forth into singing and cry aloud thou that didst not travell with child for more are the children of the desolate then the children of the married wife saith the Lord. Rom. 10.6 7 8. But the righteousnesse which is of faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thine heart who shall ascend into heaven that is to bring Christ down from above 7. Or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring Christ again from the dead 8. But what saith it the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach 4. They had the grace of God darkly and obscurely we plainly and apparently 2. Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 5. The communication or gifts of the Spirit under the Gospel of reconciliation are more excellent then those which have been communicated under the Law Act. 2.17 18. the 17. And it shall come to passe in the last dayes saith God I will poure out of my Spirit upon all lesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesie and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams The 18. And on my servants and on my hand-maids I will poure out in those dayes of my Spirit and they shall prophesie 6. The old Covenant was given by Moses this by Jesus Christ Joh. 1.17 For the Law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 7. The old Covenant binds us over to absolute righteousnes the new commands us to seek it in Christ the Lord our righteousnesse Joh. 6.40 And this is the will of him that sent me that every one which seeth the Son and beleeveth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day Rom. 3.26 To declare I say at this time his righteousnesse that he might be just and the justifier of him which beleeveth in Jesus 8. The old Covenant was given to impell men to Christ the new to hold forth and exhibite Christ Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternall life and they are they which testifie of me 9. The proper object of the old was to consternate and humble the new to comfort them who are consternated and humbled Matth. 11.28 29. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavie laden and I will give you rest 29. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls 10. They differ by accident and through our infirmitie for the Law without the Gospel is insufficient to salvation Rom. 8.3 For what the Law could not do in as much as it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likenesse of sinfull flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh 11. The Lord Christ is the Mediatour of the new Covenant not onely because the Covenant is made with his for his sake but because through the vertue of his mediation this Covenant cannot be disanulled Hebr. 8.6.9 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministery by how much also he is the Mediatour of a better Covenant which was established upon better promises 9 Not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt because they continued not in my Covenant and I regarded them not saith the Lord. 12. The supereminent superabundant and superexcellent grace of God our dear and propitious Father is manifested to his poore servants in that he hath established the everlasting Covenant of free grace and mercie in the hand of Christ Mediatour 2. Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us Hebr. 9.15 And for this cause he is the Mediatour of the new Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternall inheritance 13. The Covenant of grace is an everlasting and perpetuall Covenant sith the foundation of that Covenant is the free grace of God and the ratification and confirmation of the same is the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ Hebr. 12.24 And to Jesus the Mediatour of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of Abel 14. The supereminence of divine grace and favour hath not only appeared in this that he hath established this Covenant in the hand of a Mediatour but also in this that he hath smitten a Covenant with the immeriting and undeserving Hos 2. the last And I will sowe her unto me in the earth and I will have mercie upon her that had not obtained mercie and I will say to them which were not my people Thou art my people and they shall say thou art my God 15. The grace of God is the ground the blood of Christ the matter the end eternall life and beatitude made over to the faithfull in all ages that they might be certainly and fully assured that God will be their God and Father everlasting Hos 2.19 And I will betroth thee unto me for ever yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteousnesse and in judgement and in loving kindnesse and in mercie 16. The true and solid knowledge of this free Covenant of grace bountie causeth the beloved Saints and beleevers to hate all Pharisaicall performances or the righteousnesse of Justiciaries Phil. 3.9 That I may be found in him not having mine own righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is by the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God through faith 17. The benefits of the free Covenant of pitie and clemencie are the remission of sinnes and condonation of transgression the donation of the Spirit everlasting and continuall communion with the Lord Christ in the kingdome of felicitie perseverance in the state of grace by the all-sufficient hand of God our clementious and heavenly Father Jer. 31.34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord For they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquitie and I will remember their sin no more 1. Joh. 3 24. And he that keepeth his Commandments dwelleth in him and he in him and hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us 1. Pet. 1.5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation to be revealed in the last time 18. The intrinsicall seal of the Covenant of grace and salvation is the Spirit of glory and obsignation the extrinsicall is the Lords Supper Baptisme 1.
my glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world 5. This union is produced through effectuall vocation through which the Saints are brought from the worlds delectation to love the Lord Christ with a deare entire and tender affection 1. Cor. 1.9 God is faithfull by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Sonne Jesus Christ our Lord. Cant. 1.2 Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth for thy love is better then wine 6. By how much the Saints feele the sence of Gods deare and sweet bountie and injoy sweet communion with their Lord that bought them by so much the more they rejoyce in the love and fellowship one of another 1. Joh. 1.7 But if we walk in the light we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Sonne cleanseth us from all sinne 7. There is so strong an union betwixt Christ and his Saints that there is no need of his corporall presence in this vaile of miserie sith more excellent benefits redounds to the Saints by his presence in heaven then if he should remaine on earth Hence he is said to have consummated the work of our redemption to sit at the right hand of God to make intercession for us and to go to his Father to provide for us an habitation Joh. 14.3 And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that Where I am there ye might be also 8. The greatest dignitie under heaven is to be a member of Jesus Christ a branch of the vine Christ and one of the spouses to Christ our royall and loving Bridegroome Hence the Church glories in her priviledge Cant. 2.16 My beloved is mine and I am his he feedeth among the Lillies Revel 19.7 8 9. Let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour unto him for the marriage of the Lambe is come and his wife hath made her self ready 8. And to her was granted that she should be arayed in fine linen cleane and white for the fine linen is the righteousnesse of Saints 9. And he saith unto me Write blessed are they which are called to the marriage of the Lambe 9. All the strength power might of all the enemies of salvation cannot separate the branches from the vine the members from the head or the spouses of the Lord Christ from Christ her deare and loving Bridegroome Because they are made perfect in one through union with Christ and with the Father in Christ Joh. 17.23 10. Christ by the grace of complement will crown all his absolutely with full fruition in the kingdome of beatitude and with the grace of supplement in the kingdome of grace and primary communion that they might not want in the day of fiery trials a supply by his gracious hand of dispensation Revel 22.5 And there shall be no light there and they need no candle neither light of the Sun for the Lord God giveth them light and they shall reigne for ever and ever Joh. 1.16 And of his fulnesse have all we received and grace for grace 11. There is an inseparable linke betwixt union with Christ the peace and obsignation of the Spirit of glory and the fruits of holinesse and righteousnesse to the glory of the Father Joh. 15.5.8 the 5. I am the vine ye are the branches He that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing The 8. Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit so shall ye be my disciples 12. The united have interest in God through Christ from whom they receive the spirit of Adoption which worketh in them effectually that they might be delivered from sin and regenerated to the hope of eternall life 1. Cor. 3.22 Whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours 1. Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which ac-according to his abundant mercie hath begotten us againe unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Josus Christ from the dead 13. The members of Christ are moved by the same Spirit known by the same badge of love fruit and charitie and have the same end which is life eternall and salvation Joh. 15.16 Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remaine that whatsoever ye shall aske of the Father in my Name he may give it you 1. Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your souls 14. Though the Saints who are united unto Christ may appear to be dead in themselves yet the life which they received in their first communion and union with Christ cannot be utterly abolished or extinguished The ground is this sith there is an inseparable conjunction betwixt the perpetuall communion and everlasting union of the Saints with and in Christ their Lord that loved them and bought them with an eternall worth or price impervestigable Contemplation VVHo could search the depth of the waters of the Sanctuary or who can search the depth of this glorious and heavenly mystery It is a mystery of mysteries a depth of depths and a riddle past finding out If I had the tongue of a thousand Angells the rationality of a thousand men yet could I not relate the excellency of this union betwixt Christ and the soule and the soule and Christ Rare is the influence of celestiall bodies in sublunary creatures Rare is the vitall motion in rationall creatures but more is the working of Christ in them who are his redeemed and united people O my soule when thou wast as far from Christ as heaven is from hell as the East is from the West the North from the South thy Lord came by his oyntments powred out by his drops of liquid myrrhe by his precious incomparable bloud and made thee one with him who was so distant from him thou wast a dead branch fit for the everlasting burnings thou wast a dead member fit for hells interring thou wast a divorced Spouse not worthy of enjoying yet his eye of love was deare over thee and thy Lord hath made thee a branch not of hell but of the Vine of Consolation a member not of death but of himselfe the head of his Church and sweet dilection a Spouse not of an earthly Prince and Monarch but to himselfe the beloved his Fathers delectation Oh! what love is this that my Lord should goe to the gates of death the barres of hell to the tribunall seate of Justice to the chained under the blacke swadle bands of the devill and fetch my soule from thence and make me one of his Oh! what mercy is this to my soule that my Lord is become my Bridegroom to satisfie me with pleasurable and delectable delights my head to fill me with wisdome
we are said to be chosen out of the world through his divine love and free benevolence Joh. 15.16 Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remaine that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my Name he may give it you Joh. 17.14 I have given them thy word and the world hath hated them because they are not of the world even as I am not of the world 19. The royall robe of Christs righteousnesse is their covering in the day of judgement the blood of Christ is their peace in the day of evill and the name of God is their glory in the midst of afflictions Isa 26.8 Yea in the way of thy judgements O Lord have we waited for thee the desire of our soul is to thy name and to the remembrance of thee 20. The adopted are made kings and priests to God the Father through the blood of the Sonne of God Christ Jesus Revel 1.5 6. the 5. And from Jesus Christ who is the faithfull witnesse and the first begotten of the dead and the Prince of the kings of the earth unto him that hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood Verse the 6. And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father To him be glory and deminion for ever and ever Amen 21. The sonnes of God by adoption may feele the sence of Gods anger yet God is not angry with them but exceeding loving bountifull and full of clemencie towards them Micah 7.18 Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquitie and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage He retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Malachi 3.17 And they shall be mine saith the Lord of hosts in that day when I make up my jewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own sonne that serveth him 22. Though the Father of deare love do crown his deare people with deare love grace and mercie yet he doth not alwayes endow them with outward blessings and prosperitie 2. Cor. 6.4 5 6. the 4. But in all things approving our selves as the Ministers of God in much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses The 5. In stripes in imprisonments in tumults in labours in watching in fastings the 6. By purenesse by knowledge by long-suffering by kindnesse by the holy Ghost by love unfained 23. The cries groanes and sighs of the sonnes of God whether in the day they want the sence of Gods dear love and rarest bountie towards them or in the time of great and strong temptation over tops the roarings of Satan the cries of vengeance and the arraigning sentence of the Law so terrible Rom. 8.26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought But the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered 24. Though the sonnes of God may loose the sence of their first communion yet they shall for ever injoy everlasting and perpetuall union so that God for evermore stands in relation unto them as a Father and they to him as loving and dear children Isa 63.16 Doubtlesse thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledgeth us not O Lord thou art our Father our redeemer thy name is from everlasting Isa 64.9 Be not wroth very sore O Lord neither remember iniquitie for ever behold see us we beseech thee we beseech thee we are all thy people 25. Though we were the sonnes of God by creation yet we became through sin the sonnes of the devill of wrath of incredulitie of diffidence of this world and of darknesse notwithstanding by adoption we are made sons partakers of the divine nature brethren of Christ and children of light that we might not sin but that we might be one with Christ through union and that we might love the brethren with entire love and affection 2. Pet. 1.4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust Hebr. 2.11 For both he who sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all one For which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren Joh. 15.12 This is my commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you 26. The kingdom of our God the glory of which is unutterable unspeakable and unmentionable hath been prepared of old for those who have a being in Christ interest in the free promises and have been beloved of the Father before the world was Matth. 25.34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world Contemplation OH the deepnesse of immense and admirable love that of the children of diffidence and distruction through Christ are made Saints and sonnes of salvation that of vessels of wrath hell the devill and damnation we are made the vessels of rich mercie peace love and happic consolation When I was a poore distressed captive taken by the devill did I think to be made an heire with Christ and freed from the accusing law and wofull evill not thy wisdom but the wisdom of thy deare benignous Father hath found a way in the time of misery to bring thee to glorious and blessed felicitie That was not found in the land of the living Ask the depths and they will say that wisdom was not found there Ask the Sea and it will say it had no habitation there in thy deare Father hath been the place of singular wisdom and rarest intelligence Pharaoh knew his dreame but was ignorant of the interpretation thou knowest thou wast a slave but wast ignorant of thy redemption and adoption O admirable priviledge and excellent prerogative O wonderfull dignitie given to the Saints by filiation What is it to be the son of a King or an Emperour of a Monarch of a Potentate What is it to be an heire to Kingdoms to Provinces or to Empires What is it to enjoy pleasures joy or delectations in this orbe terrestriall if we enjoy not the priviledge of the daughters and the sons of the living God It cannot avail thee to be an heir and not an heire of Christs kingdome It cannot advantage thee to be a son of an Emperour and not to be the son of God by adoption it cannot help thee to be nephew to a Potentate and not to be an inheritour with the Lords inheritance Thou art Gods by creation but art thou Gods by a speciall relation Thou hast treasures abundant but art thou his chief treasure thou hast inheritance amongst the sons of men but hast thou an inheritance amongst the sons of royall possession O my soule what will thy sweet Father do for thee great things he
divine and spotlesse righteousnesse that in his Fathers sight and presence we might find acceptation Ephes 1.6 vide 9. This is the streame of sweetest consolation that the Lord Christ was accounted unjust that we might be counted just and that he stood in the place of the unrighteous that we might stand in the place of righteous 1. Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickned by the Spirit 10. Christ the Sonne and Lord of righteousnesse who is our life and everlasting righteousnesse overcoming death shineth by the Gospel maketh us now to sit with himself in the heavenly places that there might be nothing wanting to our felicitie and to the praise and riches of his grace and bountie Ephes 2.6 7. And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindnesse towards us through Christ Jesus 11. Now the Sonne and Lord of righteousnesse doth shine and we have the perfect beautie of his divine and pure righteousnesse revealed in the Gospel of life and reconciliation such as is the clearnesse of noonday although in former ages it hath been hidden and obscured Ephes 3 8 9. Vnto me who am lesse then the least of all Saints is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ 12. Adam whilest he stood in his integritie innocency and puritie was not so pure in the sight of God as the Saints who are presented spotlesse in the flesh of Christ and imputed righteous through the righteousnes of Christ the Lord and Prince of righteousnesse The ground is this sith the righteousnesse which is given to the Saints through union with Christ surmounteth that which was given to Adam when he was created 13. The righteousnesse of God is not sufficiently manifested and declared unlesse by that the Saints and redeemed may be accounted sufficiently just in his sight and that God should communicate righteousnesse to the undeserving 14. This is our trust and glory that Christ the Sonne of God the onely author of our salvation is become our righteousnesse and that we in him are the sons and heirs of the celestiall kingdome made partakers of the divine nature and called to the hope and expectation of everlasting beatitude 1. Pet. 1.3 4. