given assurance to all men in that he hath raised him from the Dead Acts 17.31 All which shewes the necessity of Christs resurrection and ascension and with the verrue of his own bloud presenting and offering himselfe to God in the Heavens for men to the ends fore-shown 3 For Jesus Christ that hath dyed and risen and with the vertue of his own bloud entred the Heaven and by the eternall Spirit offered himself a spotlesse sacrifice to God for men Also by the same Spirit to discover this grace thereby to call and draw in men to him and then to sprinkle and wash them with the presentation and application of the vertue of his pretious bloud And by his grace there-through discovered to renew them unite and conforme them to Christ This also is altogether necessary in respect of menâ—â—eceit and enjoyment of justification eternall life and inheritance for however this salvation which Jesus Christ hath wrought the redemption justification and eternall life he by himself in his own body as the Publike man obtained for men with God be such and so received by him for mankind That it may be truly said of him and in respect of what he hath as the Publike person done obtained received and hath in his own hands to dispense that he is the Saviout of the world Ioh. 4.42 And hath by himself made purgation of our sins Heb. 1.3 and 9.26 and obtained eternall redemption Heb. 9.12.50 That as Rom. 3.23 24. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus and Rom. 5.18 As by the offence of one unto all men to condemnation even so by the righteousnesse of one unto all men to justification of life yea 1 Joh. 5.11 God hath given us eternall life and this life is in his Son yet notwithstanding all this Unlesse this grace be so discovered by the Spirit to men that they be drawn in to Christ and hee by his Spirit sprinkle his bloud on their heart and shed abroad his love therein and so wash and renew them they cannot in their own particular persons be justified and partake of eternall life and receive the inheritance with him Rom. 3.25 26. Tit. 3.4.5 And this necessity of his sprinkling and washing the Conscience with his pretious bloud may be seen true in many respects 1 In respect of sinne It sufficeth not for bringing mens particular persons into the Kingdome of Heaven That sinne is satisfied for by the sacrifice of Christ and so purged away by him as the publike person that he in the room of all mankind appearâ—tâ— spotlesse at the Throne of God But its requisite also that it be purged out of the Conscience and out of the nature and conversation of such particular persons as enter that Kingdome yea and though this work be not as the former done at once in the very act of his presentation and offering himself to God Heb. 1.3 and 9.12 and 10.10 12. But by degrees yet those Degrees are according to the entrance 2 Cor. 3.18 2 Pet. 1.11 Rom. 8.23 And so it s said Rev. 21.21 There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or a lye 1 Cor. 6.9 The unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God Be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Idolater nor Adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor Theeves nor covetous nor Drunkards nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God Gal. 5.19 20 21. The work of the flesh are manifest which are Adultery Fornication uncleannesse lasciviousnesse Idolatry witchcraft hatred variance emulation strife seditions heresies envyings murthers drunkennesse revilings and such like They which doe such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Ephes 5.5 no Whoremonger nor unclean person nor covetous man who is an Idolator hath any inheritance in the Kingdome of Christ and of God so that such unlesse they be washed justified purged and sanctified they cannot enter nor can any sorrowes tears sacrifices works of righteousnesse of their owne wash of the guilt and take away the venome of these sinnes nor make their hearts and natures new It is only the pretious bloud and sacrifice of Christ which by the eternall Spirit he offered to God by the same Spirit discovered to and sprinkled on the heart enabling to believe in which Peace is spoken to the heart remission of sins received and liberty by faith to reckon themselves according to Christ and as they are in him who by his Spirit worketh his mind in them and conformeth them to him self 1 Pet. 1.2 Rev. 1.5 and 5.9 Rom. 3.25 26. and 5.1 5.1 C o 6.11 2 Cor. 3.18 Tit. 3.4 2 By reason of the blindnesse darknesse and enmity that by reason of sinne is the nature of man For it sufficeth not for mens personall entrance into the Kingdome that in and