his Natures in his Offices in his sweet and gracious Dispositions In his Natures severally considered and united in his Hypostatical and Personal Union The Person of Christ consists of two Natures God the true Emanuel or God with us God manifested in the Flesh Man the true Emanuel or God with us God manifested in the Flesh So Joh. 1. 14. The Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his Glory the Glory of the onely begotten Son of God full of Grace and Truth That is the Word which was God in the Second Person The brightness of his Glory and express Image of his Person Heb. 1. 3. took our Nature to himself in one Person and became Mediatour perfect God and perfect Man First Perfect God equal with the Father in Essence Joh. 10. 30. I and my Father are one that is one God not one Person 't is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one Person but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one thing or Being I am in the Father and the Father in me and therefore my Sheep are safe they are in my hand and in my Father's hand here are two distinct Subsistences and we are the same I and my Father are one God as God I am equal with him the same in Substance equal in Power and Glory Rom. 9. 5. Of whom concerning the Flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever over all men and over all things or in all as Vatab. This Scripture is generally used by all Interpreters to prove the Divine Nature of Christ He is God over all and blessed for ever in himself and of himself and the Author of all those Blessings his Creatures enjoy By him are all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth Visible and Invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him Coloss 1. 16. And therefore he is perfect God this being his peculiar Operation to create the World By him all things consist he upholds all things by the word of his Power Heb. 1. 3. Supporting and ruling them which is another property of the Divine Nature the ruling and bearing up of all things in the World which none but everlasting Arms can do So he hath Power to forgive Sins which only God can do to raise the Dead to judge the World Mark 2. 5 7. Joh. 11. 43 44. Acts 17. 31. To know the Secrets of all Hearts Luke 5. 22. To be the Object of Religious Worship Heb. 1. 16. All which abundantly prove the Lord Jesus to be perfect God and so of infinite Perfection and Blessedness to inrich all that come unto him which will evidently appear if we do but a little consider those Perfections of the Divine Nature as opened in the Scriptures all which are in Jesus Christ First His Simplicity being a most pure Essence without the least Composition or Diversity of Parts or Accidents There is no mixture of Qualities or Excellencies in God but every Attribute is his entire Essence and therefore he is a most pure and simple Being as the Names he gives himself import especially these two Ehejeh Exod. 3. 14. I am hath sent me unto you The Word is in the future Tense I will be hath sent me but in the Hebrew the future Tense expresseth often both the Present and preterperfect and so this Word holds forth God's most simple absolute and immutable Being and self Existence So Jehovah a Name which God seems to take most Delight in and which doth as it were sum up all his glorious Excellencies in one word importing his most pure glorious and incomprehensible Essence which he hath in and from himself before all time and unto all Eternity subsisting in and of himself and giving Being to all his Creatures and therefore must needs be the most perfect and simple Being The Unity of his Essence proves his Simplicity he is one God though three Persons Deut. 6. 4. Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one God he is the first Being and one undivided Essence and therefore most pure and simple He is altogether a most perfect Being in and of himself who wants nothing that is excellent nor can have any thing in himself that is evil and therefore is a most simple pure Nature And if Jesus Christ as God be such a simple and excellent Being then he is a most perfect Treasure to his People there is nothing wanting in him to make them happy nor can there be any thing in him or come from him to make them miserable then he is true and faithful to Believers there can be no Contrarieties in him or Contradictions proceed from him his Love is sincere his Purposes are true there is a reality in his Expressions for he is one and of one mind to his redeemed ones O Believers think on the Purity of Christ's Nature the Perfection of his Blessedness the Integrity of his Affections and the Infiniteness of all his Perfections to make his beloved ones happy There 's no Moth or Rust no Worm or Death can ware out his pure Affections to his People There is no mixture in his Nature Composition is the Corruption or Imperfection of created Beings but in Christ's Divine Nature there is Unity and Simplicity there is nothing can alter his Thoughts and Resolutions to his sincere ones he is most true and most full in all his Perfections and this his Simplicity assures Believers of eternal and infinite Blessedness in their Union with and Relation unto him for he is in himself the most absolute and perfect Being the first and most simple Being he is most perfect in and of himself for he hath all his Perfections in and of himself as God and all that is sufficient for his infinite Blessedness in and from himself and hath all that in him which is sufficient for the Good of his Creatures and highest Happiness of his People Again he is most perfect because he wants nothing from another to make him blessed He needs no Creatures to contribute any thing to him nor doth he lose any thing by Creatures falling from him or can have any Addition to his Glory or Blessedness by the access of men or Angels to him So also he doth what pleaseth himself nothing can resist his Will or frustrate his Purposes and therefore is most perfect in himself And if the Lord Jesus be so perfect in himself then he is the Author of Perfection to his People for he hath made over himself his whole Person God-Man to Believers to be their Shield and exceeding great Reward Then Believer thy case is happy thy Treasure is full and perfect thy Choice is a blessed Choice and thy Lot a perfect Lot fall'n in a good Ground Then the Person of thy Beloved is altogether lovely his Accomplishments being altogether perfect not a Spot or Blemish in him Then all his Gifts to his Spouse are perfect his Righteousness is a perfect
Ability to revive her dead Brother she believed indeed he should rise at the last day and not before why saith Christ they that shall then rise from the dead shall rise by my Power and if I will raise up the dead then I can as easily do it now The hour is comming in which all that are in their Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth they that have done Good unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation Joh. 5. 28. 29. And I will raise him up at the last day Joh. 6. 54. That there shall be a general Resurrection of the dead at the last day when every Body though now consumed shall be raised up and reunited to the Soul and be brought to the final Judgment is not questioned by those that believe and know the Scriptures The Author of this Resurrection is God as God but the second Person the Lord Jesus is delegated to accomplish this Work which he shall do by his own Voice saith Christ himself by a Shout by the Voice of the Arch-Angel and with the Trump of God saith the Apostle 1 Thes 4. 16. with a great Sound of a Trumpet saith the Evangelist Mat. 24. 31. That is the Lord Jesus shall at that last day by his mighty Voice pronounced by the Arch-Angel cause all the dead both small and great to arise in their same Bodies though chang'd into an immortal State and suitable Capacity to that Condition to which they are intended to receive their Soul and to come to Judgment And is not this a mighty Work to quicken the dead a work peculiarly ascribed to God 2. Cor. 1. 9. For we had the Sentence of Death in our selves that we should not trust in our selves but in God which raiseth the Dead 'T is the work of God and of none but God to raise the dead 'T is a work full of Wonder and Amazement beyond all Principles of created reason to conceive how those Bodies dissolved to dust mingled with other Bodies in the Grave digested into other Natures by Beasts Fishes Fowls that have devoured them should yet return and be separated from other Dust and Natures into the same Individuals is such a Miracle as is only fit matter for Faith not Sense and a firm Foundation for the Believers Hope and Comfort It may be thou seest nothing but Deaths on thy Graces Frames and Capacities thou findest Decayes in thy Soul the Spirit of Life seems to be departed from thee thou canst not pray hear converse with that sweetness and delight as heretofore Comfort thy self Believer He that is the Life is the Resurrection also He that quickned thy Heart when Dead will revive it when decay'd 'T is as easie with him to restore thy Spiritual Frames as to bestow them He that can raise the whole World from their Bodily total Death can easily and will in due time cure thy Soul-dyings also Again This will chear drooping Sion who faints at her Desolations and fears what will become of the destruction on her Interests 'T is lamentable to observing Souls to see how Religion goes down daily Holiness is departed from the Earth The Rod of the wicked lies on the back of the Righteous the wicked are exalted and the Righteous oppressed The House of David waxes weaker and weaker and the House of Saul waxes stronger This is a sad Spectacle yet in this case Relief is to be fetch'd from an Omnipotent Jesus who hath said His dead men shall live who can open his Peoples graves and revive his decay'd Interest and cause a Nation to bring forth in a day and Overturn Overturn Overturn till his Kingdom be established in the Earth CHAP. III. The Humane Nature of Christ distinctly consider'd it 's Reality proved His Personality or the Divine and Humane Nature in one Person shewing what kind of Vnion it is and the glorious Consequents and Advantages thereof WE have a little enquired into the Divine Nature of Christ the Beams of whose Glory but darkly seen yield a wonderful splendor and reviving to a believing Eye In the next place let us consider his Humanity The Nature of Man which the second Person assumes into a Personal Union with himself He is perfect Man as well as God The Woman's Seed Made of a Woman made under the Law Gal. 4. 4. Made of the Seed of David according to the Flesh Rom. 1. 3. For he took not on him the Nature of Angels but the Seed of Abraham Heb. 2. 16. The Children being partakers of flesh and blood he likewise took part of the same ver 14. And was in all things made like to his Brethren ver 17. Called the Son of Man the Man Christ Jesus having the Substante of the Humane Nature though not the Personal Subsistence thereof He did not take the Person of Man into Union with himself for then he would have had two Persons and so have been no true Mediator The Mediator being one 1 Tim. 2. 5. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Jesus But if the Lord Jesus had taken the Person of Man then he would have consisted of two Persons the Divine Subsistence and the Humane and so there would have been two Mediators or Persons mediating which is contrary to Scripture Neither did he take on him the vicious Qualities or Accidents of the Humane Nature being holy harmless separate from Sinners the Holy Spirit overshadowing the Virgin Mary and purging the Humane Nature of all its sinful dregs forming it of the Substance of the Virgin not of his own Essence whence the Holy thing begotten by the Spirit was not God but Man called the Holy Child Jesus purely conceived in the Womb of a Sinner without the least participation of her Sin or vicious Defects of her Nature receiving only the perfect Substance of Man Having the Essential parts of the Body Soul Humane Nature A true and real Body and not a Phantasme and Airy Vehicle as the Marcionites and Hereticks of old held He had Flesh and Bones which a Spirit hath not Luke 24. 39. Handle me and see me for a Spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have This was after his Resurrection when the Disciples doubted that it was an Apparition and not him and even then Christ had a real Body palpable and visible the object of External Senses A Natural and not an Heavenly Body as the Manichees affirm'd from 1 Cor. 15. 47. The first man is of the Earth Earthy the second man is the Lord from Heaven But to this I answer with Zanchy The Apostle doth not speak here of the Essential Body of Christ but of his Heavenly Spiritual Power which he lets out in raising the Dead as in the former verse The first man Adam was made a living Soul the last Adam was made a quickning Spirit He speaks not here of the Nature but of the person of the
second Adam as Mediator the Difference between whom was great the first Adam but a Creature this a Creator or Quickning Spirit the first Adam had his Rise from the Earth this second Adam as to his person from Heaven whence saith Paraeus 't is evident the Apostle doth not speak here of the matter of Christs Body but of the Original and Dignity of his Person for he grants in this whole Discourse that Christ's Body is one and the same with ours else how can his Resurrection be a proof of ours and 't is said As by man came death so by man came also the Resurrection of the Dead 1 Cor. 15. 20 21 22. And if Christ had not a real natural Body then he could not be the Seed of the Woman neither had his Death been a real Death or a satisfactory Propitiation if the same Nature that sinned had not also suffered And therefore it must needs be that Christ had a Natural Body He Eat Drank Spake Walked was weary smitten bound crucified which are also demonstrations of a Natural Body And as he had a perfect Body so had he a Soul also contrary to the Doctrine of Apollinaris or else he could not be a perfect Man and in all things made like unto his Brethren for 't is said when God made Man He breathed into his Nostrils the Breath of Life and man became a living Soul Gen. 2. 7. Hence saith Lactantius A Soul-less Body is no Humane Body 'T is said His Soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto Death Mat. 26. 38. Had not Christ a real Soul he had not been a living man nor could be said to have died when he cried out Father into thy hands I commit my Spirit Luke 23. 46. And having said so he gave up the Ghost This Spirit the Lord Jesus gave up into his Father's hands was not his Divine Nature for that was one with and ever with the Father and therefore must needs be his Soul which was his Life and that departing he is said to dye and give up the Ghost Besides That Knowledge in which he is said to increase with those Humane Affections that manifestly appeared in him and those Acts of his Natural Will plainly proves his Soul these being the Essential Faculties of a Rational Spirit Neither could he have perfectly transacted the Office of a Mediator and undergone all the Sufferings that were to be borne for the Sin of Man had he not consisted of a Humane Soul as well as Body part of these Penalties yea the greatest part being Spiritual and such as none but the Soul could be fully sensible of And in point of Justice the Soul of man having sinned there must be a Soul also in the Redeemer to undergo Sufferings wherefore he must needs be perfect man in the Essential Parts of the Humane Nature Body Soul He had also the Properties of the Humane Nature both Essential and Accidental The Essential Properties of man as well of the Soul as Body were in him The Essential Properties and Faculties of the Soul which are the Understanding Will Affections were seated in his Nature he had a created Understanding that eminently shin'd out in his youthful years being able at Twelve years old to dispute with the Learned Doctors of his Day even to the astonishment of his Hearers Luke 2. 46 47. And they found him in the Temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors both hearing them and asking them Questions and all that heard him were astonished at his Vnderstanding and Answers And ver 52. Jesus increased in Wisdom and Stature He had likewise Natural Affections so as without sin He loved the young man in the Gospel for those Excellencies that were in him Mark 10. 21. And had a peculiar degree of Affection to John above the rest of the Disciples Joh. 19. 26. He had compassion on the multitude Mat. 9. 36. And was grieved for the Heart hardness of his Disciples Mark 3. 5. And had indignation against Peter's tempting him to decline his Redemption-work Mark 8. 33. He had also the Essential Properties of a Humane Body such as do flow from the Essence thereof and are so absolutely necessary to it as that without these the Body would cease to be a Body as Quantity Figure Members Dimensions He had a Material Body consisting of Flesh and Bone with its Lineaments and Members Face Hands Feet he had a Stature in which he grew as other men do Luke 2. 52. A Body circumscribed in a place that must needs have a Circumference and be in one place at once circumscriptively not definitively as Spirits are Neither does its Union with the Divine Nature or its glorified state in Heaven alter this Essential Property of a Body Nor is the Omnipotency of God a sufficient Argument to warrant the Body of Christ to be in Heaven and Earth and in divers places at once seeing God's Absolute Power never crosseth his Actual Power or infer a contrariety to his Truth and to the natural Being of things Neither did he assume the Parts and Essential Properties of Man only but the Infirmities also and accidental Properties of the Humane Nature though not those which were Personal and Vicious and procur'd by Personal Sins or defection in their particular Natures as Diseases Blindness Lameness Deformity which were not the absolute and universal Products of Original Sin incident to every one but arising from some particular Causes and peculiar to some Persons onely these our Lord Jesus did not take upon him but such Infirmities as were accidental to the whole Nature for that he himself also is compassed with Infirmities Heb. 5. 2. not sinful as culpable Ignorance and Errour but Natural Infirmities such as were incident to our Natures Sin excepted and such as were the Effects and Punishment of Sin these Christ took on him as inculpable Ignorance Humane Passions of Sorrow Fear Anger in the Soul Hunger Thirst Weariness Pain bloody Sweat and Death in the Body Mark 13. 32. Mark 11. 13. Math. 26. 38. Math. 9. 36. Mat. 16. 23. Joh. 19. 28. Joh. 4. 6. Heb. 5. 8. Luke 22. 44. Mat. 27. 50. And O what enriching Priviledges and full Consolation do flow to Believers from the Words assuming the Humane Nature into Personality with himself And what glorious Excellencies are in Jesus Christ as he is God-Man in one Person infinite Treasures which can never be traced out nor fully understood by the Children of men as will appear if we consider the kind of this Union and the Consequents of it First Consider the kind of this Union between the Divine and Humane Nature of Christ and O what a glorious Mystery is it First It is a real Union 't is not Nominal in Name onely or Metaphorical in Shew or Similitude but in Reality and Truth The Divine and Humane Nature do constitute one Person which is Jesus Christ We have already proved that Jesus Christ is perfect God and perfect Man he is really so in one