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead Rom. 8.17 And if children then heires heires with God and joynt heires with Christ If so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together 2. Pet. 1.4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust 15. The sinner is received into communion with Christ whilest by the grace of God he is reconciled and by the blood of Christ he is purged from transgression and not otherwise doth he stand before the tribunal seat of God save by the righteousnesse of God his Saviour and of Jesus Christ his blessed and sweet Redeemer The ground is this sith no righteousnesse can answer the righteousnesse of God but the pure and infinite righteousnesse of Christ 16. There is an inseparable conjunction between the pardon and remission of sins and the imputation of divine and absolute righteousnesse which is conveyed to the Saints through communion with the Lord Jesus so that their imperfections are covered the spots and filthinesse thereof are deleted lest they may come into question by eternall and absolute judgement 17. If we seek by what meanes the heart is fixed and the conscience satisfied by no other way or meanes shall we find it save by the power of the crosse of Christ interest in his death the efficacie of his resurrection and the imputation in pure and everlasting righteousnesse 18. Whosoever doth desire to be just before God he must seeke to be freed from sinne by the precious and incomparable blood of Christ and from the riged force of the Morall Law by his active and passive obedience Rom. 10.4 For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that beleeveth 19. By his puritie all our spots are covered and the uncleannesse of our imperfections to us is not imputed and our transgressions in Christs grave buried that they might never plead against us before the barre of Justice 20. When we are inserted and ingrafted into Christ then doth he dignifie us making us one in himselfe that we may glory that we are admitted into fellowship and communion with the Father with himself and with his people who are sanctified by the Spirit and accounted a glorious people through his glorious and perfect righteousnesse 1. Joh. 1.3 vide 21. Although justification is for and in Christ the beloved Mediatour notwithstanding the Saints are not justified in the sight of God untill faith is given to the Saints by which the Lord Christ is apprehended Rom. 5.1 Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ 22. Christ is the adaequate object of faith so farre forth as faith doth justifie Galat. 2.16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the faith of Jesus Christ even we have beleeved in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the Law for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified 23. Faith upon no other consideration is said to justifie save because it apprehendeth the superabundant grace of God in reconciliation applieth Christs death blood and resurrection to the Saints and resteth upon the promises of God which are yea and Amen to the glory of the Father 2. Cor. 1.20 vide 24. This is the life of saith through which a sinner doth come to the possession of his own salvation whilest by the doctrine of the Gospel he doth acknowledge himself reconciled to God redeemed and ransomed by the inenarrable blood of Christ sealed by the Spirit of life and obsignation and filled with joyes unspeakable and glorious 1. Pet. 1.8 Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet beleeving ye reioyce with ioy unspeakable and glorious 25. We are justified before men by holinesse and uprightnesse of conversation but before God by the imputation of righteousnesse in justification Jam. 2.18 Yea a man may say thou hast faith and I have works shew me thy faith without thy works and
I will shew thee my faith by my works 26. In the justification of the Saints through faith we must consider the remission of sinne and transgression The imputation of divine and celestiall righteousnesse the gracious acceptation of the Saints prayers and praises and that free and gracious reconciliation with God our bounteous and celestiall Father 27. True justifying faith hath alwaies joyned with it a certain perswasion of the bountie and exceeding mercy of God the Father in Christ Jesus Hebr. 6.18 19. That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lye we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us Which hope we have as an ancre of the soul both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that within the vaile 28. Though the Saints after their justified estate and condition may aske the pardon of sin and the forgivenesse of iniquitie notwithstanding the end thereof must be the further assurance thereof the exaltation of the riches of grace and the praise of the blood of Christ which is the cause of condonation or remission The grounds are these that diffidence and unbeleef may be removed and the exaltation of the love of God in Christ may be exalted 29. The new creature presented in Christ unblameable and unreproveable in the sight of God through reconciliation made perfect and pure in the presence of God through justification endewed with the heavenly pure grace of sanctification is so freed from sinne iniquitie and transgression that God beholds no more sin in it then in the Lord Jesus Christ Joh. 17.23 I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me 30. O admirable change O garment most sumptuous O royall and beautifull robe of Christs puritie and divine righteousnesse wherewith the Saints are adorned his chosen invested and his beloved friends and brethren enrobed that they may be for ever and evermore presented glorious in the sight of God who is most righteous and holy Revel 3.4 Thou hast a sew names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy Revel 7.13 14. And one of the elders answered saying unto me What are these which are arayed in white robes and whence came they And I said unto him Sir thou knowest And he said to me These are they which came out of great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambe Contemplation THe Church of Christ is all glorious within through the rare induements of the Spirit of grace she is all glorious without through the righteousnesse of Christ imputed to her God her Father beholds her compleat in the garment of her elder brother if she sin she is washed if she is washed she is purified if she is purified she is spotlesse being she is purged by the blood of the Lambe Christ Jesus The robe of righteousnesse wherewith she is attired is not beggerly but rich not impure but pure not finite but infinite Though the world judge her poore naked and miserable yet she is holy pure and cleane she is as she is made to be compleat in Christ who is her head and bridegroome we beleeve there is an holy Catholique Church we see it not for it is invisible notwithstanding Gods imputation is not to be gainsaid by the rabble of unlearned Doctors If God speak the thing it is so if God impute her just shall it not be so If the Son make her free she is free indeed if God account her just she is just indeed If a King forgive a rebell who shall impute that fault to him If God acquit his Church who shall lay any thing to her charge When Jacob was clothed with the garment of Esau his nakednesse appeared not to the sight of his old father Isaac The Church being clothed with the righteousnesse of Christ her nakednesse appears not in the sight of God her heavenly Father through this garment wherewith she is so strongly invested she is worthie to follow the Lord Christ from earth to heaven not onely by the ascent of heavenly meditation but by ascent of soule after her pilgrimage is ended For what ends to participate of all the rich and celestiall treasures which have been prepared for her before the foundation of the world and to see the face of her loving Father in celestiall glory What now shall fear her shall wrath shall anger divine justice or indignation No for she is beloved through her well beloved Christ the very Angels rejoyce because she is rich and full of treasures beautifull and exceeding amiable through the beautie and amiablenesse of Christ which is given to her Had Benjamin a suit passing the suites of his brethren and hath not the Church a righteousnesse passing the righteousnes of Pharisees Hence she loveth knoweth nor acknowledgeth any other righteousnesse save the righteousnesse of Christ she detesteth even her own works in matter of justification she will weare no linsie-wolsie garments for her pride is great and her ambition much in that particular All her glorie is in the Lord her righteousnesse all her thoughts is now to love and praise her Saviour and cease from working any more in the way of justification confessing that of and from and in him she injoyeth it ascribing continually to him the praise of righteousnesse She giveth the glory of glory to the Prince of glory she rendreth the praise of life to the Lord of life she ascribeth the honour of peace to the Mediator of peace and she attributeth the dignitie of righteousnesse to her Lord of righteousnes She is in Christ as a branch in the Vine through union She is in Christ as a man in the Sunne by glorification she is in Christ as a man in his garment through Justification Shee desireth none to rest in her but Christ the hope of glory she requesteth to be in none but Christ her everlasting righteousnesse for his righteousnesse is the righteousnesse of God and it is his Fathers pleasure that he should become the Lord her righteousnesse Upon which consideration he is tearmed the God of her righteousnesse Psal 4.1 Heare me when I call O God of righteousnesse for thou hast set me at libertie when I was in trouble have mercy upon me and hearken unto my prayer CHAP. XI Concerning Sanctification Definition 1. SAnctification is a reall transmutation from the filthinesse of sinne unto the puritie of the Image of God Ephes 4.22 23 24. That yee put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitfull lusts And be renewed in the spirit of your minde And that yee put on that new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse 2. There are two degrees of
