Creatours commands And though the understanding be blinded and the will depraved the affections disordered by reason of Adam's fall yet Christ giveth his eye-salve to his people to cleare up their understanding and subdueth their wills unto his will These are noble faculties The memory conscience affections are reduced unto these two These faculties difference men from bruit beasts 6. Consider the invaluable price pay'd to purchase the soule Even Singul. 6. The price paid for the soule no less than the effusion of the bloud of Christ He pay'd his life for the redemption of his people the soule must needs be of invaluable worth that was bought purchased and pay'd for with the bloud of the Son of God O! invaluable price more worth than millions of worlds more then all Angels in heaven could doe more than if Adam and all his posterity had suffered unto eternity That the Son of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the eternal God should become a child the Antient of days should become the Infant of days the Divine person should assume an humane nature by an hypostaticall union that he should disrobe himselfe and weare the ragges of mortality come into the world not to reigne as a King but as a servant to dye a painefull shamefull and cursed death this was an incomparable price never to be parallel'd And what was the end of all but to save the soules of his people to pacifie God's wrath reconcile man to God by the death on his crosse 7. Consider the difficulty to save our soules Wee have a battle to fight a race to run we must be wrestlers warriours racers Singular 7. It 's a difficult matter to save the soule we are to enter in at a strait gate Few are saved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It 's no easy taske as the ignorant world dreames of to make our peace with God when the Son of man commeth shall he find faith on the earth so shall he find Repentance and Love A common temporary faith a formall Repentance a pretended love are every where to be found as the sicamores in the valley for abundance but a justifying purifying faith a repentance not to be repented of a love without dissimulation are hard to be found rare hearbes which grow in few gardens The world cheates their soules with a shell a picture a fancy of faith they believe as their parents did before them and so they cheat their soules with a picture and fancy of repentance they think repentance enough if they can but mumble over that neck-verse Lord have mercy upon me but such lasy easy formall devotions will not serve the turne see 1 Thes 1. 3. There is a worke of faith a labour of love and a patience of hope Cheap easy lasy ways are suspicious ways It s the greatest work in all the world to work out our salvation some indeed have a sharper some an easier birth None are without pangs and throws one time or other Heart wounding goeth before heart healing Act. 2. 37. But whoever belongeth to God shall feele the gall and wormewood the bitterness of sinne Sinne cost David Peter Mary-Magdalen Paul deare Now then that it is such a weighty difficult worke to save thy soule hence the excellency of the soule is the more inhanced and raised On the contrary as I have inhanced the soules excellency in 7 singularities so I will debase and vilifie the world in as many aggravations 1. The world is a stye and sinke of impurity 1 Joh. 5. 19. Agrav 1. The world is a sink of impurtly What 's pure religion see Jam. 1. 27. To kâ—ep ones selfe unspotted from the world The world is the mother pollution the daughter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pet. 2. 20. The world may not be loved 1 Joh. 2. 15. You may soone know that all the world hath 1 Joh. 2. 16. The lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life 2ly The world is a grand impostor an arrant jugler There Agrav 2 The world is a grâ—â—d Imposter are three words Eph. 4. 14 which describe the world to the life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it courts and complements as Joab did Abner and Amasa as Jaâ—l served Sisera as the Panther leaves a sweet sent and allures the passenger to come to her and presently hee 's devoured as they say the Syrens songes first lull men asleep then devoures them The world puts a gaudy faire vizzard on the soulest actions it calleth drunkenness covetousness whordome by mincing plausible appellations The lewd strumpet tels of her bed of ornaments and braveries Prov. 7. 16 17 But mentions not a syllable of the dart striking through the liver vers 23. So the wine wherewith the drunkard is intoxicated allures him with it's colour Prov. 23. 31 but forewarnes not of it's biting vers 32. The world never represents sinne in it's proper colours but sub specie boni Take heed of the world it will serve thee as Jacob served Laban change thy wages 7 times It will serve thee as the High-Priests served Judas Matth. 27. 4. When an anguish came upon his spirit and hee restored the thirty peeces of silver saying I have sinned in that I have bâ—trayed the innocent bloud and they said what is that to us see thou to that Then thirdly the world is a merciless cruel tormentour Solâ—mon found it to be so by lamentable experience Ecclâ—s 1. 14 The covetous man is upon a Rack his bed is a bed of thornes his bread gravell for the losse of his God Mammon The ambitious man loseing honour and preferment is disquieted that he cannot enjoy himselfe so was Haman nothing could satisfie him so long as he wanted Mordâ—caie's bended knee The want of a complement more vexed him than all his honours contented him At what a great losse was the young man when he must foregoe all his possessions At what a losse were the foolish Gadarens when their swine were drowned they even preferred their swine before a Jesus 4. The world in it's best estate is vanity Eccles 1. 2. The riches Aggrav 4. The world is vanity honours and pleasures in this world are empty broken cisternes trees without fruit bare leaves or apples of Sodome which as Historians relate are goodly to the eye but being touched dissolve into cinders and ashes Isai 55. 2. Not bread The worlds goods are things which are but shadows pictures shels emptiness vanity nothing in reality and truth Chimera's entia rationis brain fancies Great expectations we have Parturiunt montes c. The world is a meere lottery we come to it with heads full of hopes but returne back with hearts full of blankes 5. The world is unsatisfying and unsuitable to the soule The Aggrav 5. The world is unsatisfying world is materiall corruptible earthly the soule immateriall incorruptible heavenly How can these be reconciled What agreement can there be between them Ther 's no proportion nor