very Doctrine are words of peace Eph. 2. 17. He came to guide our feet into the way of peace Luke 1. 79. He came and Preached Peace O what a blessed Estate hath Christ what a lovely Lord is Christ He bequeaths peace to his people Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you Joh. 14. 27. They have peace with God who Espouse this Christ Rom. 5. 1. Peace with Saints and Angels Col. 1. 20. Peace with Conscience too Phil. 4. 7. Heb. 10. 22 The Fruits of the Spirit is Peace Gal. 5. 22. His Riches have no sorrow annexed with them 7thly It is a perpetual Estate An inheritance that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven 1 Pet. 1. 4. Christs Riches are durable Riches aged Riches strong solid Riches Opes densae that is â—ultae firmae says Mercer they are great stable Riches Pro. 8. 18. Riches and Honour are with me yea durable Riches and Righteousness His Gold is not liable to rust 'T is said of the Cedar worms will not breed in it sure there 's no worm in Christ's Treasure O Souls 't is a lasting Estate That neither time nor changes can wast nor weaken All the Saints spending upon it to all Eternity never detracts from it Christs Treasures are like the deep waters or like the bottomless Ocean that cannot be exhausted his treasure will last as long as God the Soul and Eternity lasts which is for ever for ever for ever Some men have out-liv'd their Leases and their Estates and have seen an end of their Houses and Riches but the Spouse of Christ can never out-live her jointure it lasts to all Eternity Lastly 'T is a possest estate Some may have great estates but it is in reversion they may look long for it as some Heirs do all their days But Christs Estate is all in his own hand 't is actually made over to him by the Father and possession given him when he sate down at the Right hand of God Heb. 1 3. He hath actually obtained this Inheritance with the Fruits of it Heb. 1. 4. And is actually invested with this glory Heb. 2. 7. This sinners is the Estate of that Beloved that is tendered to you in the Gospel for your choice he is very wealthy he hath a fair free sure sutable pleasant peaceful perpetual possession an Estate you cannot spend or comprehend an Inheritance you cannot lose or out-â—ive riches that will not cloy nor clog yâ—u a portion that cannot be out-vy'd or match'd Come view the Rentals of his Lands the Inventory of his Goods and see what a rich match Christ is there 's none like him where can you mend your penny-worths all the world no nor the Heaven of Heavens can yield you such another bargain Job 28. ver 13. c. Man knoweth not the price thereof the gold and the Chrystal cannot equal it and the exchange of it shall not be for Jewels of fine gold c. Then Jesus Christ is worth a looking after if he be so rich as the Scripture reports him to be and I presume you question not the truth of this testimony O slight not this bargain which will make you happy to all Eternity if wealth will please you here 's enough what say you Have you any objection against his estate If not what stick you at Secondly Dost thou dislike his person Then it argues thou knowest him not for he is altogether Lovely the chiefest of ten thousands The fairest of the Children of Men O come behold the Lamb of God Look upon this glorious Jehovah Christ O see his Personal Excellency and it will allure you and invite you to come to him he is the brightness of his Fathers Glory and the express image of his Fathers Person Heb. 1. 3. Sinners look well upon him view him from top to toe there is no blemish in him O he is the most exquisite one his perfections are enough to please you his beauty sufficient to allure you See his excellent lineaments the sweet proportion of every part O how lovely is Christ to the believing eye in regard of his Person Consider his Natures God Man sweetly concentring in an intimate and Eternal Union perfect God perfect Man in one person O where can you espy such an object sure he is a Non-such none like him in Heaven none like him on Earth in regard of his Personal Glory as Mediatour God Man look over his Characters that his friends have given him See in that Book of Cant. Chap. 5. How the Spouse displays him and you will find him a beautiful Person ver 11. to the end His head is as the most fine gold His Wisdom and Government is most pure solid and excellent His locks are bushy and black as a Raven Which notes not only his love liness but his strength and vigour he hath his radical moysture his vital heat He is strong his vigour abides with him he hath strength sufficient for all his undertakings and he is able to go through what he sets his hand unto he is strong vigorous and spritely His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the Rivers of Waters washed with Milk and fitly set His sight is quick and perfect his understanding is infinite His Counsels are holy and consistent all well set his decrees his purposes all methodically ordered and fixed His looks are gracious his aspects lovely enamouring the eyes of them that behold him O such a lovely Christ is tendred to Sinners O I know not how to set him forth to your capacities he is a most taking object indeed His face is white and ruddy Emblems of Rich Beauty captivating the eyes and ravishing the hearts of beholders The purity of the divine nature with the passions of the humane and procurements of his Redemption sets him forth as infinitely amiable in the eyes of Believers His cheeks are as a bed of spices as sweet flowers His graces and choice discoveries of his Excellencies doth wonderfully feed and delight the Souls of those that have acquaintance and fellowship with him his sweet and lovely perfections discover'd to Believers are like a rich feast that stay with them His lips like Lillies dropping sweet smelling Myrrhe The impartings of his wisdom the droppings of his Doctrine his gracious words his Holy Communications are savoury and sound pure and incorruptible they strengthen the heart and heal the Soul of those that imbrace him His Doctrine carries wonderful strength to those that are in weakness how do the words of grace revive the fainting hearts of Believers his wayes are strength to the upright like Myrrhe they make the heart sound His hands are as gold rings set with the Beryl His works and administrations in the World are full of order beauty and excellency All that he doth in Sion and out of Sion is all holy every providence that seems to us sometimes to be unseasonable is in infinte wisdom display'd by Jesus Christ for the good of his people
no way known but by Revelation and unveilings of the Spirit and in this sense are called Unsearchable Secondly As to the fulness of their Worth and Excellency they cannot be understood by any in this Life no mortal man no unglorified Soul can know them as they are to cast up the total value of these Treasures is beyond the Arithmetick of Saints themselves nay Men and Angels cannot understand the things that God hath prepared that Christ hath purchased for them that love him Here sayes the Apostle we know in part and we prophesie in part 1 Cor. 13. 9. We both you and I the most elevated Light by this side Glory know nothing of these lock't-up Mysteries as we ought and on this account also they are Unsearchable The Words being opened and the Cabinet unlock't I come to the main Subject and Treasure laid up in them which you may take in this general Doctrine and Proposition Doct. There are exceeding great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ opened and tender'd to Sinners in the Gospel In this Doctrine lie three grand Assertions to be proved Assertion 1. That there are exceeding great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ Assert 2. These vast and hidden Treasures of Christ are opened in and by the Gospel Assert 3. 'T is the Will of God that all these great and glorious Treasures which are in and come by Jesus Christ should be open'd and offer'd to Sinners yea the chiefest of Sinners I shall speak to each Assertion but more largely to the first That there are exceeding great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ And here I shall first prove by Scripture That there are great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ Secondly Shew you according to the Grace given me what are those Unsearchable Riches of Christ First That there are such Riches in and come by Jesus Christ the whole Gospel attests which is a Revelation of the Excellency of Christ and those glorious things which come by him I shall give you three or four Scriptures to prove it Col. 1. 27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory In the former verse the Apostle calls the Gospel a Mystery hid from former Ages the Excellency of which he opens in this verse and sets out in these two Epithetes 1. Rich. 2. Glorious First 'T is a rich Mystery in that it opens the glorious Riches of Christ which are better than the Gold of Ophir and all precious Substance the Riches of his Wisdom Grace Righteousness and Redemption which he calls tryed Gold and counsels poor Sinners to come to him for it Rev. 3. 17. Secondly 'T is a glorious Mystery called the Riches of his Glory Rom. 9. 23. That he might make known the Riches of his Glory on the Vessels of Mercy Eph. 1. 18. The Riches of his Glory c. The Gospel is a glorious Mystery because it brings to light great and glorious things even the Treasures of unknown Glory and what these Treasures of Glory are he tells you in the close of the verse they are Christ in you the hope of Glory Christ Jesus applied by Faith and received into the Soul by the Spirit is this glorious Treasure in that he gives them in his Union with them an evident Right to Glory See Prov. 8. 18 19. Riches and Honour are ascribed to him Riches and Honour are with me yea durable Riches and Righteousness My Fruit is better than Gold yea than fine Gold and my Revenue than choice Silver This is spoken of Christ the true Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. Christ the Wisdom of God and Power of God who is the Subject of this Chapter And 't is said of him that Riches durable Riches are with him better Treasures than Gold than choice Silver Durable Treasures which Time cannot waste or alter Riches that last to all Eternity which Rust and Moth cannot consume And Righteousness i. e. Treasure justly gotten Riches of Wisdom and Grace given him by the Father and Riches of Righteousness bought by his Blood All this Treasure is in him and offer'd by him unto Sinners In Christ must needs be Unsearchable Riches for in him dwells the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col. 2. 9. that is the Divine Nature united to the Humane Nature perfect God as well as perfect Man the infinite Treasures of the Divine Nature are his He is the Heir of all things and therefore must needs be rich Heaven and Earth are his Jews and Gentiles all Persons and Things put under him in which Glory and Majesty set over all the Works of Gods hands he mounts his Throne having confirmed his Title by his Blood and gives Gifts to men and makes a tender of Grace and Glory of Thrones and Crowns to all that come unto him promising to his Servants that they also shall inherit all things Rev. 21. 7. and therefore he himself must needs be rich In him are Treasures of Mercy and Goodness of Wisdom and Knowledge Riches exceeding Riches of Grace Eph. 2. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Riches of Strength Honour Glory and Blessing So that the Scriptures give in full testimony to this Truth That there are exceeding great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ And now I shall endeavour to shew Secondly What are those exceeding great and unsearchable Riches of Christ But alas this Well is deep and wherewith shall we draw these Treasures are out of sight who can find them out they are boundless bottomless numberless endless where shall we begin where can we make an end who can search them out to Perfection The best of men are but Learners the Angels are Enquirers the wisest men but Fools in these Searches we can know but in part nor prophesie but in part when the utmost is spoken you have not heard of one half of his Glory But according to the Revelation of Christ I shall open some of these Treasures of Christ to you under these two Heads His Riches Personal Purchased with some Applications and Improvements of them as we go through these Deeps CHAP. II. The Personal Riches of Christ opened in his Divine Nature manifested in his Attributes with the wonderful Advantages thereof to Believers PArt of these glorious Treasures of Christ lies in his Personal Riches that vast Worth and unknown Excellency that reside in himself which become the Believers Treasure also by their Relation to their Union with Contemplation of it with the communicated Fruits and Effects thereof Col. 1. 27. which is Christ in you the hope of glory i. e. which Treasure is Christ in you or Christ united to you by Faith and dwelling in you by his Spirit Christ his Personal as well as purchased Treasures are yours through your Union with your Relation to your Enjoyment of him and his glorious Communications to you Now these Personal Treasures of Christ are demonstrable in
thy Earthy Thoughts are legible Characters to his discerning look And should not the sense of this advise thy rational Soul to more watchfulness over thy treacherous Heart And surely were Christs All-seeing Eye more observed Persons Thoughts would be more weighed and their Insides more regarded O Reader whoever thou art Lodge this Truth in thy Heart and carry this Belief up and down with thee wherever thou goest The Eye of God is on thee He that must shortly be thy Judge is now thy Recorder and puts a Remark on all thy Thoughts Words and Wayes for which he will bring thee into Judgment Set a watch on all the rising motions of thy Heart stop thy hasty words at the door and examine what they are whence they come whither they go before thou let them pass and measure thy designed Actions by the Standard of the Sanctuary e're thou let them go under thy hand seeing he that is thy Judge comes with his measuring Line to take an Account of them and to render according to their nature and merit Thirdly Again As Christs Infiniteness exceeds all confines of Place so he passes beyond all terminations of Time being from Everlasting to Everlasting without Beginning without End Psal 90. 2. His Duration admits of no distinction of Time and therefore must needs be Eternal Time is the measure of Finite Beings which are capable of Priority and Succession but the Divine Essence hath no Beginning and so can have no End He is the Author of all other Beings and therefore cannot have a Beginning there being nothing before him to give him a Being God hath his Essence in and of himself and so must needs be Eternal Neither is he only Eternal saith Aquinas but he is his own Eternity because he is his own Essence subsisting in and of himself which Essence or Eternity of his is the very reason of Eternity and of all things contained therein for the Divine Essence subsisting of himself must needs be before all things that are made as the Cause is before the Effect and Eternity before Time seeing the things that are made are made by him Joh. 1. 3. His Unity also proves his Eternity being one uncompounded and undivided Being and so before all as Unity is before Multitude and whatever Beings are they are derived from Unity and without End for take off Unity and nothing remains The Scriptures bear full witness to the Eternity of Christ Before the Mountains were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the Earth and the World from Everlasting to Everlasting thou art God Psal 90. 2. I am the first and I am the last and besides me there is no God Isa 44. 6. He is the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the Ending which is which was and which is to come Rev. 1. 8. He is before all and by him all things consist Col. 1. 17. And though Christ be called the onely begotten Son of God Joh. 1. 14. and so implies the Father to be before the Son yet this priority is of Order not of Time Christ as God is Eternal with the Father and so before all Time Joh. 1. 1. and to Everlasting And this greatens the Believers Happiness beyond all conception that his Treasure is Eternal Time limits all the Comforts and Interests of Christless Souls let them seem never so amiable and great through the multiplying glass of mistaken Sense yet the shortness of their Duration narrows up their Felicity whereas the portion of Heaven-born Souls exceeds all Dimensions and Terminations The Moth of Time cannot consume their Treasure their Lease can never expire thousands of years that comprise the extent of Earthly Estates substracts nothing from that Eternity which gives duration to the Saints Treasure Rejoyce O Believer in the assured perpetuity of thy best Interests here thy most desired Mercies are but of short continuance Thy Priviledges are but Tabernacle-priviledges thy Enjoyments determinable thy Frames are transient thy Pleasures fading Hope Peace Love Grace endures but for a Season but thy Possessions beyond the Grave are eternal and as long as Christ lives shall thy Treasure last thy Holiness Happiness Pleasures and Perfections in the other World shall be coexistent with thy Soul and as far from expiring as the Love that gave them was from beginning And as thy Comforts here are short liv'd so are thy Troubles too Sorrow enduring for a Night light Afflictions and but for a moment 2 Cor. 4. 17. Tears contained within a Bottle Fears Wants Losses Dangers confin'd within this Span of time and expir'd with this short Vapor of Life but thy Consolations Gain Enjoyments Peace Safety shall be eternal no more liable to the Injury of time thy wet and weary Sowings are but for a Season thy weak and wasting Duties will be over but thy reaping thy resting shall know no end but endure while the Eternity and Omnipotency of Christ can make them good Fourthly The Divine Nature of Christ is immutable also above all Alteration and Change He is the same Yesterday to Day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. Immutable is his Nature being a most simple Essence free from parts or any Mixture that might render him capable of Corruption he is also the first Being and so free from the Influence and Dispose of a higher Power Change in any thing comes either from a Corruptibleness in its Nature or from the Will of a Superiour Power but God being the first and supreme Cause is above all and so unalterable in his Nature Isa 44. 6. I am the first and the last He is infinite too and so comprehends all Fullness of Perfection in himself and cannot meet with Alteration they are imperfect things that are subject to change old things that pass away but God is infinitely perfect and therefore cannot change or be moved from what he is by any external or internal Cause he cannot cease to be what he was or begin to be what he was not as to his Divine being indeed the Word the second Person in time assumes the humane Nature into a Union with himself but then he doth not cease to be what he was that is perfect God and so doth not change and though he alters his Laws and Administrations of Worship in the times of the Gospel yet he alters not his mind this Change was decreed from all Eternity God determined them to be mutable and therefore they must change or God would not be immutable And whereas it may be urged that God doth threaten to do what he doth not and promise to perform what he hath never fulfilled and therefore is mutable I answer that God never threatens and promises in his word absolutely but conditionally and the Condition failing the Act on which it depends fails but God doth not change his Mind neither was this Mutability in man accidental to God but foreseen and sure and so Gods Purposes thereabout are not alterable but eternal And whereas God is said now to be