no night there for the Lord God doth enlighten them and they shall reigne for evermore For the Lord God doth enlighten them VVHat said he for the Lord God that is he who was who is and is to come who is the Alpha and Omega who hath been from everlasting to everlasting and from eternitie to eternitie who is the Lord of hosts the holy One of Israel the King of Kings the God onely wise blessed for evermore who is the Father of glory the God all-sufficient the fountain of consolation the well-spring of living waters the ancre of hope and the Lord God of Israel to Israel his redeemed who is strong gracious and mercifull slow to anger and abundant in kindnesse and truth He will give grace and glorie enlightning them with his light and glorie according to the text For the Lord God doth enlighten them and they shall reign for evermore Doth enlighten them O Admiration of admirations O wonder of wonders O gift of gifts that the high and holy One of Israel the Father of eternall mercies of incomprehensible and infinite kindnes who dwels in light in accessible should communicate his light and glory to poore distressed captives who walked upon the dark mountains who were bound by Law and justice to everlasting chains under darknes who were blinded by the fearfull king of terrors that roaring Lyon whose dwelling and habitation is in eternall wo and miserie O my soul was not thy darknesse worse then the darknesse of Egypt was it not more terrible then the darknesse of the night season wa st thou not as blind as the Sodomites yea thy blindnesse worse then the blindnesse of the Aramites In that day of darknesse and obscuritie thou sawest nothing but sinne transgression and iniquitie but hell death and calamitie but justice wrath and furie but destruction woe and misery though the glory of God showne in the land of the living though the beautie of Christ showne amongst the beleeving yet thou beheldest not his glory but now he hath enlightned thee when he became the day starre in thy heart a Sunne of brightnesse in thy understanding and his glory showne in the face of Jesus Christ upon thy conscience What light is like this light wherewith thy Father hath enlightned thee not the light of the starres Christ the day starre is thy illumination not the light of the candle the Spirit of Christ is to thee the Spirit of revelation nor the light of the Sun though it shine in the Meridian That enlightneth the aire this thy soul that contents thy eye this thy conscience that setteth and riseth this riseth and never setteth that draweth vapors from belowe this draweth thy soule as high as the heavenly places that enlightneth Townes Cities and Countreys this enlightneth thee to the heavenly Citie whose maker and builder is God O my soule is light sowne for the righteous and not for thee Hath light appeared in a dungeon of darknesse and not to thee Or hath Christ the Light of the world appeared and not to thee Yea for though thou wast born blind yet now thou seest and though thou wast encompassed with obscuritie yet now thou beholdest what doest thou behold yea what dost thou not behold For his grace is thy glory his face thy comfort his promise thy rest his Christ thy hope his kingdome thy end and the fruition of his face thy great felicitie Thou sawest the Sunne whilest the Sonne of righteousnesse was obscured and whilest the Son of righteousnesse appeared the Sunne in the midst of the Planets was ecclipsed so that whilest thou wast deprived of the one thou didst enjoy the other as the text relateth For thy God enlightneth his and they shall reigne for evermore And they shall reigne for evermore VVHat they who received the holy unction who have been made Kings and Priests to God our Father through the blood of Jesus who have washed their long white robes through that blood most precious They yea they who have been cast out to the open shame and contempt of their faces who have been unsavourie salt whom no eye pitied neither towards them hath the bowels of mercy yearned yea they who have not been ashamed of chaines fetters and bonds for Christs sake who have endured reproaches slanders shipwracks whippings and rebukes for Christ their Master who have not been ashamed to confesse the Name of Christ before Kings Princes and Monarchs of the earth They yea they who have been strangers from the Common-wealth of Israel alienates from the Covenant of promise without Christ and without God in the world They shall reigne with Christ for evermore They shall WHat not now who are more then conquerours through Christ that loved them who have encountred with sin fought with Satan overcome death and by the power of their blessed and loving Mediatour have suppressed all evils and removed all the force of powers and principalities Not now who are alreadie anointed with the holy unction filled with the fulnesse of grace and mercie made Kings through Christ the beloved King and Lord of life and reconciliation Yea now for Christ lives in them they in Christ Christ dwels in them they in Christ Christ reignes in them and they by Christ And they shall reigne for evermore Reigne VVHat they yea they who have wandred in sheep-skins and goat-skins they who have been counted as sheep to the slaughter and have been slain all the day long for his names sake They yea they who have not had the oyle of unction who have not had a foot of inheritance amongst the sonnes of men who are the mock of the world the derision of the people adjudged unworthie though most worthie whom the world is not worthy of they shall enjoy a kingdome not earthly but heavenly not mortall but immortall not momentarie but eternall not made of stone of lime of gold of silver or established upon any earthly foundation not senced with walls of brasse and posts and gates of wood and iron but incompassed about with an eternall protection not filled with terrene fruits and pleasures delectable but with heavenly pleasures and joyes inenarrable not with terrene or terrestriall profits accounted valeable but with heavenly treasures and thing unvaleable O the Himnes the Songs and Psalmes that are in that Citie O the praisings laudings and honours that are in that Jerusalem O the dignifyings laudings and magnifyings that is in that kingdome There is nothing but peace love and amitie there is nothing but blessednesse life and felicitie there is nothing but heavenly fruition glorious communion and the excellent and eternall weight of glory For the Lord Jehovah dwelleth there Therefore they shall need no light and they shall reigne for evermore For evermore NOt for daies times years moneths and houres not for tens hundreds thousands and millions but for aeternitie What day like that day wherein the Sonne of righteousnesse shall never set what time like that time wherein the splendorous glorious
convenient they should be used these presented passing thy meditation expect not the strongnesse of the aged or the boughes of a Cedar from a twig but let thy wisdome and discretion Christian Reader passe by the weaknes of the writer More must not be expected then is communicated therefore it is not meet that acceptation should be further requested yet requesting that the benefit of these may be to thy conscience sealed that thou mayst live and not die that thou mayest die and live no more to the creature but to God blessed for ever To whom be ascribed all blessednesse through Christ Jesus for evermore Thine in the Lord Christ beloved of the Father and respected of the Saints Timothie Batt The Table of the severall Heads contained in this Book 1. Of Grace 2. Of Election 3. Of the Covenant of Grace 4. Of Vnion 5. Of Vocation 6. Of Adoption 7. Of Redemption 8. Of Christs Mediation 9. Of Reconciliation 10. Of Justification 11. Of Sanctification 12. Of Glorification CHAP. I. Concerning Grace Definition 1. THe Hebrew word Chen from Chanan doth signifie to pitie The Greeke ward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from charistomaj signifies to shew kindnesse to a man immeriting or undeserving Definition 2. Grace is the free benevolence or gracious favour of God the Father in Christ through which he loves his chosen and peculiar people remitting their transgressions imputing them just and righteous and bestowing on them the spirit of Adoption and eternall hope and benediction Jer. 31.33 34. I will be their God and they shall be my people I will forgive their sin and their iniquitie I will remember no more Ephes 1.3 Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly things in Christ 3. The prevenient grace of God is that through which God loves his in the beloved without any respect to any merits or deservings in his own peculiar 1. Joh. 4.19 We love him because he loved us first 4. The concomitant grace of God is that whereby he doth continually supply his own with sweet communion with himself in the day of grace and perfect fruition and communion with his Christ in the eternall weight of glorie 1. Joh. 1.3 That which we have seen and heard that declare we unto you that ye may have communion with us and our communion is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 5. The subsequent and prevenient grace of God are all one and the same onely they differ in respect of dispensation 6. Operating grace is that which changeth the mind will and affection Cooperating grace is that which makes the Saints move to Godward when the will is changed 1. Cor. 6.11 Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Phil. 4.13 I am able to do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me 7. The grace of Christ is that whereby he dispenseth abundantly to the Saints from the overflowing and abundance of grace enwrapt within himself and procureth for his eternall favour through which they are ever beloved of his Father Joh. 1.16 And of his fulnesse all we receive grace for grace Jude 21. Keep your selves in the love of God waiting for the mercie of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8. The supereminencie of divine grace and bountie is declared in the redemption