through Christ God is light and in him is no darknesse at all unlesse men be brought into this light and this light be in them that they may walke in it 1 Iohn 1.5.7 and 2.8.9 1 Thes 5.4.5 nor yet is it enough for mens personall entrance into the Kingdome that the enmity in their State and condition be removed unlesse also the enmity in their nature be removed Psal 68.21 neither is there any study or labour of man in any wisdome or workes of righteousnesse of his own that can bring him into this light of God and take this enmity against God out of his nature but onely the spirit of Jesus Christ which when he offered up himselfe a Sacrifice to God for men he received in the man Psal 68.18 Discovering and testifying of Christ and the vertue of his Blood and the rich grace appearing therethrough that brings out of darkenesse into his marvelous light and reconcileth the heart and powers to God Iohn 14.26 and 15.26 and 16.14.15 Col. 1.4.5.12.13 1 Pet. 2.7.9 2 Cor. 5.14 18 19 20. Tit. 3 4 5 6 7. 3 In respect of the first and naturall Birth and that which men are by propagation and nature from the first Adam whose Image they therein and thereby partake of and beare and so are by nature dead in sins and trespasses Children of wrath c. Rom. 5.19 1 Cor. 15.46.48.49 Psal 51.5 Iob. 14.4 and 15.14 Ephes 2.1 2 3 So that however Christ as the publike person hath wrought salvation in himselfe for men with God and is justified and glorified at Gods right hand yet unlesse a man be borne againe borne from above even of water and the Spirit the free and rich grace of God manifested in the Application of the precious Blood of Christ to the heart And that by the holy Spirit of Christ in that Knowledge and Application of the precious Blood giving him an escape from the Pollutions that are in the world through lust and makeing him partaker of the Divine nature That so as he perpartooke of
the Blood in an earthly holy place but this High-Priest entred into Heaven it selfe to offer and appeare before God for us Heb. 9.7.8.12.24 They though they offered to God yet they tooke no pleasure in their offerings but this High-Priest offered to God and he hath accepted him and set all his wellpleasednesse in him and set him at his right hand and given all Authority to him Heb. 10 1-12 and 1.4.8 Oh consider how great an High-Priest we have And how excellent then the Sacrifice that he hath offered and by vertue whereof he interceideth Heb. 1. 3 5 7 8. 2 In respect of the Sacrifice it selfe which he offered for every High-Priest is ordained to offer gifts and Sacrifices And it is of necessity that he have somwhat also to offer and that in the Heavens Heb. 8.3.4 And so he hath offered a gift a Sacrifice for satisfaction for ransome for propitiation and for a memoriall to intercede with for us And this was not Gold or Silver nor Bullocks and Lambs c. nor the Blood of others as the other Priests offered but his own most Pretious Blood his own most holy Body even that very Body in which he had borne our sinns to the Tree 1 Pet. 2.24 In which he dyed for our sinns and rose for our Justification Rom. 4.25 Yea the Body which is the Body of the Sonne of God Iohn 1.14 In whom the fulnesse of the God-head dwelleth bodily Col. 2.9 This is the gift the ransome the Sacrifice he offered himselfe his own Body without spot to God for us Heb. 9.12.14 and 10 5-10 Oh how fit how satisfying and of what infinite value is this Blood and Sacrifice of his 3 In respect of the Altar on which this Sacrifice was offered and by which it was borne and carried up to God The Altar of Gods appointment whatever it be is greater then the gift or Sacrifice and Sanctifieth the gift Mat. 23-19 Now those other Priests offered upon an Altar of earth or earthly substance Exod. 20.24 But what is the Altar on which this High-Priest offereth this excellent gift that is greater then it and sanctifieth it surely this can be no other but the Divine nature which is greater then the Humane In respect of which Humane clad with our Infirmities he said The Father is greater then I Iohn 14.28 And by the power of this Divine nature he was supported in and through his sufferings Esa 50 1-9 Raysed from the dead Rom. 4.24 and 6.4 Ascended to heaven Act 5.30.31 And offered himselfe to God And so it is expresly said Heb. 9.14 he through the eternall spirit offered himselfe without spot to God And thus also was God manifested in the flesh Justified in the Spirit c. 1 Tim. 3.16 And so by ransome of the union of the humane nature with the Divine in the person of the Sonne of God one Christ God-man This Blood and Sacrifice if it be rightly understood may