the best of you your fair and specious Duties but he sees your inside and all your secret Rottenness when you sit before him as his People sit and seem devout in your Services he at the same time knows where your Thoughts are wandring and espies every vain Motion and sinful glance of your deceitful Eye when thou prayest with greatest Zeal his Eye is upon thy close Hypocrisie thy spiritual Pride thy base ends and those conceived Lusts which will break out when thy Duties are over O how should this abase thy proud Heart and prevent thy swelling Thoughts upon conceited Excellencies in thy self or supposed Worth in thy Duties seeing he knows what is in thee and how vain man would be wise This also should advise thy Soul to Sincerity in thy Profession Purposes Promises Duties because he beholds thee and weighs thy Paths searcheth thy Heart tries thy Reins and will shortly bring thy secret things to Judgment Lastly This counsels such as want Wisdom to be looking to Jesus and waiting at the Fountain and Spring-head for their Instruction Sixthly the Omnipotency of Christ is another of those glorious Properties of the divine nature which renders him so vast and unconceivable a Treasure to all that receive him He is the mighty God the everlasting Father Isa 9. 6. who hath infinite Strength to order and establish his Kingdom and to exert his Government in Sion and over Nations his Strength must needs be infinite because his Kingdom is eternal no created humane arm can sway the Scepter of the World and maintain an everlasting Rule over the Hearts and Conversations of all his People in all Ages and therefore he must be God and the mighty God to transact the whole Work that concerns him as Mediator and to answer the Appellations given him in Scripture Things are ascribed to Christ which cannot be performed by less than an infinite Power First His creating all things in Heaven and Earth Col. 1. 16. By him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him He is the eternal Word the Exemplar and efficient Cause of all created Beings The Heavens and Earth Angels and men the Inhabitants of the upper and nether World were all form'd by Jehovah Christ who gave Being to all his Creatures as pleased him and therefore his Power must needs be Almighty who is the everlasting God the Lord the Creator of the ends of the Earth that fainteth not be that giveth Breath unto the People upon it and Spirit to them that walk therein Isa 40. 28. chap. 42. 5. What a potent Lord have Believers chosen who can supersede all their Difficulties by his Creation-help if his whole Store-house of Heaven and Earth be not full enough to supply their Wants he can soon set forth a new Edition of Mercies by his own immediate arm if their way to Glory lye through a waste howling Wilderness where no Foot-steps can be seen to guide them he can create a Cloud by day and Pillar of Fire by Night to conduct them If their Provisions fail to relieve them in their Journey he can rain a Shower of Manna from his secret Granary and open the Caverns of the Flinty Rock and put new Springs into the barren Wilderness to refresh them when they are invironed with Troops of Death he can in a Moment interpose his fiery Chariots and Horse-men and when all their Deliverers fail send from Heaven and save them when the Visibility of Religion ceases and the Heavens pass away as a Scrole when the Glory of the Lords House is dissolv'd into a Chaos when the Gold of the Sanctuary is become Dross and the Gospel-Church metamorphoz'd into the old World he can even then create a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness Is thy Heart Believer full of filthiness Thy Redeemer can create a clean Heart and if thy Tempest-tossed Soul can find no rest thy Lord can create the Fruit of the Lips Peace for thee What is too hard for a creating Arm to do Or what can undoe that People who have a faithful Creator to commit themselves and all their Concerns unto Secondly Another Proof of the Omnipotency of Christ is the upholding all things by the Word of his Power Heb. 1. 4. Who being the Brightness of his Fathers Glory and the express Image of his Person and upholding all things by the Word of his Power Here 's another Royalty of the divine Nature of Christ a new beaming out of his Glory as God even in the bearing up maintaining and Dispose of the whole Creation in the former ver the forming of the Universe and whole World was ascribed to Christ and here the Preservation of it also is laid upon him as a further Evidence of his oneness with the Father having begun his Work in the Creation he carries it on in his providential Sustentation thereof He is before all things and by him all things consist Col. 1. 17. He is the Foundation that underprops the whole Fabrick of Heaven and Earth which would soon sink down into its first nothing if everlasting Arms were withdrawn from beneath it he that first gives Being to his Creatures must continue it Conservation is but a Continuation of the first act of Creation to preserve the World from Destruction to continue the Creatures in their peculiar Nature and Properties and to govern those Diversities in an united Subserviency to his Will and Glory and the Well-being of the whole is a work of infinite Power and needs the same Strength that first produced them And this is the work Christians of your Messiah that person who is God-Man who by his divine power and efficacious Providence animates actuates cherishes quickens and sweetly disposes of all Creatures Actions and Affairs in the World He is the great Monarch of Heaven and Earth that changes Times and Seasons whose hands are under his Wings and hath a wheel within the Wheels that turns about things as pleaseth him brings Light out of Darkness Order out of Confusion Good out of Evil who hath the Government on his Shoulders and absolute Power in his hand to dispose of all persons and things as may most further the Pleasure of his own Will the Advance of his Glory and the Good of them that fear him And is not this Security enough to those who have intrusted themselves and all their Concerns with this glorious Potentate and King of Kings who hath the Management of all things in Heaven and Earth that it shall be well at last with the righteous the momentous Affairs of the world and of Sion shall issue in the best Good of those that love his Name How should this calm the tumultuous Fears of the godly into a sweet Serenity of Spirit and still their tempestuous Thoughts in a quiet Relyance on the Arm Care and
person Joh. 1. 14. The Word was made Flesh and dwelt amongst us and we beheld his Glory The Word that is the divine Nature the God-head of Christ was made Flesh that is united to the humane Nature and this in a visible way and dwelt amongst us it was not a Fiction but really Christ God-man dwelt amongst us and we beheld his Glory it was obvious to our view 1 Tim. 3. 16. Great is the Mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels If this be not real what can be so He was manifest in the Flesh How By way of real Union Justified in the Spirit by the divine Nature here 's Flesh and here 's the divine Nature in one person Jesus Christ God-Man seen of Angels Rom. 1. 3. 4. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord which was made of the seed of David according to the Flesh and declared to be the Son of God with Power according to the Spirit of Holiness by the Resurrection from the Dead Here 's a Person consisting of both these Natures real man born of the Seed of David then real God thus the Divine Nature was manifested to be in Christ by the Resurrection of the dead Rom. 9. 5. And of whom as concerning the Flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever Here both Natures are attributed to one Person Jesus Christ as concerning the Flesh descended from Abraham he came from David that is he received the humane Nature from the Virgin Mary and he is God over all blessed for ever The God-head is said to dwell in him bodily Col. 2. 9. Secondly It is a very near Union the nearest Union that possibly can be As the Soul and the Body make up one man so the divine and humane Nature of Christ make up one Person It is set forth by way of Inhabitation Col. 2. 9. In him dwells all the Fullness of the God-head bodily God manifest in the Flesh and justified in the Spirit makes up one entire Person As the Matter and the Form makes up one Being so this divine and humane Nature makes up one person Thirdly It is a mystical and unconceivable Union There 's a relative Union between Man and Wife making one Flesh a real Union between the Head and Members constituting one Body but this cannot reach this Union it is unconceivable above all Conception 1 Tim. 3. 16. Great is the Mystery of Godliness God manifest in the Flesh We may admire it and adore it but we cannot fathom the depth of this Union between the divine and humane Nature of Christ Fourthly It is a pure and unmixed Union as to each Nature In regard of Essence the divine Nature cannot be converted into the humane nor the humane into the divine but each Nature remains distinct and it's Properties are distinct Rom. 1. 3. 4. So that there are in Jesus Christ two Natures two Wills a divine Will and a humane Will he hath the Will and Affections of a man though fully sanctified and glorified he wills whatever the God-head wills but still as to his humane Nature it is with a humane Will so that something of the workings of Christ are by the divine Power and something by the humane Nature This Union consists in the Communication of the divine Nature with the humane the God-head and the humane Nature agree so that the divine Nature of Christ communicates all its fullness as far as may further Redemption-ends for the Sanctification and Salvation of the whole body of Christ and for the fulfilling of all Redemption-Work 1 Pet. 3. 18. This is a glorious Union but it is worthy to be known Ah how little of Christ is known as to these two Natures how little a portion do we know of him Fifthly It is an inseparable Union it can never be parted more Therein lies the Happiness of Believers that Jesus Christ is God-man to all Eternity never can there be an end of this Relation Jesus Christ God-Man is the same Yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. He was the same while in his obediential Work on Earth he is the same in Glory and will be the same to all Eternity This Union of Christ's two Natures must be eternal or else he cannot be said ever to live to make Intercession But he ever lives to make Intercession Heb. 7. 25. That which made Christ's Redemption infinite was that he was God as well as Man Christ the Interceder God-Man is now in Heaven and this must be for ever O what a glorious Truth is this that there can be no Cessation of this Union could this Union be separated as Nestorius holds then Redemption-work would cease He is over all God-Man blessed for evermore Rom. 9. 5. If the Saints Union with Christ be inseparable and their Interest in the Love of Christ inseparable then Christ is unalterable but because the Saints must have an eternal Union with him and he is an eternal Jesus he must be eternally God-Man Romans 8. 34 35 36 37 38 39. Joh. 17. 21. 23. 24. Secondly What are the Effects and Consequents that flow from and issue out of this Union between the divine and humane Nature â—â— Christ First from this Union of these two Natures in Christ there follows a Communication of Properties so that which is said to be done by each Nature is applied to the whole Person of Christ O this is a very glorious Mystery as this Christ's Sufferings in the humane Nature is applyed to the whole Person of Christ therefore the Blood of Christ which was but the Blood of the humane Nature is called the Blood of God Acts 20. 28. Feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood being of infinite Value and Worth So the Sufferings of the humane Nature are ascribed sometimes to the divine Nature and to the whole person of Christ so 1 Tim. 3. 16. God manifest in the Flesh and justified in the Spirit yet both these applyed to the person of Christ whatever the divine nature can do is applyed to the Person of Christ by a Communication of Properties â—â—owing from this Union Secondly From this Union flows this Consequence That there is Fullness of Grace plac'd in Jesus Christ to be given out to all his Seed The God-head fills the humane Nature of Christ Jo. 3. 34 God hath not given the Spirit by measure to him When we read of Christ's receiving any thing understand it of his humane Nature for the divine Nature cannot be capable of receiving any thing it is as full of Grace as ever it can hold And as the Breast is full of Milk for the Poor Babe so is Jesus Christ full of Grace in his Humane Nature to distribute to his Children His pity moves him to give out this and the other Grace to his People and it is in him to bestow it He wills the best good to all his People and what he wills
to the Father Eph. 5. 25 26 27. Christ gave himself for his Church that he might sanctifie and cleanse it and that he might present it to himself a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle Here 's a double Effect of Christ's Mediatorship One is By vertue of this Blood the Spirit comes and cleanses away the Corruption and subdues the Iniquities of his People this is that cleansing by Sanctification Then there 's a presenting the Saints to the Father complete in him without spot or wrinkle thus the vertue of Christ's Intercession and Righteousness applied by him to the Believer doth prove such a covering for all Believers that it hides every spot from God's Judicial Eye that the Lord is said to behold no Iniquity in them i. e. so as to be angry with them they are presented lovely and comely in Christ though black and deformed in themselves As a King And so he hath Authority to erect a Kingdom of Grace in the World to make Laws for the well-being of his Church and to require Obedience of all Persons Hence the Magistrates of the World are call'd upon to stoop to Christ Psal 2. 12. Kiss the Son lest he be angry All Authority in the World is placed under Jesus Christ in order to the carrying on his Mediatorly Kingdom Hence 't is said Prov. 8. 15. By me Kings Reign and Princes decree Justice they have their Power and Authority by the Government and disposing of Jesus Christ who is said to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. He hath absolute Power over every Creature Every Knee must bow and every Tongue confess to him all must subject to him Psal 22. 28. For the Kingdom is the Lords and he is the Governour among the Nations He shall have Dominion also from Sea to Sea and from the River unto the ends of the Earth They that dwell in the Wilderness shall bow before him and his Enemies shall lick the dust Psal 72. 8 9. As a King he is invested with Right and Power to give out the Spirit of Grace for the effectual fulfilling of and compleating Obedience to all his Laws by his Church and People Obedience to the Laws of Christ cannot be yielded but by the Spirit the best of his People are no further subject to him than they are Spiritual for the Carnal mind is Enmity against God Hence he saith When I go away I will send the Comforter John 16. 7. It is an Expression that notes Authority When I go away when I mount my Throne I will send the Spirit and he shall promote Obedience He shall lead his People into all Truth ver 13. 14. Whenever he intends the flourishing of his Kingdom in the World he hath residues of the Spirit to give out the more Holiness there is in Saints and Churches the more there are of the pourings out of the Spirit I will pour out my Spirit upon thy Seed and they shall spring up as among the grass as Willows by the Water-courses Isa 44. 3 4. So Joel 2. 28 29. I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh c. In those days that is in the time of the Gospel and especially when the Jews are called Again as King the Lord Jesus Christ hath sufficient Power to protect and rule his People to govern and subdue his Enemies He is altogether compleat to enact his own Purposes and to fulfill his own Will for as God nothing is too hard for him He takes up the Isles as a very little thing Isa 40. 15. It is an easie thing with him to blow off the Nations and subdue all the Powers that oppose him He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh the Lord shall have them in Derision Psal 2. 4. He makes nothing of all the Powers of his Enemies it is but to look through the Clouds and trouble their Hosts Exod. 14. 24. One Angel can suddenly destroy thousands of them he hath absolute Power over all Creatures to bring down all his Enemies where and when he will and he must reign till he hath brought them all down Heb. 2. 8. Thou shalt break them with a Rod of Iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a Potters Vessel Psal 2. 9. The Saints are ready to tremble when they consider the Potency of their Enemies but it is far easier for Christ to dash all the Powers of the World in pieces than for a man to break an earthen Pitcher He will order and establish his Kingdom with Judgment and Justice Isa 9. 7. It is not for want of Ability in Christ to order and perfect the Obedience of his Church and People that there are such Disorders found amongst them only he is pleased to leave Irregularities for a while that he may come at last with his Fan and purge them So neither men nor Devils can pluck his Sheep out of his hand Jo. 10. 28. Enemies may touch them Temptations may wound and buffet them and sometimes Captivate his People but they cannot remove them out of his hand he will still support and preserve all that the Father hath given him Fifthly In this personal Union of the Lord Jesus Christ lies his Mediatorship In these two Natures he takes upon him and undergoes the Office of Mediator And this is so great a deep that time is too short to give a full Display of the Glory of Christ's Mediatorship Heb. 8. 6. But now he hath obtained a more excellent Ministry by how much also he is the Mediator of a better Covenant But now c. That is by vertue of this Union of both Natures in the Person of Christ he is become a Mediator of a better Covenant this we may see if we look back in vers 1. The Apostle speaks of Christs divine Nature who is set on the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in Heaven and vers 2. his humane Nature is shewn called the Minister of the Sanctuary and vers 3. ordained to offer Gifts and having spoken of Christ in both his Natures he tells us that he is now become a Mediator betwixt God and Man a middle Person a days-Man he hath a Mediety or Middleness of Nature as God-Man and is a Mediator in regard of his Office in which Office the Lord Jesus stands in a double Relation first to God secondly to Man having both Natures he is interested in both parties the Son of God and the Son of Man one with God Joh. 10. 30. I and my Father are one of one Nature one Will one Delight having one Design and one Glory As man he is of the same Nature Flesh and Blood with fall'n man Heb. 2. 11. 14. 17. He hath the same Temptations the same Weaknesses and Infirmities with them Sin excepted that he might have a fellow feeling of the Infirmities of his people and put on Bowels of Compassions that he might be capable of fulfilling all Righteousness suffering for them and holding Communion with them Heb. 5.