union and salvation of the unworthie and immeriting Ephes 2.7 That he might shew in the ages to come the supereminent riches of his grace according to his bountie towards us in Christ 9. Grace is proposed unto all in the Gospel of life and reconciliation but made effectuall to none but the Saints beleeving Hebr. 4.2 The Word profited them not because it was not mixed with faith in them which heard it 10. The fruits of holinesse and righteousnesse mediately are produced by the Saints communion with Christ and immediately by grace the cause of everlasting hope and reconciliation 1. Joh. 1.6 If we say we have communion with him and walk in darknesse we make him a lyar and there is no truth in us Tit. 2.11 The grace of God which bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared vers 12. Teaching us to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live chastly godly and righteously in this present world 11. The collocation of inestimable and unspeakable graces abounded in Christ sith he was anointed with the oyl of gladnesse above his fellows and the Spirit was not given to him by measure Hebr. 1.9 Joh. 3.34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God for God giveth him not the Spirit by measure 12. There is an inseparable conjunction between the grace of God and the satisfaction of the Lord Christ sith the Lord Christ hath no otherwise merited life and salvation by his merit or satisfaction save by the favour or divine pleasure of his Father Luk. 22.42 Father if thou wilt take this cup from me neverthelesse not my will but thy will be done Joh 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Sonne that whosoever beleeved on him might not perish but have eternall life 13. There is an inseparable bond betwixt the satisfaction of Christ and the pleasure of God the Father Hence whatsoever the Lord Christ hath procured it is his Fathers pleasure to bestow it Matth. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my Father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world 14. The inestimable grace of God which is collocated in the Lord Jesus and from him effectually bestowed on the Saints redeemed cannot utterly be abolished or extinguished Rom. 8.39 Neither height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 15. The Lord Christ by the grace of supplyment doth supplie the travellers of his hope in the estate of love and mercy and by the grace of complement doth crown his peculiar with the fruition of glorious and full communion in the estate of glory 1. Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who is made unto us wisdom of God and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption Which is his body the complement of him who filleth all in all Ephes 1.23 16. Answerable to the act of faith pitching upon God the Father in his beloved Christ so is the gracious injoyment of the sence of Gods free mercie and benevolence in Christ Ephes 3.17 18 19. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith 18. That being rooted and grounded in love ye may be able to comprehend what is the breadth and the length and the depth and the height 19. And to know the love of Christ which passeth all knowledge that ye may be filled with all the fulnesse of God 17. Pacification of spirit and peace of conscience ariseth whilest the faithfull rest on Gods fatherly indulgencie being
be manifested upon them Rom. 9.23 That he might declare the riches of his glory upon the vessels of mercie which he hath prepared unto glory 2. God in the election of free grace wils the glory of the riches of his grace and the everlasting benediction of his people Hence he hath disposed a way for them that they may come to everlasting life and benediction Ephes 1.5 6. Who hath predestinated us unto the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ in himself according to the good pleasure of his will vers 6. Vnto the praise of the glory of his grace whereby he hath made us freely accepted in his beloved 3. Christ is not the meritorious or impulsive cause of election nothing in election must be considered but the meer and free goodnesse of God our heavenly Father Ephes 1.11 In him I say in whom we have obtained lot whilest we were predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsell of his own will 4. The fruition of glorious salvation is founded on the free mercie and bountie of a loving God the matter upon the obedience or satisfaction of Christ the instrument is faith and the end is the glory or illustration of divine mercie Ephes 1.4 As he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblameable before him in love 5. The elect can never fall finally or totally from grace received sith in Christ their grace is founded and that Gods love to them in Christ cannot be altered Isa 54.10 For the mountains shall remove and the hils shall fall down but my mercy shall not depart from thee neither shall the covenant of my peace fall away saith the Lord that hath compassion on thee Rom. 8. last verse Neither height nor depth nor any other 〈◊〉 shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 6. To the Elect is given the sound and solid knowledge of God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent sith that to them is not onely given the knowledge of the letter but also the revelation of the mystery of God Christ through the Spirit Colos 1.27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mysterie among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory Contemplation BEfore man had a being God moved to man through love the being and well-being of every creature He singled Angels to stand in the estate of puritie and man to stand in the estate of innocencie and integritie Love chose us before we were chosen Love imbraced us before we loved Much was given to Mary she loved much much is given to the Saints before they loved before we were the children of wrath we were the children of mercie and whilest we were the children of mercy we became the children of wrath we were that we are not through love we are that we were not not for beautie amiablenesse or comelinesse not for works doings and performances not for riches honours or dignities are we chosen to salvation Our silver became drosse our excellencie became a dunghill of iniquitie and our glory was turned to impuritie The Father of mercie moved in mercie shewed mercie and yearning in the bowels of compassion incompassed poor souls with dear compassions when they were in their blood he said unto them Live when they lay wallowing in their blood he made them live for ever they were received when the righteous were refused the poore prodigals are received in their fathers house when the self-conceited are despised The loveliest starres and the choisest cedars were chosen for the building of the Temple the poorest spirits and the captives of hope are chosen to be temples of the holy Ghost Oh my soul thou art become a child of bountie through bountie and a vessell of glorie through the riches of eternall glorie thy Father delighted in thee when thou hadst no delight in him he loved thee when thou hadst no love to him and gave thee the right hand of fellowship and communion when thou stoodest not related to Godward by relation or union Fear nothing O my soul what though thou art not famous nor glorious in the world what though thou possessest not the riches and pleasures thereof what though no eye under heaven shew pitie or compassion towards thee yet thy God will extend the bowels of that his tender bountie towards thee Art thou not chosen of mercie to expresse mercie and a vessell of glorie to expresse the riches of his glorie thou art chosen to be that thou wouldest be and denied to be that thou wouldest not be denied to be a child of wrath and death and chosen to be an heire of mercie and life What wilt thou give to God for so great a kindnes what wilt thou render to God for so great a favour though thou canst not answer mercie yet declare of mercie and though thou wantest in the expression of favour yet declare and expresse the favour of thy loving God and Father Psal 136.23 Who remembred us in our base estate for his mercy endureth for ever CHAP. III. Concerning the Covenant of grace Definition THe Covenant of grace is the free promise of God in Christ Jesus through which he strongly assureth his chosen people that he wil be their God and they shall be his people Jer. 31.31 32 33. The 31. verse Behold the daies come saith the Lord that I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah The 32. Not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt which my Covenant they break although I was an husband unto them saith the Lord. The 33. But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my people The difference betwixt the old and the new Covenant 1. Under the old they had the promise of Christ to come we the testification that Christ is come 1. Joh. 5.6 This is he that came by water and blood even Jesus Christ not by water onely but by water and blood and it is the Spirit that beareth witnesse because the Spirit is truth 2. They had the time of infancie and bondage we the time of freedome and the spirit of adoption Galat. 4 5 6. The 5. To redeeme them that were under the Law that we might receive the adoption of sons The 6. And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts crying Abba Father 3. In old time it was made known onely to one people in our time to all Nations under heaven Isa 54.1 Sing O barren thou that didst not beare breake