be truly called the Blood and Sacrifice of God Act. 20.28 found by God Iob. 33.24 And offered by God unto God according to the will of God though it was the Body or humane nature offere for men And this doth sanctifie and dignifie the offering that it is of Infinite value and prevalency Heb. 10 5-10-19 c. 2 In respect of the Declaration and appearance of this pretious Blood and Sacrifice And so of Christ that by the eternall Spirit hath offered it to God for men and received the same spirit to apply to men and his gratious ends in both the faithfull and playne declaration of this by such as by spirit have received it and as the Spirit hath taught them 2 Cor. 4.4.6 1 Cor. 2.12 Rom. 12.3 Mat. 28.20 Declares this Pretious Blood and Sacrifice to be of great excellency worth and Dignity In that in such declaration as he promised 1 The holy Spirit cometh along and sheweth and testifieth of these things of Christ Iohn 15.26 and 16.14 and manifested the savour of his Knowledge 2 Cor. 2.14.15 And goeth to the heart of men that they might believe Iohn 1.7 Rom. 10.7 8 9 10. And writeth the minde of Christ in the Believer 2 Cor. 3.3 and 13.3 5. So that in the hearing of this Doctrine and Object of Faith and in no Doctrine or observation of any law of workes the Spirit of Christ cometh and testifieth and is received Gal. 3 1-5 2 The free grace and abundant love of God to mankind in the gift of his Sonn To be a ransome for all men 1 Tim. 3 4 5 6. And the Saviour of the world And the propitiation for their sins 1 Iohn 4.10.14 That whosoever believeth on him might not perish but have everlasting life Iohn 3.17 And his acceptation of his Sonne for men and taking his wellpleasednesse in him Mat. 3.17 2 Cor. 5.14 Heb. 10 1-12 His filling him for men Psal 68.18 Esa 41.1 His readinesse to receive in and through his Sonn and that his Sonn shall give eternali life to all that in his Discovery see and believe on him John 6.40 and 1.12 yea even his peculiar and delightfull love and well pleasednesse in his Sonn and all that by grace are made one in his Sonn Iohn 15.9 and 16.27 All this appeareth and as living water streameth In the Declaration and appearance of this Pretious Blood and Sacrifice as it was offered to God And is applyed to the heart Rom. 3.24 25. 1 Iohn 5 6-12.13 3 The great and compleate salvation redemption reconciliation Propitiation and righteousnesse that is in him and which he is become which by himselfe 1 Pet. 2.24 1 Cor. 15.3.4 Rom. 4.25 1 Iohn 2.2 and in his own Body he hath wrought in dying and shedding his Blood for our sinns and riseing for our Justification And through the eternall Spirit offering himselfe a spotlesse and unvaluable Sacrifice to God in which he hath made Purgation of our sinns slaine enmity obtained eternall redemption and made such satisfaction in heaven that he hath thereupon received life to dispense to men Heb. 1.3 and 9.12.14 and 10 1-12 And the power and fitnesse of the same Pretious Blood and Sacrifice by the Holy Spirit applyed to the heart to purchase redeeme and reconcile to God from among men and to wash purge and renew the heart c. Act. 20.28 Ren. 1.5 and 5.9 Heb. 9.14 Tit. 3.4.5 And so worke Salvation in men All this appeareth in this Doctrine or playne faith-and spirituall Declaration of this Pretious Blood and Sacrifice so as therethrough from the threefold witnesse in heaven that are one there come these three on earth to men the Spirit and the water and the Blood 1 Iohn 5 6 7 8-12 By all which this Blood and Sacrifice appeareth of infinite Excellency and Dignity 4 In respect of the rich free bright and abundant love appearing in this Sacrifice of the Sonn of God for as it was the love of God to give his Sonn c. as aforesaid even so
which he giveth to men 1 It is not that knowledge or knowing which is naturall Rom 3.10 and 11.34 Truth it is that as God through Christ and for his sake for a time preserveth the naturall life of man so through Christ and for his sake he giveth and preserveth unto men for the time of this naturall life their naturall understanding reason judgmentaind conception Job 35.11 Rom. 1.32 By which they may learne and understand some things in the workes of God Job 36 24 25. And some things in the Narration or History of the Scriptures or Word of God Rom 2.17.21 Luke 10.26 27. And it is also true that God hath imprinted and manifested his wisdome even some testimonies of his being and goodnesse in his workes of Creation and Providence Psalm 19 1-6 Act. 14.17 Rom 1.19 20. and 2.4 And in the Scriptures or Word of God hath set forth Christ the wisdome of God what he hath done what he is and what he