that you know not of Vse 3. Of Exhortation First to perishing Sinners make use of the Mercy of Christ whilst you have it now is the acceptable time the day of Grace the Season of Visitation now the Sun shines not only in Sion but on Sodom nay it hath stood still on your Gibeon for a Season Josh 10. 12. 13. O let not Mercy go and leave you in your blood and let you lye in your Graves let not the Sun of the Gospel set on you and leave you in inner Darkness lest outer Darkness shortly seize upon you believe it Mercy seems to be near a Departure it looks as it were about to change Houses to go from Gentiles to Jews from West to East it seems near setting in England in these Western parts of the World Who knows how soon it may arise in the East O Sinners don't you lye a bed in your Security and let Mercy give you the slip O then you that are yet in your blood under Wrath in Danger of Judgment be advised to strike in with Mercy while 't is to be had Isa 55. 6. while divine Bowels yearn towards you weep over you and wait for you O turn in and close with Mercy whiles it's face is unveil'd to you it's Arms open'd to you and before it hath breath'd it's last Breath to you believe the Warnings and Treatnings of Mercy bow and stoop to the Convictions of Mercy receive the Tenders thereof obey it's Counsel and persevere it it's way be perswaded Sinners this day it may be the last time I may beseech you for Mercies sake to turn and live and Oh! how doleful will it be to out-live the day of Mercy and possibility of obtaining Salvation when the Angel of the Lord shall proclaim Time shall be no more Time was but now is past Secondly to all Souls both changed and unchanged if the Lord Jesus be so pityful to you O then be not cruel to your own Souls do not rob cheat and cozen your own Souls deprive them not of your own Mercies Jonah 2. 8. Don't consent to those ways that will rob you of all the Possibilities and Hopes of Salvation O! the sweet Comforts and Pleasures that now you loose for a few dirty Delights Prov. 3. 17. Think on the Substance the tryed Gold the rich Attire that you deprive your Souls of by refusing to hearken to the Counsel of Christ Rev. 3. 18. Don't starve your Souls by feeding on Husks while the bread of Life lies before you this is Cruelty to them indeed Luke 15. 16. 17. Do not wound rend and tare your Souls by cruel Lusts he that sins hateth his own Soul Prov. 15. 32. chap. 29. 24. Math. 16. 26. O the sad Bruises that Sin gives and the desperate Gashes it makes in the Sinners own Soul Isa 1. 6. Prov. 8. 36. Every Sin of thine O carnal wretch is a deadly blow on thy own Soul all thy carnal Pleasures thy merry jesting Words thy Swearing Lying Cheating Oppressing and Covetousness gives new Stabs to thy Heart it would be a barbarous sight to behold one unmercifully wounding another much more to see a person torturing his own Soul do not sell thy immortal Soul for a Lie for that which is not which will not profit in the day of Wrath Rom. 6. 21. Jer. 16. 19. Thus Elijah told Ahab 1 Kings 21. 20. That he sold himself to work Wickedness that is he gave himself wholly to the Service of Sin as a Servant that binds himself over to anothers Business Rom. 6. 16. Thirdly To the Children of Mercy whom the Lord Jesus hath loved and washed in his own Blood you that are chosen called justified sanctified and adopted unto Glory be exhorted First be not hard-hearted to Christ requite not his Pity with Cruelty grieve not his Spirit sadden not his Heart with your sinful and unsutable Walkings before him no Sins make greater Wounds on the Heart of Christ than the Sins of his own Children Eph. 4. 30. O be not cruel to him who is so tender of you do not feed him with Wormwood and Gall who hath feasted you with Joy and Gladness yea with his own Heart blood Secondly Put on Bowels of Pity towards others Col. 3. 12. They that are cruel to others shall find God cruel to them Jam. 2. 13. Thirdly Adventure for God in the way of Duty Psal 5. 7. Psal 23. 6. Psal 25. 10. Fourthly Then let the Consideration of Christ's Mercy comfort you under the World's Cruelty and your greatest Sufferings for Christ Psal 57. 3. Psal 32. 7. 10. Psal 59. 17. CHAP. XIII Wherein is opened the transcendent Humility of Christ ANother part of this total Sum of Christ's personal Treasure consisting in the Sweetness of his Disposition is Fourthly His Humility and Lowliness of mind This is an excellent Vertue and that which the very Heathens have esteemed at a high Rate 't is a rare thing saith Aretius and rare things are excellent Chrysostom calls it the chiefest Vertue the Salt that seasons all other Excellencies and the Beginning of all Good If any saith Austin should ask me what is the chiefest Vertue I should say Humility what is the next Humility what is the next Humility The humble Soul saith Manton is God's second Heaven Isa 57. 15 Of so great a worth is all true Humility in any especially in Persons of Height and Grandure for these to come down and humble themselves is exceeding high and noble O then what is Humility in the high and lofty one in the Lord of Glory and King of Kings and Lord of Lords yet this is part of Christ's Treasure Mat. 11. 29. Learn of me for I am meak and lowly He who best knew himself who is Truth it self and cannot lye hath declared that he is lowly and that not in Carriage and external Shew only but in Heart also O what stupendious wonder is this that so glorious a person as the only begotten Son of God should be lowly in Heart I speak not here of his divine Nature as God though in that respect he is lowly too Isa 57. 15. Though he inhabiteth the highest Heaven yet he dwelleth also in the lowest Heart yea 't is wonderful Condescension in God to behold the things that are in Heaven and Earth Psal 113. 5 6. But I treat here of Christ as Mediator God-man and so he is humble and lowly in Heart which will appear if we consider these particulars First His Humility whilst he was on Earth Secondly His Humility now he is in Heaven His Humility on Earth consists first in his Willingness being God over all and Maker of all to become man his Creature this is strange that the Son of God should be willing to be accounted yea to become the Son of man Heb. 2. 16. He did not take the Nature of Angels upon him but he took on him the Seed of Abraham so vers 14. Forasmuch then as the Children were Partakers of Flesh and
Righteousness that makes Believers in God's Account as perfect as Christ himself were not the robe of his Righteousness every way as large as thy Guilt and Nakedness were it not long enough and broad enough to cover all thy Deformities and hide all thy Imperfections from the pure and judging Eye of the Father it were not perfect But all his Procurements by his Blood are perfect His Holiness is a perfect Holiness and he will make his Peoples Graces perfect too e're he hath done He is the Rock his Work is perfect i. e. He doth perfectly fulfill his Promises his Works are true to his Word and he will perfect that which concerns his People Psal 138. 8. i. e. He will accomplish that which he hath begun in me Let the doubting Believer know that the Perfection of Christ is Security for Perfection in his Graces also in due time he that hath begun a a good work in thy Soul will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ he will e're he hath done bring thy weak Graces to Perfection that when he shall appear to Judgment thy Holiness shall be presented to the Father without Spot or wrinkle Secondly As the Godhead of Christ is a most pure and simple Being so is he an infinite Essence both internally without all Limitation or Dimension of his Being and externally without all Comprehension of Places or Capacities every Attribute of his is infinite His Vnderstanding is infinite Psal 147. 5. His Wisdom Power Love Mercy Faithfulness and all his Perfections are one entire infinite Being that cannot be known or comprised no Bounds or Measures can be set to his divine Excellencies The Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him 1 Kings 8. 27. or compass his Greatness how much less can a narrow Heart receive his Fulness his Love and all his Attributes are beyond Knowledge Isa 40. 25. To whom then will ye liken me or shall I be equal saith the holy one This Infiniteness of Christs divine Nature is a mystery too deep for humane Capacity to fathom not curiously to be searched out but humbly to be ador'd and no way discoverable but by his own Light and according to the model of a created understanding Some dark Reflections of this visible Glory are discoverable in the Glass of sacred Scripture which declare the Greatness of God both as to his incomprehensibleness and Eternity he is every where and yet circumscâ—ibed no where he fills all places in the World or without the World but confin'd no where no where included no where excluded containing all things contained by none his essential Presence is in all places not by any Extension or Division of parts which are not in God but as the Soul in the Body so is God in the Universe the whole in the whole and the whole in every part He is essentially present in all Places not by imparting his Essence to any created Being but by giving and preserving the Being of those things which fill up those Places so his Power is every where in that all things are subject to his Power his Wisdom fills Heaven and Earth in that all Things and Places are manifest in his sight And this yields 1. Comfort to Believers 2. Terrour to Sinners 3. Caution to all First Wonderful Comfort to Believers in the Assurance of Christ's Omnipresence with them to counsel and comfort them The Believer can say what none else can Where I am there is my Treasure with me In all Estates and Places is the Lord Jesus with his People while they keep with him In the Water he wades with them in the Flames he stands between them to keep off Destruction from them when under Wants Temptations Dangers he is by them at their right hand to relieve them he knows their Soul in Adversity for he is near them He is by when Corruptions insurrect in them when Satan with his fiery Darts assaults them or Enemies oppress them he sees when their Fears rise and their Tears fall He stands behind Ephraim's back when he is mourning and puts his Tears into his Bottle and layes his Complaints upon his Heart No sooner is Mary mourning for her departed Lord but he is by her side to comfort her When his Daniels are thrown into the Lyons Den he goes with them to shut the mouthes of devouring Lyons or to give Life in the midst of Death When the Knife is at the Throats of his Isaacks his Power is by to hold back the murtherous hand from destroying We will break their bands and cast their cords from us Psal 2. 3. say the Saints Enemies Hold there saith Christ I am with them to defend them No cruel Edicts can exile them from his Presence He was in Patmos with John and turn'd it into a Pavilion with Jeremiah in the Dungeon and gave him Goal delivery Earthly men may be abroad and their Treasures at home but faithful Believers carry their Treasure with them or their Portion their Inheritance follows them Secondly The Immensity and Omnipresence of Christ speaks Terrour to the Wicked in that he is near them to behold and requite their Transgressions He knows their Works and their Thoughts all their secret Designs are naked in his sight There 's no covering from his Eye The Darkness and Light are both alike to him Psal 139. 12. He sees their Rage and Fury against him their hidden works of Darkness All their Plots and Purposes against his Interest are open to his Eye their inward Thoughts filthy Lusts close Practises are before him he is behind thy back Sinner to hear thy blasphemous Oaths thy reproachful Slanders of his wayes and People thy malicious resolves thy bloody Decrees against his poor and faithful ones He is before thee to obviate thy Designs to frustrate thy Attempts and requite thy Spight and Mischiefs O you who are yet in your blood and gore of Sin in your confederacy with Death and Hell in your fixed Wrath against the Lord and his Anointed be perswaded to believe the greatness of your Danger before you feel it think how visible all your works of darkness are when God who is all Eye is in every place and how desperate your sinful Adventures are on the drawn Sword of Divine Justice at your Breasts how unsafe your securest state is who are compass'd within the Circle of Omnipresence and have Vengeance continually at your heels yea are taken in the Arms of devouring Judgment Thirdly The belief of Christ's being every where gives a Caution to all to carry themselves in all Places and Undertakings as such who are ever in his sight His Eyes run to and fro to behold the Evil and the Good He stands by thy Bed side to inspect thy waking Thoughts to observe thy unchaste Motions thy Earthy vain Cogitations no sooner is a forbidden wish in thy Heart but his Eye is there also thy tow'ring Pride thy pale Envy thy flaming Anger thy frothy Pleasure thy lustful Desires thy revengeful Projects
angry and then to Love which argues a Mutation yet that Change is not in Gods Will and Affection which is one Essence with himself but in his outward Dispensation So that the Divine Nature in Christ is unchangeable both in his Nature and Will he cannot he will not vary in him is no Variableness or Shadow of turning he is a Rock and his Work perfect Time or Change in Creatures work no Change in God 't is the Mistake of Unbelief to think that the Heart of God changes as the poor Believer doth like those that row by the Shore fancy the Land and Houses on it to move when 't is but the Vessel changes his place Comfort thy Heart poor Soul who hast sincerely chosen the Lord to be thy Portion on this Assurance that the Thoughts of God are the same towards thee as evâ—â— all thy changeable Frames and unfaithful Dealings with him works no more Alteration in his Heart to thee than the interposing Clouds do on the essential Light of the Sun or the Provocations of the Child on the Fathers Relation who is still a Father how unlike soever he carries himself to the Child but these Instances are too short to adumbrate and set out the Immutability of God who cannot but be Truth though every man be a Lye he is faithful and cannot deny himself to his though they believe not 'T is his Faithfulness secures thy Faith and not thy Faith makes good his Faithfulness Rom. 3. 3. 4. Shall their Vnbelief make the Faith or Faithfulness of God of none Effect God forbid Mat. 3. 6. I the Lord change not therefore ye Sons of Jacob are not consumed Is Christ immutable Then there is Ground enough for Believers to cast Anchor on him and to bottom their strong Hopes upon his Promises for faithful is he that hath promised Heb. 10. 23. He is not as man that he should lye or as the Son of man that he should repent Numb 23. 19. Hath he spoken and shall he not make it good He cannot alter the Word that is gone out of his Mouth Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one Tittle of his Word till all be fullfilled For this end hath God shewed to the Heirs of Promise the Immutability of his Council confirmed by an Oath that by two immutable things his Purpose and Promise in which 't is impossible for God to lye they might have strong Consolation who have fled for Refuge to lay hold on the Hope set before them Heb. 6. 18. 19. O Believer suffer not thy Soul to be tossed to and fro with every change of Providence without or of thy heart within but roul thy Hopes on this Rock of Ages on whom the Pillars of the Earth hang for their Stedfastness the whole Creation for its Sustentation by whom Winter and Summer Day and Night are kept within their Seasons and all the changes of his People reduced into a Consistency with his Covenant Fidelity This also yields encouragement to Believers for perseverance in the way of Duty whatever Alterations are in their Conditions and the Times they live in because he that leads them is the same in the worst as well as the best of Times and as able to secure them and as firm in his Affections to them seeing he changes not and therefore cannot will not leave them Again To this Immutability of God in Christ may gracious Souls go to get their unsteddy Hearts fixed and derive by Faith more constancy to their Spirits towards God He who is faithful hath engaged it to establish their Hearts with Grace and keep them from Evil. 2 Thes 3. 3. But the Lord is faithful who shall establish you and keep you from evil 2 Chro. 20. 20. Believe God so shall you be established As Christ's Life is Security for the Believer's Life Joh. 14. 19. His Power for their Preservation 2 Tim. 1. 12. so is his Immutability for their Stedfastness Psal 102. 