SERMONS PREACH'D AT St MARIES OXON 2 Cor. 5. vers 20. Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ as though God did Sermon 1. at S. Maries Oxon July 11th 1658. being Act Sab bath day morning beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God WIthout controversie great is the mystery of Godliness 1 Tim. 3. 16. The word * Omnium confessione magnum Ambros Ad verbum declarat paribus verbis loqui ut iis solent qui petentibus assentiuntur Beza in Luc 22. 6. Ezek. 1. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 carries an Emphasis with it in the determination of the Apostle And what he asserts he as strenuously proves by an induction of particular instances in the place forecited viz. God was manifest in the flesh justifyed in the spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the world received up to Glory Every one of these taken severally is a transcendent mystery as we read in Ezekiel There was a wheel in the middle of a wheel So here is one mystery involved in another Now forasmuch as we find the Well deep and have not wherewith to draw since we are not able to fathom the depths of such mysterious things let 's all as one man stand astonish'd with an holy admiration of the wonderfull counsels of God lay aside all curious disputations and learn to believe However so far forth as we can meet with a Scripture Clue we may not be wanting in our best endeavoures to wind our selves out of all the Labyrinths whatsoever Now to the business that lyes before me even the great mystery of Reconciliation which I have selected for the Argument of my ensuing meditations that I may the better cleer a passage to my Text I 'le review what the Apostle principally instanceth in as one of the greatest mysteries 1 Tim. 3. 16. of Godliness viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is the stupendious unparallel'd mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God and this leads the Van to all the rest as having priority of dignity and order both This is one of those mysteries which the Angels desired to peep into 1 Pet. 1. 12. They stoop down and with all diligence sift and enquire into these mysteries And if a comparison Prono capite propenso collo accurate introspiciunt Beza Omnia summa diligentia explorant ac contuentur diligenter Areâ— Zach. 13. 7. may be admitted with mysteries amongst themselves questionless this mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ is the mystery of mysteries Eternity it selfe will be little enough for us fully to comprehend it That the Lord Jesus Christ the Eternall Son of God equal with the Father fellow and fellow-like with God as great and as good as himself should assume humane nature and unite a clod of earth unto his Divine person and become Immanuel God with us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God and man in one person by an hypostaticall union the tongue of men and Angels can never enough inhance the singularity of this mystery That this may be shaddowed forth according to our capacity Q. A. my endeavour shall be to solve one grand question viz. What was the great designe and end of Christs incarnation I answer with the Apostle Paul * Hinc non est cur miremur tam sero Christum venisse in carnem venire enim debuit non cittus quam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coelestis Patris exacta esset Pareus in Loc. Gal. 4. 4 5. But when the fullness of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law that we might receive the Adoption of Sons Further the Apostle gives an attestation unto this truth 1 Joh. 3. 8. For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil Wherefore to accomplish this great work of Redemption and destroy the works of Satan through hearkning to whose temptations man fell from God Jesus Christ the middle person in the Trinity the beloved Son came down from the bosome of the Father to make up the breach and reconcile man the party offending to God the party offended And this is that ministry of Reconciliation given and intrusted to the Ministers of the Gospell to declare proclaim and publish v. 19. To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself It 's said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This sets forth * Emphasin habet quod dicit Deum fuisse in Christo Neque enim Deus in Christo fuit quemadmodum in omnibus aliis rebus est sed in ipso De it as Corporaliter habitavit Zuingl in Loc. the Deity of Christ and further this plainly evinceth that this reconciliation was not of yesterday but that there were transactions and negotiaions between God the Father and God the Son concerning this admirable contrivance even from all Eternity Each syllalâ—le breaths forth love bowels and wisdom raised to the very highest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and highest pitch Here is singular matter for meditation That when the Angels were past by and left without a Mediatour yet notwithstanding there should be Treaties of Peace before the