will do and doth 1 Cor. 1.24 Io. 5.39 46. Rom 4.23.25 And yet this is also true that in respect of all men that are but naturall and have but their naturall life and understanding though preserved in mercy for Christs sake This light shineth in darknesse and the darknesse comprehendeth it not Iohn 1.5 Men by their naturall wisdome do not find out or attain to know God in the wisdome of God set forth in the bookes of Creatures or Scriptures 1 Cor 1.21 The naturall man cannot know the things of the Spirit of God which he teacheth concerning the things of Christ because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor 2.14 So that the naturall man with all his naturall powers and parts cannot attaine the right knowledge of the things of God in Christ by all his search either in the Workes of God or in the Word of God Eccles 10.15 2 It is not that knowledge which is both naturall and artificial attained by knowledge of Arts in use of Arts and artificiall helps whence that interrogation challenge Isa 33. where is the Scribe c. A truth it is that through Christ and for his sake God blesseth mens industly in study of Letters Tongues Arts and Sciences that are naturall and honest and also their honest industry in use and exercise thereof So as many thereby become very knowing wise prudent and skilfull Orators and Disputers In study of the works of God they may attain excellent knowledge about the variety of soyles and seasons the nature of Beasts Birds Plants the nature dispontion and manners of men and so be very skilfull for husbandry trading and merchandize Government of Common-weales Isa 3.1.4 Lawes Warre Physick c. And this is a great mercy to a Common-wealth and a correction to want them And in study of the Scriptures such may attain excellent knowledge for translation of Tonguâ—s understanding and explicating Histories discerning of Times and some Proprecies and of the scope and circumstances of places and etyâ—â—ologie of words which is a mercy to the Nation where they live while they keep their bounds yea and to the Churches also Matth. 2.5 6. Luke 12.54 57 Isa 3.1 4. But yet this is also true that the verity excellency depth pretiousnesse enjoyment and efficacy of the things of God in Christ these Rabbies and Princes of the World for wisdome and understanding cannot by this wisdome find out discern approve or receive though they reade and study the words in which it is exprest yet in those words it is hidden from them and they by their wisdome in all their searching cannot finde out this mysterious wisdome of God in Christ 1 Cor 1 20.21 and 2.7 8 14. Matth. 11.25 Luke 10.21 So as naturall and artificiall knowledge and wisdome cannot reach or attaine the right knowledge of the things of God in Christ Prov. 30.2 3 4. So that the knowledge or knowing here spoke of is not naturall or artificiall but supernaturall as shall be shewn anon 3 Neither yet is this such a knowledge or knowing of which nature is no way capable of the receit of it or such as doth destroy the naturall or artificiall knowledge or as if they could no way consist and be together in the same subject Act. 18.24 28. and 7.22 23 Heb. 11.24 25. The body or humane nature of our Lord Jesus Christ neither did nor could raise it self yet was it capable of being raised and was by the Divine Power not destroyed but raised And yet the resurrection though it was of the humane nature yet it was not at all by the humane but by the divine nature the very Spirit and Power of God that not the divine but the humane nature was raised Act. 2.23 24 30 31. Rom 4.24 and 6.4 The eyes of blind Bartemeus could by no naturall meanes attain to see but they were capable of receiving sight by the guift of God Mark 10.46 52. And for the better understanding this businesse wee may consider that it is appointed to men once to dye Heb. 9.27 Eccles 9.10 and when they do dye and give up the Ghost then all their naturall and artificiall knowledge and wisdome dyes together with them And as they shall be one day raised again by the Spirit and power of Christ so then the knowledge they have shall not be naturall or artificiall but only that which they shall have from the power of God that raised them 1 Cor. 13.11 12. And the members of Christ by vertue of their union with him shall have all knowledge tending to happinesse from him by the divine nature filling them with light and leading both soule and body 1 Iohn 3.2 So that they shall then know perfectly and see as they are seen and know as they are known But here in this life as their bodies so their naturall powers are spiritually humbled and mortified that they