12. The Author of this Psalm under the sense of his weakness and the languishing state of Sion comforts himself in the consideration of Gods Immutability But thou O Lord shalt endure for ever And upon this mountain of Spices raises his hopes of Sion this he takes for granted from his unalterableness He shall appear in his Glory Go Believer and lay by Faith thy changeable Heart on Christ's Constancy as the Shunamite did her dead Child on Elisha's Bed till she received him to Life again 2 Kings 4. 21. And she said when her Child was dead It shall be well vers 23. So in the same Spirit of Faith with her Leave thy Soul with a Faithful Jesus to be made faithful also 1 Thes 5. 24. Faithful is he that calleth you who will also do it Fifthly The Omniscience of Christ is another of his Divine Attributes by which he doth perfectly and in one Eternal and immutable Act know himself and all things that were are or shall be and things that are not that never were or never shall be things natural and voluntary necessary and contingent things in their Causes and Effects acted or intended good or evil finite or infinite all are most clearly and fully naked and open in his sight He alone fully knows himself and his Divine Perfections 2 Cor. 2. 10. The Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God ver 11. For what man knoweth the things of man save the Spirit of a man which is in man even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God So Matth. 11. 27. No man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son That is No man can know the Divine Nature but God himself immediately and perfectly That knowledge which the Saints have of God is but a secondary and communicated knowledge of Gods back parts as revealed in his Works Word and in a Mediatour according to the measure of the Gift of Christ But God knows himself immediately and fully as he is for his Knowledge is his Essence and so as Infinite as his Being is He is a pure Act without any potentiality therefore his Understanding and himself are the same He knows also all things else that are in Being and not in Being things past present or to come in one eternal Act without any search into Principles or Causes as Humane Understandings do in a discoursive way and by succession but hath the Idea's of all things in himself his Essence being the Exemplar of those things seeing he gives them their Being As the Artificer knows the Forms of the Pieces he makes and the Writer the proportion of his own Letters so doth God the first Cause know all things that receive their Nature from him they being first in him and so eternally present to him Hence the knowledge of God is most certain and infallible and things are as he knows them seeing his Knowledge gives them their Being which must be understood of the things that God
approves of as his Creatures his Providences and Evils of Punishment which are just and righteous But sinful Evils have no dependance on his Fore-knowledge or Influence from his Essence Indeed Actions as they are natural have their Being from God but the pravity and sinfulness of those Acts Sin being but the privation of that good which was and should be in them is derived from the Subject whose Acts they are As the Motion of the Clock is from the Art of the Artificer but the obliquity of the Motion is from some defect in the Clock it self Gods fore-knowledge of Sin confers no Physical Vertue and necessity to the Being and succession of Sin and yet his knowledge of it is certain all things being naked and manifest in his sight who is Truth it self and cannot deceive or be deceived He determining to permit the Being of Sin must needs fore-know it else his Knowledge would not be perfect and if his Knowledge should be imperfect his Essence would be so too they being both the same but this cannot consist with the Fountain of all Perfection He is the Holy One and can do no Iniquity Zeph. 3. 5. His Fore-knowledge of Sin doth not offer Violence to the Nature of man or destroy the natural Freedom of his Will but foreseeing what man would be determined to leave him to the natural Motion of his own Will Judas betraying Christ as it was sinful was the Consequent of Gods Foreknowledge but the effect of his own Covetousness Acts 2. 23. All Contingencies are perfectly foreseen of God also both in himself as the first Cause and so they are necessary to succeed in due time he sees them also in the second Causes in respect of which they are said to be contingent for to God nothing is accidental although it seems so to men through an Unacquaintedness with their Dependance on the first Cause Rebeccah's meeting Abraham's Servant at the Well and her Discourse with him Gen. 24. 15. seem to Standers by to be things contingent but look back to the former Verse and you will see them to be the answer of Prayer and so before appointed The like was the Midianites drawing Joseph out of the Pit Gen. 37. and the Wind blowing down the House on Job's Children Job 1. though they look like Accidents yet were the Effects of Gods Permission and fore-appointment Again God fore-knows all Contingencies not only as they are in their first and second Causes but as they are in themselves for all things being present to him he perfectly knows what every Cause will produce in time and so must necessarily come to pass according to that Axiome Every thing that is when once it is it appears necessary that it should be Acts 15. 18. Known unto God are all his Works from the beginning of the World Heb. 4. 13. Neither is there any Creature which is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and open to the Eyes of him with whom we have to do Psal 56. 8. Thou tellest my wandrings put thou my tears into thy Bottle are not they in thy Book Psal 139. 2. Thou understandest my Thoughts afar off that is before they are in Being Prov. 15. 3. The Eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good This Wisdom of Christ as God is part of his Unsearchable Treasure and so great a Deep that 't is past finding out by his most intelligent Creatures in Heaven and Earth Rom. 11. 33. O the depths of the Riches both of the Wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his Judgments and his wayes past finding out Again as God is infinitely wise in himself so is he the Author of all Wisdom to his Creatures He enlightneth every one that cometh into the World Jo. 1. 9. This is laid down to prove the Divine Nature of Christ he is the Word which is God this appears both in his making all things verse 3. and in his incomprehensible Essence He is the Light shining in Darkness and the Darkness comprehends it not Also he is the Fountain of all that Light and Life his Creatures enjoy and therefore must needs be God The Evangelist doth not speak here of Christ as Mediator and so of that saving Light which he gives to his Elect by his Spirit but of his divine Essence which the Jews would not own and as a proof of it doth instance in his creatorly Power he is the Fountain of that natural Light which all men have all Wisdom comes from him who is the Father of Lights he is the Fountain of Light able to fill the Children of men with all that Knowledge that is necessary to their highest Happiness to guide them with his Eye and lead them into all Truth First This yields wonderful Comfort to Believers that they have chosen such a Saviour as is able to make them wise to Salvation who not only knows what is best for them but can also reveal and make out the Knowledge thereof to them that they might know and chuse what makes for their best Good here and for ever He is the Son of Righteousness Mal. 4. 2. The bright Morning Star Rev. 22. 16. The Light of Israel Isa 10. 7. The Pillar of Fire by Night Neh. 9. 12. To shew them their way in their greatest Difficulties and Obscurity Secondly This assures gracious Souls that he who hath undertaken their Conduct Supply and Preservation to Glory knows how to make it good and finish the work he is intrusted with he can keep that good thing committed to him he can help them in the worst of Straits and lead them through the greatest Improbabilities Weaknesses Dangers yea Impossibilities to their desired Rest Thirdly This also relieves them that they have a Friend in Heaven who knows their Soul in Adversity and is acquainted with all their Troubles Wants Weaknesses Wrongs Fears Dangers yea with all their Labours Duties Desires and Designs for him and knows how to succour comfort support and deliver them when all Refuge fails them and there is none to help and how to requite and crown all their Duties and Sufferings for his Name He knows their Corruptions the Strength and Prevalency of them and how to subdue and destroy them he sees their Ways and Infirmities and how to heal them he knows the Power and Malice of their Enemies to restrain them and discovers the most secret Plots against his innocent ones to disappoint them that in vain is the Snare laid in his Sight against them He observes thy Tears Believer thy corner Duties thy Bed-side Breathings after him though hid from others he takes notice of thy Innocency when men revile thee and knows how to plead thy Cause and bring thee to the Light Fourthly This will serve to humble the proud Heart of men that God is acquainted with all their Vileness he sees their high their fretful their vain their unclean their unsound their rebellious Hearts Souls men see
Faithfulness of their Lord who knows how to govern the World and can and will bring about his Work to gracious ends by all seeming Contrarieties and interfering Providences in the World Why art thou afraid saith Caesar to the Master of the Ship that began to be disturb'd in his Spirits by reason of the Storm and the Darkness of the Night Thou carryest Caesar How much more should Believers be sedate and quiet in their Minds who have embarqued Christ Caesar had only some Command at Land none over the Sea he govern'd the Bodies of a few men but Christ rules at Land and Sea he sits upon the Floods and at the Helm of this great Vessel of the World how should this lift the Saints Heads above all their Waters Thirdly Christ's working Miracles by his own Power proves his Omnipotency that nothing is too hard for him a Miracle is somewhat done which is above and besides the Power and Course of Nature not only as the thing done but as the manner of doing when the Cause is secret and unknown to us and the thing utterly beyond all natural Causes that 's a Miracle which none but God can do either mediately by secondary Agents or immediately of himself Miracles are only done by a divine hand because none but God can change the Order of Nature and this Christ did not by anothers but by his own power The Humane Nature in Christ was but the Instrument of the divine Action and the humane Action received it's Vertue from the divine Nature saith Aquinas It was by his own Power that Christ did such mighty works as no man ever did 'T is said Vertue went out of him and healed all their Diseases who touched him Luke 6. 19. It was by his word he cast out Devils and healed them that were sick Mat. 8. 6. The Wind and the Seas obey'd him ver 27. With Authority he commanded the unclean Spirits and they obey'd him Mark 1. 27. He opened the Eyes of them that were born blind made the dumb to speak the dead to walk by which mighty Works he proves himself to be one with the Father What he seeth the Father do these also doth the Son likewise for as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickneth them even so the Son quickneth whom he will Jo. 6. 19. 24. Neither did he shew such Wonders himself only but by his Power he enables his Servants also to do such mighty Works as were above the Power of lapsed Nature to do Mark 16. 17. 18. And these Signs shall follow them that believe in my Name i. e. by my Power and Authority from me shall they cast out Devils they shall speak with new Tongues they shall take up Serpents and if they dâ—ink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover And surely if the exerted Power of Christ by weak Instruments could do such mighty things above the Capacity of natural Agents then the essential Power of Christ can do much more than what he hath done Fourthly That must needs be an Almighty Power in Christ that can bestow on the Saints all things that they shall ask of the Father in his name but such is the Power of Christ Joh. 14. 13. Whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son He doth not say my Father shall do it or that will I procure for you by my Mediation and Interest in the Father though that be true also but that will I do by my own Power as God equal with the Father I will do it this he repeats again in the next ver If ye shall ask any thing in my Name I will do it being willing to fix this glorious Truth in their Minds that as he was resolv'd to fullfill all their just Desires made in his name so he was able to do it the Father and he being one And this must needs be an Almighty power to hear and answer all the Requests of all the Saints on Earth at once what multitudes are there of Believers in every Age more than can be numbred who are alway compassing the Throne and sending up a Cloud of Incense to the Mercy Seat daily putting up Variety of Requests to the Father through Christ and that not for mean things neither They beg for the holy Spirit for the Sheddings abroad of his Love and Shinings out of his Glory for treading down of Satan for subduing of Corruption for Conquest over his Enemies Enlargement of his Kingdom for an Almightiness to do and invincible Patience to suffer the whole Will of God for the Forgiveness of great Sins and Multitudes of Sins for Perseverance in Grace and for an eternal Crown of Glory these aâ—e many things and great things things that none but a God can give and yet no more than what Christ is engag'd to bestow on all that sincerely seek him and therefore must needs be God Almighty and worthy of Sinners Choice and of the Saints Trust Fifthly This also sets forth the Omnipotency of Christ that he is able not only to do all things for but in his People working all their Works in them the Apostle tells us 2 Cor. 3. 5. We are not sufficient of our selves to think a Thought that is good Neither know we what to pray for as we ought Rom. 8. 26. In them dwells no good thing as they are in themselves Neither can they do any thing without him their Eyes are unto him for all their Help their Springs are in him in the Lord shall one say have I Righteousness and Sâ—rength they are dead as to any self-sufficiency for the least thing that is good but he is their Life the Soul that animates all their Faculties the hand that leads them the Wisdom that directs them the Power that actuates them in every good thing Their Works must be wrought in God or can never be good 't is he that works in them to will and to do of his good Pleasure he teacheth them to profit he held Israel by the hand teaching him to go he carries his Lambs in his Arms and gently drives them that are with young drawing those that are indisposed quickening them that are dead he is the Fountain that fills all their Pits the Head that gives out animal Influences to every Member for every Duty and must not he then be an all-sufficient God and have an infinite Treasury to give to all richly to enjoy and an Almighty Arm to do all the work of Saints on Earth O admire Believers and relye on this Jesus Sixthly raising the dead is an act of Omnipotency a peculiar Property of the divine Nature which hath been is and shall be the Work of Christ I am the Resurrection and the Life Jo. 11. 25. i. e. He for whose sake and by whose Power the dead shall be raised at the last day Martha suspects Christs