foundation of the World was laid to reconcile so vile a thing as the World sinfull man unto the most holy God by Jesus Christ Here 's met altogether in one a concurrence of Wisdom Mercy Goodnesse Graciousness and Loving kindness Yet though they were all put together they come infinitely short in the representation of that superabundant love of God in Jesus Christ which transcends all degrees of Comparison But the next Question will be How is this Reconciliation Q. A. wought The answer is given in the subsequent words Not imputing their trespasses unto them God doth not reckon accompt so the word * Significat tum generatim aestimare sive apud se statuâ—ere tum specia tim imputare sive reputare Vorstius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports nor lay the sins of his people to their own charge but charge them all upon Christ their Surety And most just it is that an innocent person should pay the debt when he becomes engaged as a Surety notwithstanding those Rotten cavils of the blasphemous Socinians against the truth in this particular Luther hath a strange passage to this purpose that Christ was peccatorum maximus Such speeches though I much honour Luther and conceive him to be a man of an excellent spirit I confesse as are not safe to use and I would many now a dayes were more cautelous than to adventure their fancies too far as it 's too apparent they commonly do through self admiration lest they outrun their judgement But as there are some that rather will lose their friend than their jest so there are some that will rather lose their Religion than a wild new coyned opinion Yet with submission to better judgments I conceive
thine own blood I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood live yea I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood live He found none at all godly lovely holy but made them so How many of those that imbrued their hands in Christ's blood were converted by one of Peters sermons Christ prayed upon the Cross for his enemies Luk. 23. 34. Then said Jesus Father forgive them for they know not what they doe The Duties we ought to learne from the consideration of this great love of Christ in laying down his life for sinners are First That in Zach. 12. 10. And I will poure upon the house of Dut. 1. To mourne over Christ David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and supplication and they shall look upon me whom they have peirced and thâ—y shall mourne for him as one mourneth for his only sonne and shall be in bitnernesse for him as one that is in bitternesse for his first borne Seconly To crucify sinne which crucified Christ Thus the Dut. 2. To crucify sin Apostle professeth Gal. 2. 20. I am crucified with Christ Neverthelesse I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himselfe for me Thirdly Set an inestimable price upon the meanes of our redemption Dut. 3. Set a high value upon the price of our redemption that price of blood 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. For asmuch as yee know that yee were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vaine conversation received by tradition from your Fathers But with the pretious blood of Christ as of a lambe without blemish and without spot Fourthly Look for no salvation else where Act. 4. 12. Neither Dut. 4. Look for salvation through Christ only is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved 1 Tim. 2. 5. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men that man Christ Jesus Joh. 17. 3. And this is life eternall that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Fifthly Let us live unto Christ which died for us 2 Cor. 5. Dut. 5. Live unto Christ 15. And that he died for all that they which live should not hence forth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them and rose again Sixtly Let our hearts be warmed with love to Christ 2 Cor. Dut. 6. Be warm'd with love to Christ 5. 14. For the love of Christ constraines us because we thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead The apprehension of Christs great love unto us should ingage us to love him againe Qâ—ry 3. Is this so great a matter for Christ to dye and to lay downe his life for publick good Did not many others lay down their lives for the publick as Codrus for the Athenians Meneceus for the Thebans Curtius threw himselfe into a gulfe to preserve Rome from pestilence Nisus would have died for Euryâ—lus Pilades for Orestes c. Where then lieth the difference Ans 1. Heathens that laid downe their lives were not innocent persons they were sinners Christ was innocent no sinner a Lamb without blemish no gâ—ile was found in his mouth 2. Heathens laid downe their lives out of principles of praise and vaine glory Christ laid his life in love to his Father love to the elect 3. Heathens gave their lives at the instigation of Satan having no thought to please God but Christ gave himselfe in obedience to his Father to do his will 4. Heathens died that their deaths might be esteemed glorious and honourable but Christ offered himselfe to the ignominious death of the Crosse 5. They died for to obtaine some temporall deliverance but by Christ we obtaine eternall deliverance 6. They died for their Countrey and friends but Christ died for his enemies These things being premised by way of Explication I come now to the Confirmation of the point To which purpose I shall lay downe these Propositions and they are Aeternae veritaâ—is 1. God the Father from all Eternity contrived this admirable Proposit 1. God from all eternity contrived the way of Redemption by Jesus Christ way of redemption by Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 5. 19. To wiâ— that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himselfe not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation Rev. 13. 