may in the regeneration be quickned by Rom 8.10 11 12.23 and made serviceable to the Spirit not annihilated or slain nor is the man perfectly and totally made alive in the regeneration here wrought nor will be till perfectly and totally dead in respect of all naturall life but the Spirit is alive for Righteousnesse sake 1 Cor 13.9 And the Spirit quickneth also the mortall body and so he may as pleaseth him The naturall powers and faculties for such service as he pleaseth 1 Cor. 1.29 The to tall redemption of the body being yet waited for our knowledge yet imperfect so then though neither natural nor artificiall knowledge bee the knowledge of spirituall things nor doth nor can attain it yet the spirituall knowledge may consist and be together with them in the same subject and having humbled and slaine the pride of them may make such use of them in some services as the Spirit pleaseth and as it is a punishment or correction during this life to have the body by Diseases disabled from service and tormented with pain Deut. 28.28 so is it to have the naturall reason and
misery by having his being from Adam and partaking of his nature he may partake of justification and lyfe by having his being in Christ and partaking of his Divine nature without this new Birth he cannot enter the Kingdome of God Iohn 3.3.5.6 2 Cor. 5.17.20 2 Pet. 1 2 3 4. Tit. 3.3 4 5 6 7. And indeed till so borne from above men are Aliens from God and Christ and the lyfe of God in Christ Ephes 2.12 and 4.18 And however it be true that in Christ and that he hath done obtained and received God hath given us eternall lyfe and this life is in his Sonne yet this is also true that whoever of us hath not the Sonne the same hath not lyfe lyfe is received and enjoyed onely in the receite and enjoyment of the Sonne 1 Iohn 5.11.12 And that is when through his spirituall Discovery and sprinkling of his Pretious Blood and Dispensation of his grace there-through to the heart a man is brought to believe on him And so quickoned borne and renewed Ephes 2.5.10 Esa 55.1 9. And so such he gives the priviledges of the Sonnes of God who to receive him and are so borne Iohn 1.12.13 2 Thes 2.13.14 So that the truth is the necessity in respect of mens personall entrance into the Kingdome and being eternally saved to be spiritually sprinkled and washed with the Blood of Christ is so great as there can be no greater there being no other way to the enjoyment of remission of sins Humiliation for sinn Justification before God wisdome righteousnesse Sanctification and redemption nor any fruitfulnesse that God will accept But by this pretious Blood of Christ which he shed and with the vertue thereof offered himselfe to God by his spirit sprinkled on the conscience And his rich and abundant grace manifested through the same by the same spirit shed abroad in the heart and so leading to God in which respect Christ onely is the way for all accesse to the Father and without whom there is no coming to God nor doing any thing he will accept Iohn 14.6 Rom. 3 25. Ephes 1.7 1 Cor. 1.30 Iohn 15.4 1 Pet. 1.18.19 Ephes 2.17.18 Heb. 10.10 19. This necessity of Christ his sprinkling his Blood on the Conscience the whole Gospel and all the writings thereof and Testimonies and examples therein do shew and so doth the Law also rightly understand CHAPTER 6. A digression to shew how the Law shewes the necessity of this Blood-shedding Death and Sacrifice of Christ BEfore in Chapter 4. was shewn how the ends of the suffering Blood Death and Sacrifice of Christ was shaddowed in the leviticall law and types of old and the necessity of the acting presenting and applying the same now if we view the morall law even the law of workes the holy and righteous law of God It also will shew and urge the necessity of the Death and Sacrifice of Christ in all the respects aforesaid and that every way If we consider this holy law 1. In respect of it selfe 2 In respect of the ends of giving it and 3. In respect of the power it hath in this lyfe in the consciences of men till set free by Christ 1 The Law it selfe is holy spirituall and righteous Rom. 7.12 Mat. 22.38.39 1 Iohn 3.4 Rom. 7.7 Iam. 2.10 Mail. 1.6 It is a holy Law pointing us all to live to God the holy one and according to his Will and Commands enjoyning to love God with all our heart soule and strength and our neighbour as our selves and to walke in that love of God and our neighbour and so it forbiddeth every sinn and commandeth every Duty And it is a spirituall Law requiring the Inmost heart and Spirit And the utmost and perfect obedience of the whole man so as the least rising motion to any evill