he is able to perform hence 't is said Joh. 1. 16. Of his Fulness we have all received and Grace for Grace Of that Fulness which the Divine Nature is alwayes issuing out to the Humane Nature of Christ do Believers receive Grace for Grace Grace sutable to Grace in Christ so that the Humane Nature of Christ must needs be alwayes full of Grace by reason of its Union with the Divine As the Sun that gives out Light is alwayes full of Light and the Sea that sends forth Waters to the Rivers is never vacant This is a glorious Mystery of wonderful Encouragement to Believers to consider what a full Jesus they are related to Thirdly By vertue of this Union the Lord Jesus Christ hath right to all Glory and Adoration of Men and Angels as Mediatour He is the most Illustrious Person all Honour Blessing Praise Glory Adoration is due to him Heb. 1. 6. When he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him Surely he must be a glorious Person when all the Angels must bow at his Feet Seraphims Cherubims and all the Host of Heaven stoop and give Homage to him this the Lord Jesus Christ hath a proper Right to as he is God-Man Phil. 2. 9. Wherefore God hath highly exalted him and given him a Name above every name Every Tongue shall confess at last that he is Lord ver 11. Rev. 1. 17. And when I saw him I fell at his Feet as dead O the very Vision of Christ is enough to strike a poor Creature to the Earth Rev. 4. 9 10 11. The four and twenty Elders fell down and worshipped this glorious Person that sate upon the Throne which is Jesus Christ Joh. 5. 23. That all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father So that God the Son the Second Person the Mediatour of his People deserves all that Divine and Religious Worship which is due to God as God Thrones and Principalities are made by him and put under him Col. 1. 16. 17. Fourthly By vertue of this Union the Lord Jesus Christ hath absolute Authority Kingship and Headship in his Church and over all things to the Church Matt. 28. 18. All Power is given to me in Heaven and Earth O what vast Power is this All Power on Earth to do what he will there All Power in Heaven to do what he will there Eph. 1. 22. And hath put all things under his Feet and gave him to be the Head over all things to the Church Jesus Christ as God-Man is invested with all Power and Authority to transact the Work of a Mediator to perform the Offices of Prophet Priest and King The Godhead of Christ working as God and the Manhood of Christ working as Man yet both these Natures concurr towards the management of Redemption-work As a Prophet he is able to reveal the Will of God for he knoweth the mind of the Spirit being God he is infinite in Wisdom Job 36. 4. Rom. 11. 33. All Knowledge comes from him as Mediator In him are hid the Treasures of Wisdom Col. 2. 3. He maketh Wise to Salvation He giveth Wisdom Prov. 2. 6. He openeth the Eyes of the blind and giveth Light to them that sit in Darkness and in the Region and shadow of Death Matth. 4. 16. Luke 2. 32. Ministers can but preach to the Ear but Christ can preach to the Heart Ministers can but open the Scriptures Christ can open the Heart He is a full and effectual Head to his Body the Church to guide influence and adorn it Col. 1. 18. As a Priest And so there 's an infinite Sufficiency in his Satisfaction and Intercession seeing he is God-Man In his Satisfaction enough to silence all Pleas against his People He can arrest all the Sentences and Executions of the Law against them As an High-priest he is a sufficient Sacrifice for the Sins of the People He was made Sin for us that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. By the Obedience of Christ all Believers are made Righteous Rom. 5. 19. The Obedience of the Saints is represented compleat in Christ though imperfect in themselves Hence Believers that are wounded with the shortness of their Services in themselves may lift up their Heads when they look upon the perfect Righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ Hence 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. If any man Sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous And he is the propitiation for our Sins Though the Saints do sin Christ becomes a Sacrifice for them This one Offering of Christ ever appears before God when new Provocations appear in his People By one Offering he perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. By vertue of this Union his Blood becomes infinite Blood equally as large as the Offence Nay it is more able to save than the Sins of Believers to damn It is the Blood of Christ that cleanseth from all Sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. Therefore his Obedience is a perfect Obedience and his Sufferings perfect Sufferings of more satisfaction to Divine Justice than if all the Sinners in the World had lain in Hell to all Eternity This Blood is so wonderfully precious that it is accounted by the Father as the Blood of God Acts 20. 28. If Infinite can satisfie Infinite then the Father is satisfied by the Blood of Christ because whatever the Justice of God can expect the Obedience of Christ can fully satisfie This Righteousness to Justification the perfect Obedience and Sufferings of Christ receives no Addition or Diminution by the Obedience or Disobedience of his People Eph. 1. 6. He hath made us accepted in the Beloved Ah! little do Souls know the Bottom they stand upon It is not poor Believer the shortness of thy Obedience the multitude and greatness of thy Sins can out-match this matchless Righteousness of Christ All the Injuriâ—s and Wrongs thou hast done is but the Injury of a Creature but the Satisfaction of Jesus Christ is the Satisfaction of God it is the Satisfaction of God the Soh presented to God the Father O what a blessed state are Believers in where there is such a price paid for their Sins Again By vertue of this Union There 's Sufficiency in the Intercession of Jesus Christ He must needs be able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him seeing he ever lives to make Intercession Heb. 7. 24 25. How much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your Consciences from dead works Heb. 9. 14. The Blood of Christ meritoriously purges the Soul from all filthiness being offered through the Eternal Spirit God will not deny himself whatever God the Son intercedes for God the Father will grant so that Christ's Intercession must needs be effectual O what potency hath Christ in Heaven what Prevalency in all his Addresses
thee I will rejoyce over thee I will forget the wrongs thou hast done me I will requite thy Vnkindness with Kindness and draw thee with cords of Love with cords saith one woven and spun out of my very Heart and Bowels O miserable Caitiff embrace my Counsels listen thine Ears to Heaven gate and hear the melodious Musick that is there made by refined Spirits why wilt thou rather lye with damned howling Devils than sing Hallelujah's and the Song of the Lamb with saved Souls Accept of me and unchangeable Glory unspeakable Priviledges and Rivers of Pleasures shall be thine Thus doth the Lord Jesus woo poor perishing Souls to be happy and is not this Pity indeed Fourthly His readiness to receive them when they come to him No sooner do they open the door but he comes in Rev. 3. 20. If any man open the door I will come in unto him No sooner doth the Prodigal return but his Father meets him yea runs to meet him as if he could never come soon enough at him Luke 15 20. Mercy is upon the wing when it comes to receive returning Sinners No sooner did Ephraim repent but God repented too As soon as he said Turn thou me God said He shall be turned when he cries Thou art the Lord my God presently God Answers Is he not a pleasant Child So willing is Christ to receive returning Sinners as that he promiseth he will in no wise cast them out Joh. 6. 37. Yea if they cannot come unto him he will go and fetch them and if they cannot go he will draw them Joh. 6. 44. Fifthly His great Joy when he hath obtain'd them The Father of the Prodigal keeps a Feast and makes merry when his lost Child is found Luke 15. 23 24. Psal 104. 31. The Lord shall rejoyce in his Works and this he doth when he hath finished them Heb. 4. 4. But there is nothing the Lord Jesus Christ takes more pleasure in than in the Redemption of Souls Prov. 8. 31. He delighted in the habitable parts of the Earth This you vvill find further amplified in the Parables of the lost sheep and lost piece of Silver Luke 15. from vers 4. to 11. CHAP. XII The Improvement of the Pity of Christ by way of Terrour Encouragement and Advice ARE there such deep and large Bowels of Pity in Jesus Christ not only towards his Friends but his very Enemies Then here is First Terrour to Impenitent Sinners Ah Souls hovv fearfully great is your Sin being a plain defiance to the Mercy and pity of Christ Every Transgression of yours is a kicking the very Bovvels of Mercy and a stab at the Heart of Divine Pity O! hovv vile are your Iniquities vvhilst vvithout Christ They are no less than a despising of the Riches of the Mercy and Goodness of God which would have led you to Repentance and a treasuring up of Wrath against the day of Wrath Rom. 2. 4 5. O Sinners you run on score in abusing of the highest Mercy that ever was you provoke your best Friend against you Alas Who can help you if Mercy it self becomes your Enemy The Bowels of Christ are your last Asylum if this door be shut against you Farewel Souls and can you hope that Mercy will plead for you when rejected by you or will not God hear the Complaint of despised Mercy think you Sinners the Compassion of Christ shall come forth at the last day and say I would have saved that Soul but it would not how often would I have gathered it but it resisted Mat. 23. 37. I offered to pay it's Debts and to get him an Acquittance in the Court of Heaven but he refused it I would have ransom'd him from Death to Life and adopted him to an Inheritance in Glory but he would not I would have stamp'd the divine Nature on him and brought him into the Likeness of the Lord of Glory but he would not I would have put down his Name in the book of Life and secur'd his Title to Heaven but he would not I called he would not answer I perswaded he refused I beseeched he despised I strived he resisted and now Justice into thy hands do I deliver these rebellious Souls to be dealt with according to the Threatnings of the Gospel and Severity of the Law that my Wrongs may be avenged O! what a terrible Complaint will this be Sinners tremble then at the Thoughts of your abusing divine Mâ—rcy Vse 2. Of Encouragement to dejected Souls If there be such tender pity in the Lord Jesus O then take Courage hence to hope for Mercy these Mercies of Christ are infinite boundless and bottomless O what a stock of Mercy is in him for troubled Souls to trade upon what unfathomed Deeps are there in divine Compassions enough to serve all thy Turns and Necessities have thy Sins been many The free Gift is of many Offences to Justification Rom. 5. 6. Of the Offences of many persons be they never so many or the many Offences of one person there is vertue enough in this free Gift of the Blood of Christ for the pardoning them all if such return he saith one that had love enough to give us Christ hath Bowels enough to give us pardon believing Souls shall never dye for Debt if the Bowels of Christ hath wherewithal to pay it O! what Shifts will tender Parents make to keep their indebted Children out of Prison They will beg and borrow of others pinch themselves and spare what they can rather than their Children shall be undone and surely the Mercy of Christ must needs make the most of his Blood and Obedience of his Intercession and Satisfaction for the Pardon of his People And therefore Daniel joyns Mercies and Forgiveness together Dan. 9. 9. Is thy Unworthiness great and deservest thou nothing but Wrath from God O bear up thy Sinking Spirit on the Arm of Mercy Mercy is in vain and signifies nothing if Justice only must take place hast thou abused Mercy and sinn'd away the Favour of thy God Thou hast lost his Gift but he hath not lost his giving the Child spils his Water and goes to the Well to fill his Pitcher again there is more Mercy O troubled Soul in the deep Wells of Salvation for those that seek it Obj. But I have provoked God to withhold Mercy Ans Let me tell thee O distressed Believer there are Forgivings as well as Givings in the Bowels of Christ and I know not which are greater Are thy Wants many Be of good chear Mercy hath enough to supply them all and is as free to give as able and take this for they Encouragement Mercy never gives where there are Deservings Are thy Griefs Labours Fears Troubles and Burdens great Yet comfort thy self Misery and Mercy are a Kin Mercy lives in the â—lymate of Misery and never thrives better than in Misery's Ground to do good to miserable Creatures is Meat and Drink to Mercy John 4. 32. I have Meat to eat
holy he takes up his abode with them and keeps his Court amongst them Thirdly His bowing down of his Ear to hear the cryes of his poor and despised People Psal 10. 17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble Psal 31. 2. Bow down thine Ear to hear me Fourthly His gentle and kind reception of their poor pitiful Offerings and Services Psal 51. 17. The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit a broken and a contrite Heart O God thou wilt not despise Fifthly His owning them in the face of the World before Kings and Rulers 1 Chro. 16. 21. 22. He is not asham'd to call them Brethren Heb. 2. 11. Sixthly His appearing for them in Heaven and confessing them before his Father's Face in Glory Matth. 10. 32. Heb. 9. 24. Seventhly His looking after their meanest Concerns and numbring the very hairs of their head Matth. 10. 30. Lastly His slowness to Anger But this properly pertains to another excellent Disposition of the Lord Jesus Christ namely his Meekness where you may find it fully handled Is Jesus Christ of such an humble submissive Disposition then First Admire the greatness of Divine Love in giving such a Saviour of so humble and lowly a Spirit Had not the Son of God been of a condescending Nature he would never have become man and what then would have been the state of Sinners Had he not been of a lowly mind he would never have consented to have come into the World in the form of a Servant and then enthralled Sinners could never have been made free Had he not been humble he would never have been willing to be made under the Law and then the righteousness of the Law had never been fulfilled Had he not been lowly he would never have borne our Fault and Punishment and then our Sins must have been charged upon our own heads Secondly This will serve to shame the proud hearts of men especially those that profess Christ O see the vileness of your Pride in the glass of Christ's Humility Thirdly Labour to be like to Christ and to be enriched with this excellent adorning Grace of Humility Fourthly Here 's Encouragement to humbled Sinners from the Lowliness of Christ You that see your Iniquities to be heavier than you can bear and are afraid because of the Terrours of the Almighty yet be encouraged to come to Christ because he is humble Isa 57. 15. You that see no Worthiness in your selves to come before him but are fearful to approach into his Presence because of your Poverty and low Estate be encouraged to draw nigh to him because he is humble Isa 41. 17. You that see an Infinite distance betwixt God and you and so dare not approach him let his Humility encourage you he will not despise the Prayer of the destitute Psal 102. 17. You that think your Souls beneath the thoughts and care of such a God and that he will take no notice of you O consider his Humility for your Hope Psal 113. 6. Cherish expectations from Christ's Humility for the mortification of your Pride because 't is God's Ordinance and appointment unto this end Matth. 11. 29. CHAP. XIV Wherein is shewn the transcendent Meekness and Gentleness of Christ To his Enemies and to his People ANother Branch of the sweetness of Christ's Disposition and Nature is Fifthly His Meekness He is meek and lowly Matth. 11. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is facil and easie as Criticks derive it because they that have this Meekness are of a gentle pleasing and affable Spirit to others The Latines express it by Mansuetus one used to the hand alluding to those wild Beasts that are thus tamed They are gentle and brought to the hand they are sociable and familiar not strange and harsh And such is the Lord Jesus he is meek of a sweet and gentle Spirit and carriage towards all when he opens himself as a Saviour to them but especially he is so towards his People Meekness especially relates to Anger as allaying and moderating of it So Arist defines it to be the sweetning of ones Spirit removing its roughness harshness and Passion and rendring it gentle pleasing and affable even to them that provoke it Now this is an excellent Spirit 1 Pet. 3. 4. 'T is spoken of Moses as one of his chiefest Excellencies Numb 12. 3. Now the man Moses was very meek And the Lord Jesus sets forth this to be the greatest Excellency that he presents in himself for the Imitation of his People Matth. 11. 29. When the Prophet Zachary would delineate the stately Majesty of Christ in his Kingly progress to his People he displayes him in the Glory of his meekness Zach. 9. 9. Thy King cometh to thee meek c. So Psal 45. 4. The Glory of Christ in his triumphant March in the World is held forth in his Meekness and Truth this is part of Christ's excellent Glory as Mediator 2 Cor. 10. 1. I beseech you by the Meekness of Christ Now the Lord Jesus is replenished with Meekness First To his Enemies This he manifested whilst on Earth to such as hated him abused him and sought to take away his Life 't is of such the Prophet speaks Zach. 9. 9. compar'd with Math. 21. 5. Now this Meekness of Christ to his Enemies appears First In his Slowness to Anger Psal 103. 8. The Lord is slow to Anger He was not easily provoked whilst on Earth under all the Provocations and Abuses cast upon him Matth. 12. 19. He shall not strive nor cry neither shall any man hear his Voice in the Streets Passionate persons will strive to have their Will when crost to defend their Names to oppose their Adversaries and to revile them that reproach them but Christ was not so he strove not in a contentious quarrelling way but being reviled reviled not again 1 Pet. 2. 23. Under all his Sufferings such as were able to make the meekest man on Earth to cry out and to stir up his Spirit against them yet Christ was silent Isa 53. 7. He was oppressed he was afflicted and yet opened not his Mouth he is brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter and as a Sheep before his Shearer is dumb so he opened not his Mouth You shall not find one froward Word from Christ in all his Sufferings by Jews or Gentiles look over the Jeers and Reproaches that were cast upon him in his Life and at his Death Is not this the Carpenter's Son Matth. 13. 55. Is not this the Carpenter the Son of Mary Mark 6. 3. They call'd him a Wine bibber a Friend of Publicanes and Sinners and yet we find him as a Sheep dumb before the Shearers The Pharisees charg'd him to be on◠that had Correspondence with Devils Matth. 9. 34. but he was silent another time they call him a blasphemer Matth. 9. 3. but see how mildly Christ answers them vers 4. Why think ye Evil in your Hearts Another time we find him sleighted by the Samaritanes