8. And all that dwell upon the face of the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the booke of life of the Lamb slaine from the foundation of the world This transaction was not of yesterday but decreed and contrived and intended from all eternity God reprobated the fallen Angells and left them without a Saviour for Christ shed not a drop of blood for them They before the foundation of the world were decreed to eternall punishments But for lost man a Saviour was decreed and this was God's intendment before all time Questionlesse this is exceeding great love and an evident Character of the love of God the Father 2. Christ was an innocent holy person without the least sinne Proposit 2. Christ was an innocent Person There was no deceit in his mouth Isai 53. 9. And he made his grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death Because he had done no violence neither was any deceit in his mouth He was most holy harmlesse undefiled 1 Pet. 1. 19. We were redeemed with the pretious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot Christ was the beloved Son of God in whom the Father was well pleased Matth. 3. 17. And â—â—e a voice from heaven saying this is my beloved sonne in whom I am well pleased Christ was the only Son and beloved Son now for God the Father to send his Son his only Son his beloved Son not to raigne but to serve not to live a life of honour and glory in the world but to be despised rejected wounded and endure the shamefull painfull and cursed death of the Crosse Never was any love like unto this Of this we read Joh. 3. 16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life And likewise 1 Joh. 4. 10. Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sinnes 3. Christ who was sent was God God-man in one person Proposit 3. Christ is God-man in one Person The divine person assumed an humane nature Christ was the Word and the Word was God and Christ that substantiall Word was made flesh Joh. 1. 14. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only
be such a day then 1. â—e counselled to break off your sins by repentance Be sensible of the evil of your doings 2. Kisse the Son hast and delay not to make your peace with Jesus Christ for he is our prayse Eph. 2. 14. 3. Make choice of other paths enter into the way of holyness Isa 35. 8. 2 Pet. 3. 14. Then to the godly Here lyeth your duty 1. To have your thoughts meditations and desires fixed on that day Be longing for the sight of Christ coming in the clouds and pray come Lord Jesus come quickly 2. Comfort your selves with the assurance of Gods love to you so was Paul comforted 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. 3. Let your conversation be in heaven Phil. 3. 20 21. 4. Bee not afraid of death for to the Saints death is a conquered enemy the sting is taken away the Serpents teeth are knockt out What need they be afraid of death who shall be acquitted before the Judges And their Judge is their Advocate their friend their Redeemer Jesus Christ which brings in the last Doctrine Doct. 3 That at the day of judgement Jesus Christ shall be the Judge In handling of this Doctrine I shall give clear proof from Scripture and Reason then answeâ— several Queâ—ies and Objections and conclude with particular Application 1. For Scripture proof That Christ shall be judge is plain from 1 The Doctrine proved by Scripture several Scriptures viz. Joh. 5. 22 27. Act. 10. 42. Act. 17. 31. Mat. 28. 18. John 5. 21. Christ for this purpose rose again that he might be Lord over quick and dead Rom. 14. 9 10. and part of his dominion is the last judgement The Reasons why Christ shall be Judge are drawn 1 From equity Reas 1. From equity and retaliation retaliation Christ shall judge those that judged him Christ shall judge Pontius Pilate the High Priest the Jewes c. And this will be for the confusion of Christs enemies that though Christ was reproached buffered crowned with thornes and crucified set at nought by the wicked of the world yet now he shall be in triumph and be the judge of quick and dead Joh. 19. 37. They shall looke upon him whom they have pierced Reas 2. For the comfort of the godly Reas 3. For the terror of the wicked 2. Christ shall be Judge for the comfort of the godly Heb. 2. 11. Eph. 5. 30. Christ is their head redeemer elder-brother intercessour Christ hath promised everlasting life Joh. 3. 36. Joh. 5. 24. 3. For the terrour of the wicked Rev. 1. 7. But in the next place here are many questions to be resolved Q. 1. Is the Father excluded from judgement I answer Neither the Father nor the Holy Ghost are excluded The Father is said to judge by the Son Act. 17. 31. Now judgement is peculiarly by a kind of appropriation ascribed to the Son Joh. 5. 22. Pater occultus Filius manifestus as Austine observes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the whole Trinity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Son this judgement appertains â—ut 2. It will be asked How shall Christ appear at that day Ans â—e shall 1. Appear visibly This judgement the Father hath committed to Christ God and man â—nd Chrisâ— shall not onely judge according to his divine nature but also according to his humane nature So that Christ shall be seen vissibly and locally Act. 1. 11. Mat. 24. 30. 2. Christ shall come gloriously and this will be cleared in sour Particulars 1. Hee shall come in the glory of his Father Mat. 10. 27. 2. With an innumerable company of Angels Mat. 25. 31. 3. With the sound of the trumpet 1 Thes 4. 16. 4 With Power Mat. 24. 30. 3. Christ shall come suddenly as a theef Mat. 24. 4â— As a snare Luk. 21. 34. Unexspectedly Luk. 12. 46. 1 Thes 5. 2 3. A 3. Question is whom Christ shall judge Ans The Scripture is evident Men and Angels 1 For Men universally all Men Rom. 14. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 10. both quick â—nd dead Act. 10. 