John 5.8 And there are three that bear witnesse in earth the Spirit and the water and blood and these three agree in one 1. Cor. 10.16 The cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we break is it not the communion of the bodie of Christ 19. Whosoever are under the Covenant of grace are not under the Law but under grace not under the jurisdiction of the devill but under the rule and command of Christ not under the dominion of sin and transgression but under the Regiment of the Spirit of life and adoption Rom. 8.2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death Rom. 8.14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God 20. The faithfull after the time they are assured that God is their God through the Covenant of free grace and mercie are wholly removed from the barre of justice to heare what tydings of peace mercy and salvation shall come from the throne of grace and mercie Hebr. 12.18 19 20 21 22 23 24. 21. The Covenant of grace is smitten with the faithfull in Christ the onely and absolute Mediatour before they come to the true and effectual assurance thereof in their hearts and consciences 22. The joy of the holy Ghost doth then fill the hearts of the faithfull when in the receiving the seals of the Covenant they through the act of faith do firmly and strongly behold the marvellous and exceeding freenesse of that to them undeserving 1. Tim. 1.14 15. the 14. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus 15. This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief 23. If any man would have assured confidence that he shall live immortally and that grace communicated to him shall never be removed or extinguished let him turn his eye upon the freenesse and newnesse of the new Covenant established and confirmed to him in the hand of a Mediatour Hebr. 8.6 24. The Morall Law is no part of the new Covenant in equalitie and substance it is the same which was made with Adam in his innocency and integritie Gal. 3.12 And the law is not of faith but the man that doth them shall live in them 25. As the Father of admirable love and kindnesse makes his covenant with his in Christ so doth every Christian make his covenant with God in Christ sith that in himself there is nothing but indigencie want and deficiencie and that through Christ the fountaine and well-spring of fulnesse and excellencie he may receive sufficient to performe what he hath promised to God-ward for his own particular Joh. 15.5 I am the Vine ye are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing 26. Our covenant is an holy resignation of soule and body to serve obey feare and love God our deare and loving Father and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent in answer to that free Covenant which he hath made to us in Christ when he chose us to be a peculiar people zealous of good works Rom. 12.1 I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service Tit. 2.14 Who gave himselfe for us that he might redeeme us from all iniquitie and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Contemplation THe eye that seeth the eare that heareth the mind that conceiveth the immense and incomprence love of God to his may admire that God through grace should make a new covenant of grace to his people undeserving grace he saw them in their blood defiled stained spotted and impure yet he chose and did not refuse them in that wofull state and condition Though they were unfaithfull to God in the first covenant he is faithfull to them in the second through the breach of the first they lost all through the help of Christ in the second they recover all in that they stood not in the first they shut the gates of heaven upon themselves through or by vertue of the second heaven is open for them to have free entrance though the Law of works speak bitter heavy and terrible things to the conscience yet the second speaks not of bitternesse dreadfulnesse or terriblenesse but of favour bountie and benignitie to the soule or spirit The first was in the hand of man the second in the hand of Christ Hence it is so fast strong and permanent that neither heights nor depths principalities nor powers neither dominions nor the prince of darknesse with all his rabble can anihilate disanull or bring to nothing O Christian whilest thou art comprehended behold that which is incomprehensible whilest thou art measured behold that which is immeasurable whilest thou ponderest of something ponder of that which is unutterable Rom. 11.33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgements and his wayes past finding out CHAP. IIII. Concerning Vnion Definition 1. VNion is the work of the Spirit of Christ through faith whereby the Saints are united unto Christ and to the Father in Christ to the end they may enjoy communion in the promises and benefits of Christ in the state of grace and in the estate of glory everlasting beatitude and perfection 1. Cor. 6.17 But he that is joyned unto the Lord is one spirit 1. Cor. 3.22 Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods 2. The faithfull are not onely united to Christ by faith as the instrumentall cause by the Spirit the cause principalliter operans but also by the blood of Christ as the cause materiall Ephes 2.13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were farre off are made nigh by the blood of Christ 3. It hath not onely been the divine pleasure or benevolence of our heavenly Father that we should be united to his dearly beloved Son by nature but that we should be united to him by a secret and mysticall union Joh. 17.23 I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me 4. The Son of God took upon him the humane nature of mankind through which he is joyned to all men but that is infirme and weake and not able to bring us to eternall glory without the union mysticall I in them and they in me c. Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold
the time of the Law taught plainly that God would not be mercifull to any but through Christ and that salvation could not be found elsewhere save in the expiation of Christ who should poure out his blood for his peoples ransome Luk. 22.2 Likewise also he took the Cup after supper saying this Cup is the new Testament in my blood which is shed for you 27. When as man hath not been able to stand in Gods sight through the feare and terrour of transgression that we might appear without fear and terrour he hath given Jesus Christ our Lord that he might be Mediatour and Advocate with himself for us 1. Joh. 2.12 I write unto you little children because your sinnes are forgiven you for his Names sake 28. Christ is Mediatour to day yesterday and for ever Hence Gods people never fail of acceptation in Gods sight that loves them Heb. 13 8. Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever Ephes 1.6 He hath made us accepted in the beloved 29. Who of the sonnes of men could make themselves the sons of God of captives heires of the celestiall kingdome except Christ Mediatour who assumed the humaine nature of man that he might give to them that plenitude of his grace which was given unto him and that he might take to him that which belonged unto them 2. Cor. 5. last For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him 30. The prayers which the faithfull offer up to God are freely accepted through the mediation of Christ Ephes 5.2 And walk in love as Christ also loved us and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice unto God for a sweet smelling savour 31. Christ for ever appearing Mediatour and Advocate in the presence of God God doth turn away his face from our sins and turn his face toward his righteousnes Dan. 9.24 Sevēty weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy Citie to finish the transgression and to make an end of sins and to make reconciliation for iniquitie and to bring in everlasting righteousnesse and to seal up the vision and prophesie and to anoint the most holy 32. Through the mediation of Christ true beleevers have free accesse to the throne of grace from which they are filled with divine grace and heavenly blessings being freed from the terrors horrors of their spirituall enemies Luk. 1.74 That he would grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies may serve him without fear Hebr. 2.15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage 33. Damned preparatories will faile in the houre of death and judgement when the mediation of Christ will be a citie of refuge against sin and an arke of covert against the rigour of the Law and all evils Rom. 8.34 Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Contemplation SUch was thy separation O Christian from God that thou nor I could approach nigh to God without the hand of our Mediatour Christ Jesus through sin the hand-writing is written against us we are laid in the ballance and found too light the mightie wall of separation doth so prevent us from approaching that unlesse God did descend down to us by Christ we could not ascend to him If we did but think of ascending to God without Christ our quakings would be like the quakings of Beltashazar and our tremblings as the tremblings of Israel before Mount Sinai or we should hide our faces from him as did Adam our Father How terrible how dreadfull how angry is God with those who look toward him for mercy without Christs Mediation Assuredly if God should but enter into judgement for one sin should but ponder or weigh one iniquitie none could stand before him If the Angels are impure in respect of the puritie of his nature how much more sinfull or ungodly men Man may offend or trespasse against man and man may plead for him But if man sinne against God who shall plead for him but Christ By him alone we have recourse to the throne of grace for grace and to the throne of mercie for mercy Without him the heaven should be as brasse and iron so that our prayers could not enter into the celestiall Sanctuary nor find acceptation in the presence or sight of God Where now is the hand of mercy the scepter of bountie and the comfortable answer of God to the conscience but in Christ who sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us Wherefore if we want wisdome peace and righteousnesse remission of sins and joy of the holy Ghost let us look towards heaven and remember that Christs oblation once offered is so prevalent that through that we shall have an answer of what our souls desire Though we may hide our faces as did the Cherubims in respect of our own vilenesse yet may we look up to God for spirituall blessings through the mediation of Christ with confidence No child may go freer to his father no wife to her husband then we may have recourse to God through Jesus Christ Whilest our prayers are weak Christs mediation is strong and whilest our performances deserve to be denied through Christs oblatiō they are accepted Hester found acceptation although the golden Scepter of Ahashucrus was not stretched forth much more shall we find accepration sith that in Christ the Scepter of bountie is stretched forth not faithlesse requests lowdnes of voice repetitions of hell and death cause an answer of desires for had not Christ merited an answer wee could not be answered Hence before our requests touch the heavens we have an answer on the earth Dan. 9.23 At the beginning of thy supplications the Commandement came forth and I am come to shew thee for thou art greatly Beloved therefore understand the matter and consider the Vision CHAP. IX Concerning Reconciliation Definition 1. REconciliation is an Act of the free and deare love of God our heavenly gracious and clementious Father whereby through the death and bloud of the Lord Jesus Christ he hath reconciled us unto himselfe to the end that we might enjoy everlasting peace and communion with himselfe through his beloved 2 Cor. 5.19 2 Cor. 5.18 Rom. 5.10 Coll. 1.20 2. As the bloud of Christ is the cause of Redemption from sinne so it is the cause of Reconciliation to God Coll. 1.20 And having made peace through the bloud of his Crosse by him to reconcile all things unto himselfe by him I say whether they be things in earth or things in heaven 3. The onely subject in whom we are reconciled to God our Father is Christ Jesus our Lord sith that in him alone God doth not impute our sinnes to us 2 Cor. 5.19 To wit that God was in