it forbiddeth and concludeth it sinn yea and the least want of the through spirituall and perfect performance of all or any one point it condemneth for sinn and for that sinn putteth under the guilt of the breach of the whole Law And it is a righteous law requiring of man noe more then is due from man to God and which shall be the righteousnesse of a man before God if he fulfill it so as the law find no fault in him Rom. 2.13 and 10.5 Gal. 3.10.12 Rom. 6. Deut. 27 15-26 and it promiseth life to the observers and will performe it that being the righteousnesse of the Law and it sentenceth to death and curse every one that sinneth against any point or cometh short of the least title it requireth so that this Law is holy spirituall and righteous in its Commandements of Duty In its Justifying the doers of it in its convincing the Transgressors and in its leaving Transgressors to the curse And indeed so holy spirituall and righteous is this law that in their own persons and performances noe one man since Adam fell but onely Jesus Christ our Lord hath fulfilled it to every Jota or can be Justified and have lyfe by it For. 1 Though a man had such knowledge of the Law that he could see all his Duty therein required And had also such a heart to keepe this Law that he had respect to every Commandement in it and did his utmost to avoid every sinn and to perform every duty and that constantly in all his conversation yet if he attaine not to the utmost the Law requireth but fayle of that if it were but once and but in one point the Law puts him under the guilt of sinn and danger of Curse and Death Rom. 6.23 the wages of sinn is Death and James 2.10 whosoever shall keepe the whole Law and yet offend in one poynt he is guilty of all and Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the booke of this Law to do them and Rom. 5.12 all have sinned Iames 3.2 In many things we offend all so that by the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified Rom. 3.20 2 A man having once sinned and fallen under the guilt of sinne and so into the desert of death and curse as all men have there is no after-righteousnesse of his performance that can take away that sinne which unlesse it be taken away he cannot be justified before God though in his after righteousnesse he could answer the whole Law but onely for that one offence whence those sayings Job 9.15.20.21.22 nor can any teares confessions or washing themselves with snow water take off this sinne that they may appeare righteous before God Job 9.30.31.32 Nor can any gifts or sacrifices of Bulls and Goats Heb. 10.4 nor of thousands of Rams or ten thousand Rivers of Oyle or the first borne of Beasts or of a mans body satisfie for and take away sin Mich. 6.6.7 3. Neither can there be any mangling impairing or abating much lesse abolishing of this holy and spirituall law that the Almighty will tolerate nor did Jesus Christ come to destroy
know that the Sonne of God is come and hath given us an understanding that wee may know him that is true 2. By a certain inward experience of the beauty excellency and sweet savour of the things known a pleasing delightfull and reviving tast and savour 2 Cor. 2.14 15.16 manifesteth the savour of his knowledge a sweet savour of Christ a savour of life unto life Phil. 3.8 For the excellency of the knowledge of Christ for whom I have suffered the losse of all things and do count them but Dung that I may win Christ 1 Pet. 2.3 If yee have tasted that the Lord is gracious to whom coming c. And this is the knowledge here meant A supernaturall and spirituall knowledge of Christ and the things of Christ taught by the Spirit of Christ with light motion and power giving an understanding to discern and heart to savour the things knowne In which knowledge as there are divers degrees so some are but Babes and Novices in it and so in respect of some others unlearned and unskilfull in it others more skilfull yea some Fathers and very stable And this is the knowledge the Spirit in the Scripture speaketh of when it speaketh of the things of Christ and his Spirit 1 Cor. 2.1 15. 1 Tim. 3.6 Heb. 5.12.13.14 2 Pet. 3.16 which whoso wanteth altogether whomsoever he hath heard preach the Gospel what books soever he hath read and what knowledge soever he hath attained in the Scriptures what degree what office or profession soever he hath yet he hath not seen the image of the Father nor heard his voyce Heb. 1.3 John 1.14 5 37.38 c. And so knoweth not the Father nor the Son nor the things of the Spirit nor such as are born of the Spirit 1 John 3.1 John 15.21 1 Cor. 2.12.14.15.16 And so the knowing here meant is supernaturall spirituall and experimentall bee it little or much more or lesse and so yet wavering or stable CHAP. 13. 