42. 1 Pet. 4. 5. 2 Tim. 4. 1. 2. For Angels Jude v. 6. Rev. 20. 10. A 4. Question is What will be the manner of Christs judging To answer this Question we are to consider the preparation to this judgement the Proceeding of this Judge and the â—ule of judging 1. For preparation That will appear in these particulars 1 1 Consider the preparations to the day of judgement There will be a transmutation of heaven and earth Rev. 21. 4 5. 2 Pet. 3. 10. 2. Christ will appear in a throne of glory Mat. 19. 28. 3. There will be a summoning of all sorts of men quick and dead shall be summoned to appear before the judgement seat of Christ Joh. 5. 28 29. 1 Thes 4. 16 17. 4 There will be a separation and division a placing of the sheep on the right hand and the goats on the left hand Mat. 25. 32 33. 2 Consider the proceedings of the judge 2. Let us consider the proceedings of the Judge Wherein we are to note 1 The books shall be laid open Rev. 20. 12. The devil shall accuse Angels shall be witnesses And no need of their accusation or witness for each mans conscience shall be accuser and witness and judge Every book of conscience shall be opened and there shall be either excuseing or accuseing and Dan. 7. 10. There 's a book of Gods remembrance mentioned Mal. 3. 16. And there is a book of a mans owne conscience which shall be opened at that great day This is the book for rectifying whereof all other Ideoscribuntur omnes Labri ut unus emendetur conscientiae Bern. books were written Now there lyeth no appeal from these books no possibility of falsifying Gods book and the book of Conscience And if any one should plead not done not guilty conscience as good as a thousand witnesses would protest against it 2. In Christs proceeding we are to consider of a different sentence one of absolution the other of condemnation 1 For the sentence of absolution Mat. 25. 34. Come there is a gracious invitation ye blessed there is a comfortable appellation of my Father there is a glorious adoption inherit there is their title and donation the Kingdome there is the royalty of it prepared there is the predestination for you there is the propriety of the Saints from the foundation of the World there is the antiquity the antient tenure before the creation of Adam 2 There is a sentence of condemnation Mat. 25. 14 Depart there 's a barre of exclusion a dreadful dismission from mee there is the punishment of losse the heaviest of punishments Qui te non habet Domine Deus totum perdidit saith Bernard Ye cursed there 's their brand of infamy Into Bernard everlasting fire there 's poena Jensus exquisite unspeakable torments there 's fire to burn and torment and eternal fire no mitigation of pain unto all eternity prepared
God that Christ is Judge He that is our elder brother Heb. 2. 11. A man as we are Phil. 2. 8. Sin only excepted our advocate 1 Joh. 2. 1. It 's Bernard's observation Vult per hominem homines judicari Hence we may securely expect the comeing of our Judge in so much as our Advocate is gone before us and is already retained on our side Quia Advocatum praemisimus securi judicem venturum speremus v. Joh. 14. 23. Christ is the life of the Saints Col. 3. 4. Christ is the end of our hope whom the Saints look for His appearance the ground of the Saints hope and strong consolation So that the day of judgement will be a day of refreshment deliverance restitution redemption the most comfortable day that ever the eyes of the Saints beheld Use 2. For Terror 2. Here 's Terror unto the wicked They are enemies unto Christ and they that have peirced him shall see him Rev. 1. 7. But they shall see him no otherwise then a malefactor the Judge to their terror and condemnation Vse 3. For Exhortation 3. This may serve for exhortation to prepare for the comeing of Christ In order whereunto these speciall exhortations I presse home unto us all 1 Kisse the Son Psa 2. 12. Make your peace with Christ speedily we are commanded to agree with our adversary quickly 2 This should stir us up to sobriety and watchfulness 1 Pet. 4. 7. Prayer sobriety and watchfulness are joyned together 1 Thes 5. 6. 1 Pet. 5. 8. 3 This should excite us to repentance Act. 17. 30 31. 4 This should excite us unto holiness Joh. 3. 36 2 Pet. 3. 11. 5 This should strengthen our faith in the promises Beleevers shall not come into condemnation He that beleeveth shall not come into condemnation But I am a beleever therefore I shall not come into condemnation 6 And lastly This should make us long for the coming of Christ Tit. 2. 13. Rev. 22. 20. Christs appearance is the Saints day of rejoycing That day we should beleeve hope for desire with all earnestness This consideration that Christ shall be the Judge is matter of singular consolation unto the Saints Christ is the Saints Redeemer hee Adopts them he 's their Intercessor and their Judge and will plead for them and pronounce a sentence of Absolution at the day of judgement ETERNAL LIFE Unfolded from Mark 10. 17. Good master what shall I do that I may in herit eternal life IT will be requisite before I give in the sense of the words to Sermon 8. â— S. Maryes Oxon. April 13. 1656. take into consideration the Harmony of the Evangelists in relation to this History S. Matthew c. 19. v. 16. sets it down on this wise And behold one came and said unto him Good master what good things shall I do that I may have eternal life He dreamed of Pharisaical righteousness of salvation by works He doth not aske simply by what way and means he must be saved but what good he must do As if his own righteousness contributed to his salvation This was a gross error among the Pharisees then and is still retained and improved among Papists and Ignoramus's now a dayes S. Luke sets down this history And a certain Ruler asked him Luk. 18. 