Word in his own time way and measure Matth. 5. 18. Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one jot or tittle of the Law till all be fulfilled All shall be fulfilled for Believers and in them and if Christ cannot permit one Jot of the Law to fall to the ground surely he will not suffer so choice a part of the Gospel as the Promises are to be unaccomplished Again as Christ will perform all the Promises so especially those great ones that concern the Grace and Glory of all that believe Psal 84. 11. He will give gracâ— and glory c. If the Lord Jesus upbraided the Pharisees for tything Mint and Cummin and omitting thâ— weightier matters of the Law surely he cannot neglect the greatest of his Gospel promises to his people Thirdly the Lord Jesus is faithful to the Trust committed to him thus was Moses He was faithful in all God's House Numb 12. 7. that is as a Steward he was just and honest in the discharge of that Trust committed to him concerning the Work and Interest of God so 't is taken Math. 25. 21. Well done thou good and faithful Servant Thou hast been faithful in thy Stewardship in the use of those things committed to thee in this Sense is Christ faithful also in a perfect Discharge of that Trust reposed in him and that both with respect to God his Father and with respect to his People First In respect of that Trust committed to him by the Father God the Father hath entrusted him with the great Concerns of Redemption Grace and Glory with that glorious Contrivance of saving fallen man and bringing about the Recovery of lost Sinners and therefore he calls him his Servant Isa 49. 5. And now saith the Lord that formed me from the Womb to be his Servant to bring Jacob again to him It sets forth Christ's Designation by the Father to his mediatorly Office wherein God the Father calls him to great work commits vast Concerns to him about the gathering in of lost Souls and undertaking their Attonement Sanctification and Salvation for the accomplishment of which the Father commits all to the Fidelity of Christ both as to Suffering and interceding work and in all this the Lord Jesus is faithful so the Spirit of God calls him a faithful High-priest in things pertaining unto God in making Reconciliation for the Sins of the People This the Lord Jesus undertook to the Father that he would satisfie his Wrath and remove his Displeasure from his People by bearing their Sins for and from them that God might again take them into his Favour as if they had never sinned and in this he was and is faithful nay in all things that God hath charged him with about the saving of Souls Heb. 3. 2. Who was faithful to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithful in all his house So that whatever the Father laid on Christ in the behalf of his people to make Reconciliation for them and present them spotless in his Presence this he hath fully and faithfully discharged as I have already shewn on this Subject Secondly The Lord Jesus hath a Trust committed to him from his People They commit the keeping of their Souls to him as to a faithful Redeemer 1 Pet. 4. 19. Every believing Soul when he comes over to Christ first doth depute accept of chuse and entrust the Lord Jesus to be his Redeemer and he undertakes the preserving of him unto Glory he that comes to Christ aright takes him for his Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1. 30. For so is Christ given and tendred by the Father and so do Believers receive him and entrust him with their Souls that they may be made righteous before God have their Sins remov'd and be presented before the Father without Spot or Wrinkle Eph. 5. 25 26. They trust Christ for Sanctification to be made truly and in his time perfectly holy as holy as God is holy and as holy as God requires They trust Christ for Wisdom to be made Partakers of divine Light to be made wise unto Salvation to know all that God would have them and that their Natures are capable to understand and to have the Image of God perfected in them which consists in Knowledge as well as Righteousness They commit themselves to Christ to be redeemed from every Evil Sin or Danger or whatever hinders their compleat Salvation thus do Believers take Christ and surrender themselves up to him on these great and glorious ends and thus did he undertake when he gave himself by his Spirit to them and therefore is called the Surety of the Covenant as hath been already shewn Heb. 7. 22. therefore 't is said Eph. 5. 25. to 28. That Christ gave himself for the Church that he might wash it and cleanse it sanctifie it and present it to the Father without Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing This he undertook when he became a Mediator between God and them 1 Tim. 2. 5. Now he is faithful in this also to all his Seed Heb. 10. 23. He is faithful who hath promised 1 Joh. 1. 9. He is faithful and just to forgive them 2 Tim. 1. 12. I know whom I have believed and that he is able to keep that good thing I have committed to him against that day 1 Thes 5. 24. 1 Cor. 10. 13. O Souls you that have committed your selves to Christ in Truth know that he is faithful and will not fail you but will certainly accomplish and make good all your regular Hopes and Expectations he can loose nothing of all that the Father hath given him Joh. 17. 12. Be sure what Bargain soever he hath made with you what Mercies soever he hath promised you he will assuredly fulfil and keep touch to a tittle he is the faithful Steward and Advocate for his People Fourthly The Lord Jesus is faithful to all the Relations he stands in to his people Herein Fidelity appears in holding forth and living up to those Duties of Relation in which a person stands to others so Sylvanus is called a faithful Brother 1 Pet. 5. 12. and Tychicus a faithful Minister Eph. 6. 21. In this that they were true and just in holding forth all the Duties of their Relation Defectiveness in which discovers Falseness and Treachery but the Lord Jesus is faithful in all Relations to Believers he fills them up and answers the end of them now the Scripture sets forth the Union of Christ to Believers by several Relations First He is their Friend Isa 41. 8. The seed of Abraham my Friend Joh. 15. 14. 15. Ye are my Friends I have called you Friends Joh. 11. 11. Our Friend Lazarus sleepeth Now Christ is a faithful Friend to his people in holding forth all the Offices of true Friendship to them As First Love Prov. 17. 17. A friend loveth at all times such a Friend is Christ to all his many Waters cannot quench it he loves his People when he hides
grow no nor the Winter of Temptation or divine desertion Bodies have their growing times so have Souls Believer thy growing time may be yet to come if thou art Christs Thirdly Souls may grow though slowly and invisibly to themselves and others Believers have sometimes a vail on their Eyes and cannot discern their flourishing and sometimes the smalnesse of Grace renders it indiscernable to others There may be a growing downward in Faith and Humility those radical Graces that strengthen the Souls adherence to Christ though there be no growing upwards in fruitfulnesse for Christ There is a growing in internal longings and secret desires after more of God and in higher valuations of Jesus Christ though not in such sensible enjoyments of him As the truth of Grace lies beyond the view of Men so doth many times the growth of grace to a Mans self and to others Fourthly The People of God shall at last have their growth in grace further'd by their present decays in Grace As the sicknesse of Children though it makes them languish for a time yet it helps on their growth when 't is over so the Winter season promotes the growth of Trees and herbs when the Summer comes Fourthly The Lord Jesus hath Purchased for his people Perfection in Grace also This is intended by his death that they may be made perfect in one Joh. 17. 23. This he presseth them to Mat. 5. 48. Be ye perfect as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect And what he exhorts them to he prepares and hath redeem'd them to For this end he gives them Ordinances that they may come to a perfect Man to the fulnesse of the measure of the stature of Jesus Christ Eph. 4. 12 13. Heb. 10. 14. This perfection of grace is nothing else but glory 1 Cor. 13. 10. When that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away And this Christ hath purchas'd for Believers Joh. 10. 28. Quest If Christ hath Purchased perfection in Holinesse Then what 's the reason the professing people of Christ are so imperfectly Holy never a day since the Gospel of more light and lesse life of more profession and less Power of Holiness Whence comes this so Answ First These are the last daies yea the latter part of the last daies and the Iast daies are daies of great unholinesse and little grace O the Catalogue of sins the Scripture gives us that will abound at that time 2 Tim. 3. 1. In the last daies Perillous times shall come for Men shall be lovers of themselves Having a form of Godlinesse but denying the Power thereof Christ himself shews us the complexion of the last times Mat. 24. 12. Then Iniquity shall abound and the love of many wax cold The daies before the Coming of Christ to avenge his Elect are daies of little Grace When the Son of Man comes shall he find Faith on the Earth Luke 18. 8. Secondly Because of the abundance of Hypocrites that get under a profession and crowd in amongst Saints In the last times the greatest number of Men are formalists as you have heard 2. Tim. 3. 5. Half at least of Virgin Professors will at the coming of Christ be found foolish and abundance of tares among the Wheat and Goats among the Sheep will be discovered when Christ comes to Judgment and this hinders the holinesse of professours when a great number among them are rotten and Carnal unsound Persons amongst the sincere hinder their thriving in Grace by their Examples and ensnaring Company these as Gangreens do eat away all holiness and as dead bodies become contagious if the living touch the dead they are unclean Hag. 2. 13. Can a man touch Pitch and not be defiled Thirdly Because 't is the hour and power of darkness Luke 22. 53. 't is a time of great temptation to Gods people Satan is come down with great wrath Rev. 12. 12. This Chap. is contemporary with the Seals and Trumpets and gives us a repetition of the Churches State under the first and second Persecution this ver holds forth the second persecution under Antichrist when Satan is cast out of the true Church and Believers and comes down among rotten professours to stir them up to persecution and then the Devil hath great wrath especially in the latter part of his Reign when he hath but a little time then by temptation as well as persecution he labours to destroy the Saints holiness Fourthly Gods leaving his people as a punishment of former sins under present Corruptions for their humbling and driving them nearer to himself These may be some Reasons why there is so little holiness but however the time will come when Christ will make up his Jewels and set holiness in the Earth Fourthly This sanctification of Believers is part yea the choicest part of Christs purchased Treasure I have shewn before that Riches import two things 1. Some things that were of worth and value men never seek great heaps of dusâ— or straw as part of their Riches but Silver Gold and Jewels are things of account 2. Abundance and large measures of these excellent things Now sanctification is a thing of wonderful value and an unknown excellency in its nature holiness must needs be excellent because it is a sparkle of Divine Glory 't is part of the Nature and Image of God himself 2 Pet. 1. 4. 'T is the Glory of God Hab. 3. 3. When the Prophet would set forth God in his Glory he gives him the name of the holy one God came from Teman and the holy one from Mount Paran his Glory covered the Heavens The Prophet here speaks and Prophesies of the calling of the Jews by the Gospel after the Ascension of Christ in an allusion to his former giving the Law on Mount Sinai and making them his people by that Covenant So Teman is a place in Idumea Paran in Arabia between Sinai and Seir from whence God gives out his Law and shews out his Glory as you may see Deut. 33. 3. Some take Teman for Jerusalem and then the meaning is thus As God did formerly manifest his Glory by giving out his Law from Mount Sinai and his Holiness in keeping and leading his people through the Wilderness to Canaan and Jerusalem So will he in Gospel-times manifest his Glory in giving the Gospel and calling a People to himself and this Glory of his will most eminently appear in the manifestation of his Holiness So that Holiness is the Glory of God and therefore must needs be most excellent Nay Sanctification is the honour of the Creature Rev. 21. 10 11. The Glory of the latter Church is set forth by its Holiness So Sanctification and Honour are joyned together 1 Thess 4. 4. Holiness is the greatest Treasure for 't is laid up in the choicest Treasury in Heaven the place of Gods Holiness and the Habitation of the Holy Saints and Angels Isa 63. 15. Treasures are not the Possession of every one