3. Of what Faith it is here to be understood and 4. of what remembrance 3. FOr the Faith here meant it is a Divine and Spirituall faith for the better understanding whereof these seaven things may be considered about it 1. The object of it 2. The Mover or Worker of it 3. The nature and act of it 4. The motion in and of it 5. The subject in which it is and immediate instruments in and with which it moveth and worketh 6. The power life or principle in in it 7. The onenesse of it in diversity of the degrees and acts 1. For the object that the eye of this Faith is set on on which it looketh to which it runneth on which it leaneth and resteth This object is Divine and but one even God In the Lord put I my trust Psal 7.1 and 11 1. and 121.1 and 123.1 and 9.10 Cant. 1.4 Yet this object is considerable in a threefold respect viz. 1. In respect of the most inmost and utmost object for refuge foundation and fountain of all help safety and satisfying and that is God himselfe even the divine Nature in his infinite wisdome power mercy love truth c. Psal 42. God our refuge and strength c. Psal 18.2 Rock Fortresse Deliverer c. Psal 27.1 Light and salvation even God Rom. 4.24 that raised up Jesus Christ our Lord from the dead 2 Cor. 1.9.10 which raised the dead who delivered c. and doth deliver c 1 Pet. 1.21 By whom we beleeved 1.5.5 trusteth in God Heb. 2 13. In respect of the inmost and absolute Medium through which this faith discerneth c. commeth to and fasteneth on God and without which there can bee no discerning of or comming in to God or closing with him at all And this inmost and absolute mediate object is Jesus Christ the Sonne of God made Man of the Seed of Abraham and David who is the Saviour of the world and the Head and Husband of the Church Rom. 1.3.4 1 Joh. 4.14 John 4.42 Eph. 5.32 and 1.22.23 Christ saith Iohn 14.6 I am the Way the Truth and the Life no man commeth to the Father but by me Eph. 2.18 Through him we have both an accesse by one Spirit unto the Father Iohn 1.7 that through him all might beleeve 2 Cor. 3.4 Such trust have we through Christ to God-ward Whence also this faith is called Col. 1.4 and 2.5 faith in Christ and Iohn 3.15 believing in him And so Christ Jesus is object of this faith and that 1. In respect of what he hath done for us in dying for our sins and rising for our justification and offering up himselfe a Sacrifice and ransome to God Rom. 4.25 1 Tim. 2.6 2. In respect of what he is through that hee hath done become for us as namely that nee is Eph. 2.14 our Peace 1 Iohn 2.2 the propitiation for our sinnes 1 Cor 1.30 wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Rom. 1.3 our Lord and Saviour 3. In respect also of what through that he hath done and is become for us he now doth in heaven for us and that is Heb. 9.24 appeare in the presence of God for us And Heb. 7.25 ever liveth to make intercession for us And so Heb. 9 14.15 4. In respect of what he will doe in and for all such as through grace beleeving in him accept that he hath done Rom. 5.11 and depend on him according to that he is and doth for that he will do in and for them as namely that he will support and uphold them Isai 43.1 2. and cause all to work together for good to them Rom. 8.28 and send forth his Spirit from the Father to them to beare witnesse of him to and through them Iohn 15.26.27 to mind them of his words and teach them all things Iohn 14.26 to take of the things of Christ and shew to them and so glorifie him to them and thereby comfort them and lead them into all truth Iohn 14.14 16. 16.13.14.15 to make them fruitfull in their ministration Iohn 15.5.16 convincing the world Iohn 16.7 8 9 10. calling in to Christ 2 Cor. 2 14-16 and 3.3 and answering their enemies Matth 10.20 and to sanctifie and preserve them to the inheritance 1 Thess 5.24 And thus is Jesus Christ the next and neerest object and the onely absolute and inmost Medium through which this faith fasteneth upon God or the Divine Nature which is the most inmost and outmost object Thirdly in respect of the Instrument and outward Medium through which Christ and so God in Christ is beheld beleeved and trusted in and this is the word of God that which declareth Christ and Gods love and gracious mind in and through him and so the name or great report and fame of the glory or goodnesse of God in Christ in his love mercy power wisdome c. Whence he is said to have magnified his word above all his name Psal 138 2. and so this faith is called A beleeving the Gospel and receiving