18. He was not one of the common sort but a man of chief authority and he came not as many did to tempt Christ but to learn of him And it 's remarkable that he a great man a person of quality among the Jewes in the time of his youth did busy himself in such excellent things as to inquire after his eternal condition He was said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a young man It 's the young man's duty to remember his Creator in the dayes of his youth Now Eccles 12. 1. let 's consider the History as related in the Text. Before he propounds his question we are to observe his great diligence and reverence 1 His diligence he came running he made hast to 1. His diligence Christ willing to be quickly resolved in a great question Lest Christ should have been gone before he came he mended his pace This shewes his fâ—rvour desire and eagerness to meet with Christ And this in a young man and a Ruler was the more remarkable 2 His reverence he kneeled to him He cometh as a petitioner to 2 His reverence aske that which most of all concerned him This posture shewes his humility and what high estimate he puts upon Jesus Christ These things being premised he propounds this question which is of the greatest moment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. What answer Christ gave him and how he replied and how Christ rejoyned and what was the product thereof are not my present busyness The inlargement of these things by way of Paraphrase with observations upon them would take more then the allotted time My work intended is to fixe upon the maine scope and substance of the Question That which was in the eye aime and designe of this young man was what should become of him to eternity Wherein you have 1 An end propounded eternal life 2 The means inquired after what shall I do Or Divis what good thing shall I do as Matthew relates the story Here he failed grosly in the standing upon his own works dreaming of Pharisaical righteousness He was a young man and had learned from the Pharisees school to be confident of self-righteousness and plead for his own merits as afterward it followeth how he boasted v. 20. But when Christ touched him to the quick v. 21. he discovered how far he was from that perfection whereunto he pretended 3 Of whom doth he inquire To whom doth he propound this question of the greatest consequence Unto Christ whom he calleth Master a Teacher one whom he thought able to instruct him and he add's this Epithete Good Christ checks him v. 18. Christ doth not refuse the name of Good sed eo sensu quo Carthw Harm Calv. Harm Adolescens intellexit ideo repudiavit quia in Deum solum competebat The young man took Christ to be no more then a man Si in me nihil altius agnoseis quam naturam humanam falso elogium boni quod soli Deo convenit in me transfers so Calvin i e If thou knowest no more then a humane nature in me thou falsly ascribest to me the name of Good which belongs to God alone Aut ergo Gâ—rth Harm agnosce me Deum aut a boni titulo abstine so learned Gerrard Notwithstanding this young man failes in the manner of propounding the Question and prescribes his own works his own Phaâ—isaical righteousness which was his gross error took upon trust from the Pharisaical Rabbies Yet it 's worth our special observation and it 's that which is my chief design in the choyce of this Text that this young man a Ruler who came with an intent to be instructed of Christ
* Eph. 5. 9. Eph. 5. 9. Viz. Goodnesse and righteousnesse and truth and he mentions another much larger †Gal. 5. 22 23. Gal. 5. 22 23. Viz. Love joy peace longsuffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance Here then is the great triall whether the life and conversation be ordered aright Whether the conversation be in †all holy conversation and Godlinesse Whether the new Creature exert it selfe through a mans whole life Whether a holy profession be adorned by a holy conversation Now if in truth and sincerity affirmative answers can be given to these Questions then without doubt such Persons have Interest in this Reconciliation by Jesus Christ But I shall adde no more to these Characters I conceive that whosoever can produce these tokens hath a sure and undoubted title What yet remains is as I promised you to excite you all by some moving considerations to make it your grand work and businesse to get assurance of your reconciled estate which is the businesse of the greatest concernment Motive 1. Consider the riches of mercy and bowells opened towards fallen man and denyed to the fallen Angels As for Motives 1. Let us consider of the riches of mercy and bowells opened towards fallen man which were utterly denyed towards fallen Angells And this consideration heightneth the great contrivance of this Reconciliation in that it was from all eternity Adde hereunto that God himselfe was first in the tender and contrivance of this great work Man neither could nor would make up so great a breach It transcended the Sphere of his capacity Had Adam and all his posterity joyned all their heads together they could not understand what way and means to undertake to make up so great a breach But God the Father out of the riches of his mercy found out a way even a new and living way by Jesus Christ The Angels were past by they fell once and that irrecoverably without any hope of reinvesting themselves in their first estate For Christ shed not one drop of bloud for them He * Heb. 2. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 significat arripere apprehendere manum injicere B. Andrews Cura sollicitudo labor festinatio pro salute generis humani ea una voce significatur Hyperius in loc took not upon him saith the Apostle the nature of Angels but the seed of Abraham Yet notwithstanding the riches of Gods mercy are inhanced toward fallen man because the promised seed even that †Gen. 3. 