have of the answer of mercy and of the treasures riches and wisdome of Christ is because that through the infinite worth of Christs death and bloud they are absolutely reconciled to GOD the Father Col. 2.2 That their hearts might be comforted being knit together in love and unto all riches of full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ. Col. 1.21 22. Yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight Contemplation THe saying of Ahaziah King of Israel to Jehu was Is there peace His answer was What peace The reply of the wounded Conscience is Is there not peace The answer is given there is peace God who was an enemy is now become a friend his hatred against sinne was so great that it could not be pacified or asswaged by any humane creature The barres of Hell the gates of death the iron bands of sinne the fiercenesse of the Morall Law is removed by a person infinite the same vertue and worth which hath procured Redemption hath procured Reconciliation The strength of Sampson was more then the gates of Azzah the vertue and worth in Christ hath been above the enmity betwixt God and man What is like to this great and wonderfull worke of Reconcilement As nothing can parallell the work of Redemption and Union with GOD through Christ so nothing can equall the work of Reconciliation to God by the hand of Christ When we see the Rain-bow we admire yet wee cease to admire when we consider the hand that made it When we behold the famous work of Reconciliation we may wonder yet cease to wonder when we consider the hand that did it How comfortable is the calmenesse of weather after stormy times How passing comfortable is the peace of Conscience from Reconcilement to God after the stormy times of temptation Out of the sweet comes Corroboration and out of this comes the greatest consolation When Balacke saw the standing of Israel in the Wildernesse he said How comely are thy tents O Israel and thy habitations O Jacob When the faithfull through the eye of faith behold the fruits of reconciliation to God they say how great delight and comfortablenesse ariseth from that peace which is made betwixt God and their soules Hence from the worke of Reconciliation comes the worke of a Christians moving to God-ward with freenesse of spirit Hence comes the Gospell of Reconciliation which speaks better things then the Law the Law speakes evill as Micah against Ahab as Doâ—g against the Priests of the Lord as the Jewes against our Saviour but now the Gospell speakes graciously and sweetly of peace of grace of mercy being that man to God is reconciled through the hand of the Mediator Jesus Christ turne therefore thine eare from the Law to the Gospell and walke thou in the comfort thereof till thou come to see thy Redeemers face in Sion and the brightnesse of the countenance of thy loving God and Father blessed for evermore Then shalt thou be satisfied with his favour filled with joyes and his sight and Image shall be thy great contentment Then shalt thou say with the Psalmist Psal 16 11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fulnesse of joy at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore CHAP. X Concerning Justification Definition 1. ZAdick Just in hiphill signifieth righteousnesse in hisdiâ—k justificare that is to account some man just or righteous Rom. 3.26 To declare I say at this time his righteousnesse that he might be just and the justifier of him which beleeveth in Jesus 2. Justification is the gracious sentence of God through Christ apprehended by faith whereby he doth free the sinner from sins death and condemnation and repute them just to life glory and salvation Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Rom. 5. ult That as sinne hath raigned unto death even so might grace reigne through righteousnesse unto eternall life by Jesus Christ our Lord. 3. This gracious sentence in Justification proceeds from Gods decree that it might be pronounced in Christ our Saviour to his people and virtually sealed to the soule by the holy Spirit that the Saints might be assured of the condonation of iniquitie and the imputation of divine and heavenly righteousnesse Micah 7.18 Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquitie and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Rom. 5.18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousnesse of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life 4. By the same grace wherby Christ was called unto the office of a Mediator the elect are called to union and communion with Christ and by that accounted just in the sight and presence of God Hebr. 3.1 2. Wherefore holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling consider the Apostle and high Priest of our profession Christ Jesus Who was faithfull to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithfull in all his house 1. Cor. 1.9 God is faithfull by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Sonne Jesus Christ our Lord. 5. The efficient cause of our justification is the rich and free grace of God the mereitorious cause is themerit of Christ the instrumentall cause is faith apprehending and resting on the promises of God the end is the glory of God the salvation of beleevers and the illustration of divine mercy Rom. 5.17 For if by one mans offence death reigned by one much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gifts of righteousnesse shall reigne in life by one Jesus Christ 6. Christ is dead and all are dead that the righteousnesse of one might be imputed to all 2. Cor. 5.15 And that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them and rose again Rom. 4.24 But for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we beleeve on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead 7. Christ willingly died and was willingly crucified and willingly bare the sence of his Fathers wrath for our sakes that he might break the bonds and chains of death that he might satisfie the justice of his Father and bring in everlasting peace attonement and reconciliation Isa 53.6 7. All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned everie one to his own way and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquitie of us all He was oppressed and he was afflicted yet he opened not his mouth he is brought as a Lambe to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is dumbe so he opened not his mouth 8. Christ changeth our estate and condition and clotheth us with his pure
Sanctification infancy and strong age the one is in the estate of grace the other in the estate of felicitie and glory 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 3. In Sanctification there are two parts considerable 1. Mortification 2. Vivification 4. Mortification is the first part of Sanctification through which sinne is mortified and the force thereof weakned and abated Rom. 6.6 Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sinne might be destroyed that henceforth we might not serve sinne 5. Vivification is the second part of Sanctification through which the Image of God is restored and renewed 1 Cor. 15.49 And as we have borne the Image of the earthly we shall also beare the Image of the heavenly 6. The efficient and absolute cause is the Father of eternall grace and mercies 1 Thes 5.23 And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit and soule and body be preserved blamelesse unto the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7. The meritorious or formall cause the precious deare bloud of the Lord Christ that bought us Heb. 10.10 By the which will wee are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all Heb. 10.29 Oh how much sorer punishment suppose yee shall he be thought worthy who hath troden under-foote the Sonne of God and hath counted the bloud of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despite unto the spirit of grace 8. The instrumentall cause of our Sanctification is the precious and sanctifying Word of the Lord Jesus Joh. 17.17 Sanctifie them through thy truth thy Word is truth 9. The spirit of life and glory is the cause principally working and perfecting of our Sanctification Hence the Spirit of Christ is tearmed the Spirit of Sanctification Rom. 1.4 10. There is an inseparable lincke and conjunction betwixt the act of Justification by or through the righteousnesse of the Lord our righteousnesse and the act of Sanctification through the Spirit of life and Adoption The ground is this Sith the end of Justification through the love of God and righteousnesse of Christ is the holinesse of our lives and conversations 11. Whilest the inabilitie of man is insufficient to mortifie sinne transgression and iniquitie the Spirit of life and consolation worketh faith in the hearts of the faithfull which