which was Iohn called the beloved disciple he whom Iesus loved and laid in his bosom yet that ye might have fellowship with us Thirdly the effect that naturally flows from that Communion to believers viz. fulness of joy ver 4. Could any thing did any thing separate the Apostles from their Communion with the Father and his Son Iesus Christ every believers Communion with the Father and is the same Is there a most unquestionable truth and reality in that Communion whence slows fulness and compleatness of joy to believers then certainly none can separate them from it for then the joy would be very impersect narrow and scanty and by reason of the uncertainty of it the joy of a believer in his Communion with God would prove but like that spoken of Iob 20.5 Secondly it is a Conjugal Fellowship and Communion be ween God and believers Hos 2.19 20. It is for everlassing never to be violated it is performed with those solemnities ratified and confirmed by those engagements which make it sure and inviolable God undertakes for his part and pawns his Righteousness his Iudgment his loving kindness his mercies and his faith fulness for Performance and he undertakes for our part they shall know the Lord and they that know the Lord will never depart from him He who faith of man and woman in Conjugal Communion he hates puting away Mal. 2.16 will much less put away whom he hath betrothed to himself 2. Dem. Is taken from God in whom the love that flows from this Communion is in as its upper fountain and original The love of God the love which is in God There are four things in God First the Power of this God engaged to keep his in close Communion with himself against all adverse power that can attempt a separation John 10.29 If none can pluck them out of his hand less can they pluck them out of his bosome A man may have that wrung out of his hand by violence which cannot be pluckt out of his heart Secondly the unchangeableness of God a Balaam
Apostle would hold forth the immediate way of Saints Communion with God in love without the least help or assistance of any creature concurring Even all the Angels had nothing to do in it And as no Angel could ever procure Gods love or bring a Saint into Communion with God so none shall be able to separate Secondly we are to consider how the good Angels may be supposed to endanger believers in their Communion with God 1. The good Angels by their continual Attendance and Watchfulness about Saints must needs be privy to all their open sins in words actions duties and cannot but conceive a holy indignation at the unworthy or unbeseeming carriages of believers as that text 1 Cor 11.10 shews Saints miscarriages and sins grieve offend the Angels and hereby may be supposed to endanger their state in Gods love when they sin against love Secondly the Angels in zeal to God glory are always in a readiness to revenge the injuries that are done against God Psal 104.4 and they have ofteâ— executed the righteous displeasure oâ— God against his own people 2 Sam. 2â— 16 17. When David saw the Angel hâ— cried out O Lord I have sinned Wheâ— Isaiah saw God on his Throne with hâ— Seraphims about him the Executioneâ— of his Justice upon the Transgression of his own people he cries out Wo me I am undone Isa 6.1 2 5. Thirdly the Angels are made servanâ— to believers Man in his first Creatioâ— was made a little lower then the Angels but in Christ he is now exalted to glory and honour above the Angels Christ hath not taken Heb. 2.16 our nature is exalted in the Person of Christ far above all Principalities Ephes 1.20 21. That Angels should be servants to them who by nature are inferiour to them is ground of a temptation to them had not grace over-powered nature to take all occasions against Saints to bring God out of love with them and to bring themselves again into the highest place of Gods favour Fourthly the Angels may be supposed to endanger Saints not industriously but occasionally by reason of the corruption that remains in our natures What through the excellency of their Natures their nearness to God and the many good services they perform to us Saints have been endangered to commit idolatry with them See Rev. 19.10 Rev. 22.8 hence that caution of the Apostle Col. 2.18 19. hereby some are in danger to quit Jesus Christ the Head Thirdly we are to shew that Angels shall not be able to separate I. They will not First in regard of their Office they are all ministring spirits sent forth Heb. 1. ult Secondly they will not be enemies to them but are in a readiness to execute the wrath of God upon all that offend them Mat. 18.10 Thirdly they have a charge to keep them in all their ways Psal 91.11 12. not to lead them out of Gods way II. They cannot if they would First their subjection to Christ they are under his dominion and sovereignty Heb. 1.6 7 8. Secondly their dependance upon Christ for the execution and performance of all they do The vision of Jacobs Ladder compared with Jo. 1. ult Angels attended Christ at his Birth in the Wilderness when tempted in the Garden at his Resurrection and Ascension Thirdly they can do nothing but what God commands them Psal 103.20 III. If they could they dare not First they have their establishment in Christ They were by nature as mutable as the rest that fell they are fetled in a state of love in God by Christ testified by the Cherubims on the Mercy-Seat Secondly they are by Christ brought into the same Fellowship and Communion with God as we Eph 1.10 see what the Angel himself declared Rev. 19.10 Rev. 22.9 and we are said to be brought into Communion with Angels Heb. 12.22.23 if they should endeavor to separate believers from Communion with God in his love they should also separate themselves 1. Vse This informs us that no creature ture in Heaven not the purest Angels can be any part of our essential blessedness These Angels may in case of disobedience actually instict the Tokens of Gods displeasure against us And occasionally through our own corruption prove snares and temptations to us such as may endanger our state in Gods love much less then caâ— any creature on earth the holiest the purest Saint the sweetest and dearest relation be part of our essential blessedness This alone consists in our Immediate Communion with God in love through Iesus Christ our Lord from which nothing can separate us 2. Use This serves to confirm the faith of believers in the assurance of their unchangeable state in Gods love there is an utter impossibility to separate them from it The Angels excel in strength Psal 103.20 if they cannot do it much less can inferiour creatures Men or Devils what is beyond the power of good Angels is an absolute impossibility to other creatures 3. Use By this we are informed that those things those Agents sometimes we greatly fear as enemies that may endanger us in our chiefest concernments are often our greatest friends and such as really design our greatest good good angels are but supposed enemies and are real friends beloâ—s of our Ioy and such as Endeavor to keep us fast in the love of God 4. Use This fully convinceth Popery to be Apostacy an Apostacy of such who were never truly or really in a state of Love and Communion with God through Christ For though not actively yet occasionally through good angels they are utterly fallen from that love of God that Communion with God in Christ they professed They are fallen into the worship of Angels which is flat Idolatry Rev. 22.9 and they hold not the head Col. 1.18 19. Had they real Communion with God in Love they had never been separated by the means of Angels from the love of God in Christ Iesus our Lord. ROM 8.38 39. I am Perswaded Nor Principalities BY Principalities I understand as I shewed in the Explication the Magistrates Princes Rulers of the Kingdoms of this world with their subjects Armies Associates whereby they become potent enemies to the Church which is the Kingdom of Christ Doct. None of the Princes or Principalities of the Kingdoms of this World shall be able to separate What great opposition the Princes and Principalities of the World have made at all times against the Church and how much persecution the Church hath suffered under them how much Saints have been endangered thereby to Apostacy and so to a separation from their Communion with God in love is upon record in Scripture How much the Church the Kingdom of Christ and his Saints under the Old Testament suffered from the Principalities of the Kingdoms of the World appears Psal 2.2 How often are Kings said to be assembled against Sion Psal 48.4 How oft did Christ put them to â—ight with their Armies Psal 68 1â—,14 destroy them Psal 136.17.18 No sooner did Christ appear under