15. the seed of the woman should break the Serpents head was proclaim'd in Paradise and appropriated unto mankind Secondly consider the great and inestimable price paid to purchase Mot. 2. Consider the great price paid to purchase peace and reconciliation peace and Reconciliation And what was that price but the price of bloud And this is called in Scripture * Act. 20. 28. the Bloud of God Yet in such expressions we are to understand a communication of Idioms This bloud was the bloud of sprinkling which †Heb. 12. 24. Speaketh better things then the bloud of Abel This was the bloud of the immaculate Lamb slaine from the Foundation of the World Because * Rev. 13. 8. without shedding of bloud there was no remission Christ therefore took upon him humane nature There are two great significant words which evidently declare his humane nature one word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †Joh. 1. 14. Joh. 1. 14. He pitcht his Tent or Tabernacle amongst us The other word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Phil. 2. 7. Vers 8. Phil. 2. 7. He emptyed himselfe or made himselfe of no reputation And Vers 8. we read of the highest degree of Christs humiliation in that he became obedient unto death even the death of the Crosse Thus Christ hath made a compleat satisfaction by doing and suffering all that the Father required And now Christ †Rom. 8. 34. sitteth at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us And we have a ground of strong consolation further laid down * Heb. 7. 25. Heb. 7. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them There 's a word of great importance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which as a †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 omnimodam significat perfectionem Camero in Myroth learned Authour observes signifieth all manner of perfection This sheweth such an absolute perfection that nothing else can be desir'd nothing can be added And wherein doth this all-sufficient Saviour shew himselfe to be so We have an answer and strong proofe drawne from Christs intercession in the following words where it is said That he ever liveth to make * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non dicit ut offerat hoc enim semel fecit sed superest altera sacerdotii pars nempe Interpellatio Beza Intercession for them This Scripture is a fort Royall and impregnable notwithstanding all the batteries that Socinian Hereticks make against it But I proceed to a third motive drawn from the willingnesse Motive 3. Drawn from the willingness of God to be reconâ—iled of God to be reconciled Wherefore he sends his messengers upon this errand to perswade people to embrace Articles of peace The Lord entrusts his Ministers with the word of reconciliation which is the Doctrine of the everlasting Gospell And they spend their Spirits and lay forth their strength to the uttermost woing intreating exhorting people to submit unto Christs Scepter and through him to make their peace with God the Father Now the Spirit of God strives in the Ministery of the word It 's a most terrible judgment when Gods Spirit refuseth to strive any longer with a people And this is threatned * Gen. 6. 3. Gen. 6. 3. And the Lord said my Spirit shall not alwaies strive with man i. e. The Lord will not alwaies dispute chide and argue the case with a people the Lord will not alwaies strive by the Ministery of his servants such as were Enoch Noah Methusalah who lived the longest and died but the year before the flood God will not alwaies suffer his Spirit to be grieved the motions thereof slighted Neither will God alwaies suffer the faithfull labours of his Ministers to be neglected * Some †Pagninus Grotius render the word Lo-jiddon non vaginabit He will not alwaies put his sword into the scabberd but he will draw it out and fight against his Enemies And oh that you would all consider in your most serious composed thoughts that now you hear as it were a voice behind you saying This is the way walk in it This voyce is the Spirit speaking in the written word for the Spirit speaks according to the word Now by all the woings and whispers of the Spirit and by the unwearied labours of the faithfull Ambassadours of the Gospell you are entreated to
under his feet and gave him to be vers 22. the head over all things to the Church which is his body the fulnesse vers 23. Eph. 3. 10. Col. 1. 20. of him that filleth all in all To the intent that now the Principalities and Powers in heavenly places might be knowne by the Church the manifold wisdome of God And having made peace through the blood of his crosse by him to reconcile all things unto himselfe by him I Col. 2. 10. say whether they be things in heaven or things on earth And ye are compleat in him who is the head of all Principality and Power I purposely wave many curious questions wherein Popish writers abound Wherefore in the last place I shall make a practicall improvement of the whole and apply only three inferences for Information Instruction and Consolation For Information 1. For Information 1. What excellent knowing glorious creatures the holy Angells are and if they be so excellent how much more is Jesus Christ their Lord Great is the knowledge of these glorious creatures but what they have is derivative from their Creatour 2. Be informed that it is unlawfull to worship them See thou do Col. 2. 18. it not saith the Angell to John for I am thy fellow-servant And in the place fore cited Let no man beguile you of your reward and in voluntary humility and worshiping of Angells intruding into those things he hath not seen vainly puft up by his fleshly mind 3. Be informed of the singular benefit of the Angells ministry The Angell of the Lord encampeth about them that feare him and delivereth Psal 34. 11. Josh 5. 