layeth hold on the deare bloud and precious death of the Lord Christ which draweth strength from thence to the utter subduing and mortifying of corruption Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the bloud of Christ who through the eternall Spirit offered himselfe without spot to God purge your conscience from dead workes to serve the living God Rom. 6.8 9 10. Now if we be dead with Christ we beleeve that we shall also live with him Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dyeth no more death hath no more dominion over him For in that he dyed he dyed unto sinne once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God 12. Whilest man is insufficient to restore againe the Image of God which he lost in Paradise to him is given the Spirit of life through which he is freed from the Law of sinne and death and raised againe to live by the life and resurrection of Christ Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sinne and death Rom. 8.11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortall bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you 13. The New Creature reconciled through bloud justified through righteousnesse and sanctified by the Spirit is really absolutely freed from blame reproofe and sinne in the sight of God the Father 2 Cor. 5.17 Coll. 1.22 Vide. 14. As God hath glory by faith in his promise love to his Name and hope in his salvation so he hath glory by holinesse and sanctitie in our lives and conversations Rom. 4.20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbeliefe But was strong in faith giving glory to God Joh. 17 10. And all mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven 15. Though the Father of glory and God of all consolation give us life eternall without the desert of holinesse and sanctification yet he doth not give the joy of the Spirit supply of grace without the meanes of sanctimony or sanctification Act. 10.43 44. Vide. 16. Answerable to the sence of Gods divine favour the apprehension of the divine love of Christ and the over-fillings and over-flowings of the joy of the Spirit so is the faithfulls progresse to the high calling of God in Christ Phil. 3.14 I presse toward the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus 17. So farre as our sanctification or holinesse is an assurance of our glory and blessednesse hereafter that it shall receive the crowne of hope and approbation in the day of Judgement and that through it we glorifie our heavenly Father before the sonnes of men we may rejoyce before God with an assured confidence Act. 24.14 15 16. But this I confesse unto thee that after the way which they call Heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers beleeving all things which are written in the Law and the Prephets And have hope towards God which they themselves also allow that there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust And herein doe I exercise my selfe to have alwayes a conscience voyde of offence towards God and men 18. Not the terrors of the Law the feare of hell the dread of Justice nor the affrightment through condemnation ought to move the Saints to the obedience of the Gospel of life and salvation sith they are bound to the obedience thereof by the love of God a reconciled Father and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent Joh. 15.12 This is my Commandement that yee love one another as I have loved you Joh. 14.15 If yee love me keepe my Commandements 19. Though the Saints for their sanctitie and holinesse are not assured of life and immortalitie yet without sanctitie and holinesse they are not assured of beatitude and glory Heb. 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which no man shall see the Lord. 20. When the faithfull doe not consider their justified estate and condition and their glorious presentation through the act of reconciliation but opposeth and compareth their works with the Commands and Precepts of the Morall Law It doth possesse them with dreadfull griefe and woefull sorrow Heb. 12.18 19 20
of union communion the end of communion hope and righteousnesse and the end of hope and righteousnesse is everlasting blisse and blessednesse Therefore I may say Christus meus omnia Millies hoc dicam millies hoc cogitabo millies hoc usque usque usque millies repetam Neque enim vel dicere vel cogitare majus possum aut melius quam hoc ipsum Christus meus omnia Alii alia quaerant alia desiderent unum ego Christum meum quaero Christum desidero O Christus meus omnia Opes aliis honores voluptates aliis universas relinquo Christum ego habeaÌ„ omnia habeo Totos aliis ego mundos concedo Aureos gemmeos montes non invideo summas delitias permitto mihi Christus meus est omnia Nihil ita bonum nihil ita pulchrum aut jucundum quin summum illud primumâ—â—num melius sit pulchrius sit ac jucundius Christus meus omnia quam me varia saepe accedunt desideria quam diversis subinde aestuo cupiditatibus ita ut cum lunatico illo adolescente modò in ignem modò in aquam rapiar Sed quaenam illa tanta bona sunt quae ego tam anxiè appeto Num hoc vel illud genus edulii aut potionis Christus meus cibus meus potus meus omnia Num hoc vel illud genus relaxationis aut voluptatis Christus meus gaudium meum voluptas mea omnia Num hoc vel illud genus honoris aut dignitatis Christus meus honor meus dignitas mea mea omnia Quid est tandem quod appetere possim cujus loco mihi non Christus sit sit omnia Mihi epulatio mihi oblectatio mihi quies mihi thesaurus Christus est mihi Christus omnia plus quam omnia Nam etsi cibis quibus inhio vesci potu quem sitio refici voluptate quam ardeo frui honores quos ambio assequi liceat quid istudvesci quid istud refici frui affequi Christus meus omnia te frui à te refici est perfectissimè refici est frui omnibus bonis Christus meus omnia At vero labor premit dolor affligit curae distrahunt homo turbat exagitat Nihil horum metueodum neque enim haec omnia etiamsi simul ingruaÌ„t mala sunt si summum illud bonum opituletur Christus Christus meus omnia Tu mihi O bone Christe O bonitas tu in labore quies in dolore voluptas in curis securitas tu mihi ab omni hominum insultu propugnaculum tutissimum tu mihi ab omni malo refugium tu mihi es omnia quaecunque tandem desiderare pâ—ssum Ergo quandecunque in posterum quodcunque bonum appetiero hoc ipse mihi semper occinam Christus meus omnia Desine O homo impuros rivulos sectari cum fonteÌ„ purissimum habeas Christum habes omnia habes quaecunque habere concupiscis O ye sons daughters of meÌ„ O ye Watchmen of Israel marvell not though I exalt the glory of the Lord of glory For I have none to mediate my cause in heaven but him nor none to comfort my distressed soul on earth besides him Do the thirstie long for water the hungrie desire bread and the Hart bray after the rivers and springs of water and do not I long desire and bray after my Lord that bought me I cry how long Lord how long shall it be ere I see thy glorious face and lovely countenance O my soule what though thy teares trickle downe thy cheeks what though thy face is bedewed with teares what though thy heart is full of heavinesse Because the battell is strong betwixt thee and the black prince of death and darknesse the world hates and contemnes thee and Angels of light have made thee worse then the filth of the earth yet shalt thou not be dismayed for there is a Citie provided for thee whose maker and builder is God in which there is the crowne of righteousnesse the crowne of life and the crown of glory in which there is fellowship with the Angels with the Saints with the Father and with Christ the beloved Mediatour and Reconciler in which is everlasting praise eternall comforts and infinite fruition Therefore I will walke with the travellers runne with the runners and fight with the fighters laying hold of eternall praise and glory saying with the lovers of free grace the waiters for mercie and the poore captives of hope praise be given to God our celestiall gracious and bountifull Father honour be ascribed to Jesus Christ our propitious and benignous Mediatour now and for evermore Amen FINIS HEAVENLY Contemplations REvel 22.4 And they shall see his face and his Name shall be in their foreheads And they shall see his face THey which go down to the Sea and occupie in the great waters they see the works of the Lord and his wonders in the deep So they that go into the Church of Christ and view what Christ hath done for his Church and chosen they see the works of Christ and the wonders he hath wrought hath he shewed his admirable work in the act of Redemption his famous work in the act of Justification and hath he not shewed his famous and admirable work in the act of donation What hath Christ given yea what hath he not given He hath given his redeemed Saints to see his loving face and lovely countenance And they shall see his face and his Name shall be in their foreheads They. VVHat they yea they shall see his face they whose names are written in the book of the living whose lives are hid with God in Christ who are presented spotlesse blamelesse reprovelesse in the sight of God their loving and beneficiall Father What they yea they who are cleansed from sin by the blood of the Lambe incontaminate and immaculate who are blessed with spirituall and celestiall blessings who are collocated in the heavenly places in Christ and have undervalued their lives to the death for Jesus cause What they Yea they who are brethren to Jesus Christ sonnes of God the Father redeemed from all evils and beloved before the world was according to the Text. And they shall see his face and his Name shall be in their foreheads They shall NOt now yet now in part not in full perfection or fruition now they stand and rejoyce under the hope of glory now Christ is in them the hope of glory now by the Spirit of life and adoption they passe from glory to glory now environed with great tribulations now they are under great temptations now they mourn with the sadest lamentations are not their mournings as the mournings of Rachel their teares are superfluent as the teares of Jeremiah and their sadnesse as the sadnesse of Hagar they see in grace not in glory yet not without glory they see in glory without the