This Child-like zeal in Craesus dumb Son open'd his mouth when his Father was in danger to be slain Fifthly A fiducial dependence on his care and faithfulness Psa 23. 1. The Lord is my shepheard I shall not want Rom. 8. 32. 1 Pet. 5. 7. Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you This was the Child-like confidence of Job in his God Job 13. 15. Though he slay me yet will I trust in him This dependence on the Fathers care quieted Musculus when he was forc'd to labour in the Town Ditch for his Maintenance Est deus in Coelis qui providus omnia curat Credentes nunquam deseruisse potest Mat. 6. 32. Your Heavenly Father knows you have need of all these things Sixthly Humble Submission to him Heb. 12. 9. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word notes an orderly subjection according to that order and place in which God hath set a Man that subjection that is in an Inferiour to a Superiour The same word is used of Christ Luke 2. 51. And he went down with them to Nazareth and was subject to them that is submitted himself to that place duty he owed to them as his Parents Seventhly A carefulness to please him Isa 56. 4. That chuse the things that please me to them will I give within my house a place and a Name better than of Sons and Daughters That is such will I own for my Family my Sons and Daughters that chuse the things that please me So did the Lord Jesus evidence his filial duty to his Father Joh. 8. 29. I do alway the things that please him 1 Joh. 3. 22. Eighthly An endeavour in all things imitable to resemble him 1 Pet. 1. 15. As he that called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation Luke 6. 36. Be ye merciful as your Father in Heaven is merciful Mat. 5. 48. Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect that is In the grace of love to Enemies Eph. 5. 1. Be ye followers of of God as dear Children Ninthly A labouring to walk worthy of so high relation and nearness unto God 1 Thes 2. 12. That you walk would worthy of God who hath called you to his Kingdom and Glory Worthy of so high a Calling like the Children of a King like Gideons Brethren who all resembled the Children of a King Judges 8. 18. Your duty is to live above the Children of this World who only are wise in their generation Luke 16. 8. But be ye wise in the things of God evidencâ— your highest wisdom to be in keeping â—he Law of the Lord Deut. 4. 6. Live like them that are Adopted Heirs of a Kingdom even the Heavenly Kingdom that fadeth not away O live above the snares and fears of this world Lastly A maintaining a real Love to your Brethren and an endeavour to live peaceably with them 1 Pet. 3. 8. Love as Brethren be pitiful be courteous c. 1 Joh. 5. 1. Every one also that loves him that begetteth loveth him also that is begotten 1 Joh. 3. 11. Gen. 13. 8. Let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee between my Herdsmen and thy Herdsmen for we be Brethren Chap. 45. 24. See that you fall not out by the way 2 Cor. 13. 11. VSE Thus you see what a glorious Treasure Adoption-grace is view over this Inventory Believer and tell me what thou thinkest of it Is it not a Treasure indeed which all the Gold of Ophiâ— cannot equallize Nor all the glory of the World worthy to be compared with And see all this procured by the Sweat and Blood the Obedience and Death of the Son of God and then say whether Christ be not precious indeed Look upon the Children of this World in all their Glory view their priviledges in their utmost latitude and extent and answer me whether a Believer in rags doth not far surpass them Christ speaks of Solomon that he in all his Glory was not to be compared to one Lilly in the Field So one Saint and Child of God infinitely excels the Great men of this World in all their Grandure and Advancements O then admire the Lord Jesus on this account also for procuring Adoption-grace 1. Quest But how may I know whether I have obtained this Adoption-grace Answ This is a point worth the enquiring into and satisfaction in so fundamental a point is very necessary But 't is the Office of Gods Spirit to seal us up to the day of Redemption and bear witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Rom. 8. 16. Men may lay down marks but 't is God must determine the Quest yet notwithstanding for thy resolution Believer consider First Such are partakers of the Divine Nature and are really Sons as well as Relatively 2 Pet. 1. 4. They have the Image of God instampt upon their Souls They have the seed of Holiness Faith Love Hope Patience and Humility in them 1 Joh. 3. 9. Rom. 8. 29. And they have received of his fulness Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 16. Secondly Such prize nothing in all the world like to Relation to God Ps 73. 25. 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed on us that we should be called the Sons of God Thirdly Christ is exceeding precious to such in whom they are chosen and by whom this Grace comes 1 Pet. 2. 7. To you that believe he is precious None in Heaven or Earth that they value like to Christ they account all things but dross and dung in comparison of Christs excellency Phil. 3. 8. Fourthly Such will employ their greatest care to imitate God Eph. 5. 1. 1 Joh. 3. 22. Fifthly such have a Spirit of prayer and supplication Rom. 8. 15 16. Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Not Parts not Light not the gifts of Prayer only but such a Soul hath the Spirit of Prayer very strong strains of Faith and Love run through all his Duties He hath a Spirit of boldness whereby he comes to God as to a Father O how earnest and unwearied are his breathings after God what wrestlings with God in secret hath he what pourings out of strong cries to him as Christ did in the days of his Flesh Heb. 5. 7. O the struglings O the wrestlings O the ardent breathings of such for the pardon of their sins for the mortifying of their lusts and for the reviving of their graces Now where the Spirit of Adoption is there is the state Sixthly Such are enabled to bear and profit by affliction Heb. 12. 7. If you endure chastening God dealeth with you as with Sons Lastly Such have endeared affections to the people of God 1 Joh. 3. 14. We know we have passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren 2. Quest What must
Intimacy with Jesus Christ than when he was in the barren Island of Patmos stript of the Confluence of earthly Comforts Elijah never made a better Meal than when he was driven into the Wilderness and the Angel was his Cook 1 Kin. 19. 8. Ah Believers you have never better Allowance of God than when you are cut short in outward things if you be faithful therefore you should be quiet under all Straits and Necessities in the world The day we live in is full of Tryals to many a gracious Soul the wants of many may be more than many think of and 't is now a time to expect more Maintainings from the hand of God and from the Spirit of Grace when outward things are removed when Israel was brought into the Wilderness where was no sowing nor reaping they had their Bread from Heaven and 't is God's usual way to send Meat from his own Table when the Tables of his Children are empty I mean more spiritual Communications from himself if they murmur not but patiently and quietly wait for God's Salvation Lastly Consider Believers 'T is not long you shall be in the way of Wants or Sufferings the time is hastning that will set you beyond the reach of offending Providences nothing shall offend you when you get home to your own Country O! the time is hastning when Moth and Rust cannot consume nor Thieves break thorough and steal Matth. 6. 20. And when afflictive Providences cannot injure your Treasure if the Lord be your Treasure 't is not long you will be open to the Injury of time and to those Casualties that pass upon your Comforts every day Christians brings you farther through the Briars and Thickets of this World and through the barren Wilderness that leads to your Canaan you are travelling apace towards a period of all your Tryals every new hour brings you a step nearer to the Sight and Fruition of your blessed Inheritance Christian Think every Evening now I have a day less to wade through the deep Troubles and Red-sea of this World and to be kept at such strait Allowances and Supplies in this Life O a real Faith of this how should it patient and quiet Believers under present Straits and short Allowances here O! Think upon the coming of the Lord Jam. 5. 7. Be patienâ— therefore Brethren unto the coming of the Lord behold the Husband-man waiteth for a precious Fruit of the Earth and hath long patience for it He waits a long time before Harvest comes and bears many a wet-day and shall not a Believer wait with more Quietness and hope for a far better Treasure O! Christians if you feel some Difficulties and Straits through want of Supplies Comfort Credit Strength Ease Peace Rest for a little time know Eternity is coming that will make amends for all 7 Duty Seaventhly Live upon your Treasure these unsearchable Riches in Christ for this end hath the Father provided those rich Treasures to satisfie you here and to solace you hereafter 't is laid up in Christ for you not lockt up from you Christians the Lord Jesus is a Fountain sealed to not from you there 's no Bolt between you and your Treasures you may go and fetch supply at all times of need Heb. 4. 16. It hath pleased the Father that in Christ should all Fullness dwell Col. 1. 19. For the use of Believers that he might give eternal Life to all that come to him and be the head of the Body the Fullness that filleth all in all Eph. 1. 23. This is the work he hath undertaken to do and invited all his people to come to him that they might have Life and have it more abundantly he bids them ask and ask again that their Joy might be full Joh. 16. 23 24 26. This is the Will of God that Believers should eat their own Bread with Quietness 2 Thes 3. 12. And make use of this Inheritance for all their Supply and Comfort Christians you cannot make too bold with your own Christ and all his Fullness is your Interest you may wear out your Welcome with men and beg too often at fellow-Creatures doors but you cannot ask too often of free Grace or take too much of Redemption-treasures if you be sure to refer the Measures and time to divine pleasure In all your need come to Christ for whatever you want for the Life that now is and that which is to come this answers the end of the everlasting Covenant and the Fathers placing this store in Christ and Christ's undertaking the Care Conduct and Salvation of all that come to him and this wonderfully pleaseth Christ and advanceth his mediatory Glory this also keeps up the credit and Reputation of the ways of God in the World when Strangers see Believers rich fare and what a Sufficiency is laid up in Christ for them that Christ maintains his own poor that they need not go a begging this commends that State and Government where care is taken to prevent wandring Beggers Besides otherwise the Promises are useless if you come not to Christ for all your Supplies These full Breasts will be injured if you milk them not out Promises are the Bags in which this Treasure is carried out to believers which will wax old if you use them not Christ gets nothing Christians by your Savingness this way the more he lays out upon you the more he lays up for you 8 Duty Eighthly Improve your Interest in these vast Treasures to the enriching of your own Souls are there such Riches in Christ and is this Jesus yours O then labour to be rich also There are two things which I should press you to be rich in 1. In Grace 2. In good Works First You that have Interest in these Treasures of Christ labour to be rich in Grace be not content with the Truth of Grace with little Measures of Grace but strive to abound in Grace 1 Thes 3. 12. For First Grace is the best Treasure and most rationally desirable for it's self All other created Beings are conditionally good so far as God sees them best for us and so far as they conduce to the great end of Gods Glory and our Salvation but Grace is absolutely good because 't is part of the divine Nature and Image of God 2 Pet. 1. 4. Which divine Nature he tells us ver 5. 6. Lies in Faith Vertue Knowledge Temperance Patience Godliness and Charity 'T is absolutely necessary to the glorifying of God and being glorified with God Heb. 11. 6. Without Faith 't is impossible to please God and without Holiness no man can see God Heb. 12. 14. Grace is the best Treasure because the most enduring Treasure the most potent Treasure it can procure more than all the World can Mark 9. 23. All things are possible to him that believeth Indeed created grace cannot by way of Merit or Purchase procure any thing but by way of Appropriation and Meekness it brings that which all the World cannot Grace
the Promises a Portion that will not be spent If you can say as the Martyr Mr. Saunders told his Wife when he came to the Stake he had no Portion to leave her but a Portion in the Promises and surely if you can leave your Children an Interest in Christ you leave them the best Portion But you will say How might we do this First Labour to Interest them in the Everlasting Covenant Get sound and saving Faith your selves and that will appropriate new Covenant-Mercies to your Seed I will be a God to thee and to thy Seed Gen. 17. 7. This is God's usual way to the Heirs of Promise 'T is true Gracious Persons may have Carnal Children but this is God's way Labour to have sincere Faith your selves and then you will leave Covenant-Promises for your children Secondly Get a Treasure for your Children that will not waste by your strong Cries to God for them Improve the Spirit of Grace and Supplication for them Pour out strong cries and Tears Few are like Austin's Mother who did daily pour out Tears for the Conversion of her Son 'T is impossible said Ambrose to her that a Son of so many Prayers can be lost May be you pray too coldly for them O follow God Day and Night for your Children O skrew your Supplications higher It may be you do not pray so fervently so believingly as you should for your Children Thirdly Do all you can to convince them of their undone condition without Christ Don't daub and flatter them with false Promises they must be born again or else they cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Joh. 3. 3. Fourthly Instruct them in the knowledge of Christ Be opening and commending Christ to them shew them the necessity of Faith and what the Grace of Faith is Watch over their Lives be strict and severe in reproving their Sins that they may be sound in the Faith Lastly Lead a holy Conversation before them that by your Lives you may win them to Jesus Christ O your Pride Passion Carnallity Vanity may stumble them Thus do all you can to get a Portion of upper Springs for your Children 12 Duty Lastly you that have an Interest in these rich and glorious Treasures of Christ long to be with Christ for then you shall partake of all his Riches Here you have but a little to carry you in the way you have but in part but when you come home to him then you shall have according to the measure he hath purchased for you you shall see and know as you are seen and known 1 Cor. 13. 9 10 12. In heaven there you will have a Treasure without Measure there you will see all his Riches and Glory and be glorified with his glory then you will live at the full you will live upon himself and God will be all in all to your Souls O Christians long then to be with Christ there 's your Treasure where your Lord is your Inheritance is above with the Saints in Light Christ is gone to Heaven and there are all his Riches O long then to be fit to go home to be with Christ that you may partake of all his glory And thus have I now come to the further side of this great deep I mean to the Conclusion of this Subject and O that what hath been opened of this glorious Christ may not be in vain you have heard much of this Tree of Life God knows what Fruit hath been gathered a glorious Treasure hath been presented to your View and offered to you O see what Advantage you have gained how dreadful will it be for any that have heard so much of this rich Christ to be found poor at last O it will be sad for any to dye poor in a Loadicean State Poor Blind and naked and to be cast away O Sinners consider this you that have been woo'd and invited to get this choice tryed Gold Christ hath pleaded with you to win your Hearts if possible O take heed you dye not without an Interest in Jesus Christ you will hear all those Truths brought over to you again at the Bar of Christ and all the Counsels and Helps you have had to draw your Hearts to Christ will be then as burning Fire in your Bones and as boyling Lead in your Bowels if you perish without Christ Therefore take heed take heed that this Christ become not a stumbling Stone and a Rock of offence to your Souls And such as are Believers mind your Duty which hath been opened to you and O that these Truths might be profitable to all And the Lord give a Blessing to it Amen FINIS THE CONTENTS CHAP. I. THE Occasion of this Discourse with an Introduction to the words and Explication of them and the main Truth contained in them Page 1. CHAP. II. The personal Riches of Christ opened in his divine Nature manifested in his Attributes with the wonderful advantages thereof to Believers p. 11. CHAP. III. The humane Nature of Christ distinctly considered it 's Reallity proved his Personallity or the divine and humane Nature in one person shewing what kind of Vnion it is and the glorious Consequents and Advantages thereof p. 43. CHAP. IV. Shewing what is the work of Jesus Christ as he is Mediator p. 65. Which lies 1 with respect to God the Father p. 66. 2 with respect to fallen man p. 75. CHAP. V. Wherein is opened the glorious Advocateship of Christ with the unspeakable Comforts and Advantages thereof p. 79. CHAP. VI. Shewing the Willingness of Christ that Sinners should be saved the Sin and Misery of such as refuse Christ with Reproof to several sorts of persons p. 102. CHAP. VII Shewing what Consolation flows to Believers from the Intercession of Christ p. 113. 1 To weak Believers ibid. 2 To troubled Believers in the depth of Soul-misery p. 116. 3 To Believers dejected in the sense of strong Corruptions p. 120. 4 To tempted Believers p. 122. 5 To such as are under Afflictions and Suffering in or by the world ibid. 6. To such as are Mourners for Sion p. 123. CHAP. VIII Containing a use of Exhortation to Sinners and Saints p. 128. CHAP. IX Opening somewhat of the sweet Dispositions of Christ viz. His Goodness Love and the Riches thereof as to the Kinds Fruits and Effects of it p. 137. CHAP. X. Several deductions drawn from the love of Christ p. 147. CHAP. XI The glorious Excellency of Christ's tender Pity opened and displayed in the several acts of it both to Saints and Sinners p. 153. CHAP. XII The Improvement of the pity of Christ by way of Terror Encouragement and Advice p. 165. CHAP. XIII Wherein is opened the transcendent Humility of Christ p. 170. CHAP. XIV Wherein is shewn the transcendent Meekness and Gentleness of Christ to his Enemies and to his People p. 178. CHAP. XV. Wherein is demonstrated the infinite Bounty of Christ to all his Creatures with the manner of his giving p. 188. CHAP. XVI