14 15 them The Angell stood for Joshua It came to passe when Joshua was by Jerico that he lifted up his eyes and looked and behold there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hands and Joshua went unto him and said Art thou for us or for our Adversaries And he said nay but as a captaine of the hoâ—t of the Lord am I now come And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and did worship and said unto him what saith my Lord unto his servant And he said loose thy shooe from off thy feet for the place whereon thou standest is holy This was the Lord Jesus the Angell of the Covenant for a Created Angell would have refused adoration An Angell preserved the three Children from the flame and burning of the fiery furnace and shut the Lyons mouth An Angell praised for the Church in Zechary that Angell was Christ Then the Angell Zech. 1. 12. of the Lord answered and said O Lord of hosts how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the Cities of Judah against which thou hast had Indignation these threescore and ten yeares An Angell delivered Hezekiah and smote Senacherib An Angell delivered Peter An Angell brought the good newes of Christs incarnation The Angells of God preserve us in our beds in our houses in our journyes in our undertakings The Angells will carry our soules to Heaven By way of Instruction Vse 2. of Instruction Psal 91. 11. 1. Labour to walk in Gods waies For he shall give his Angells charge over thee to keep thee in all thy waies Whilest we are in our lawfull waies not in our wanderings we have a promise of Protection 2. Pray to God for the Protection of Angells We may not pray to Angells we may not worship them but we may pray to God to vouchsafe their ministry to us to make our waies prosperous to send us an Angell as Abraham believed and cause his Angells to pitcht their Tents about us as Gods messengers to defend Gen. 24. 7. and rescue us out of dangers 3. We should so live as remembring we are in the presence of God and Angells that Gods eyes are over us that the Angells observe oâ—r carriage and what decorum we keep in the duties we performe For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the Angells Though men as Diodati observes 1 Cor. 11. 10. would give consent and connive at this disorder yet the Angells who are continuall Guardians in their Assemblies would be offended at it For I think saith the Apostle that God hath set forth us the Apostles 1 Cor. 4. 9. 16. last as it were men appointed to death For we are made a spectacle unto the world to Angells and to men Wherefore I beseech you be yee followers of me For Consolation Vse 3. for Consolation This serves for comfort to Gods children that the Angells are their Ministers 1. In their lives they have them under God their protectors the Lord bids them protect preserve succour comfort relieve such a one he is in distresse he is my servant The very Angells 1 King 19. 7 8. were purveyers unto Eliah The Angells ministred unto Christ they strengthened him when he was in the garden when he suffered in his humane Nature So the children of God find it to their comfort that the Angells refresh comfort support and protect them in their greatest extremities 2. When they die the Angells carry their soules into Heaven 3. At the day of judgment they gather the elect unto Christ Mar. 13. 27. He will send his Angells to gather his elect from the four winds from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of Heaven By all that hath been said we are to understand the happinesse of all the Saints who are here in the text called heires of salvation God gives them his Son and that 's the height of mercy God gives them his Angells for their Guardians so those two Scriptures are abundantly fulfilled Psal 34. 9. O feare the Lord ye his Saints Psal 34. 9. Rom. 8. 32. for there is no want to them that feare him And Rom. 8. 32. He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not but with him freely give us all things And these Scriptures bring a full measure of comfort unto the children of God Having Christ the Saints have all he protects and defends them he is Lord over all and commands all creatures services for the good of his people This Doctrine of the Ministry of Angells is too much Idolized by some which fall to the worshiping of them This is flat Idolatry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is abhominable And this Doctrine is too much slighted by others who are not thankfull to God for the Protection of Angells Both these extreames are to be avoided and our duty is to look upon Angells as fellow servants and begge of God their Ministry And for all deliverances we should returne unto God the praise and glory of all in the language of the Psalmist Psal 115. vers 1. which shall be my conclusion Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy name give glory Psal 115. 1. for thy mercy and truths sake
of Gods Soule Isai 12. 7. The Sons of God Hos 1. 10. They are called Gods Jewells Mal. 3. 15. Christ calls them his sheepe Joh. 10. 27. They are his Church his Spouse his adopted Children Inheritors of the Kingdome of Heaven the Family of the First borne Accordingly the Holy Ghost gives names and titles unto those and those only that have interest in Jesus Christ 2. In the second place le ts make inquiry into the nature of this 2. What it is to have Interest in Christ interest in Christ what is it to be Christs Ans It consists in two things viz having Union and Communion with him 1. True believers are Christs by vertue of Union with him 1. True believers have union with Christ Christ is the Vine they are the branches Christ is the head of his body the Church Eph. 5. 23. True believers are in Christ 2 Cor. 5. 17. Christ prayed for them that they may be one Joh. 17. 21. Faith knits us to Christ as an Instrument the spirit of God is the efficient cause of this Union 2. True believers are Christs by vertue of Communion with 2. True believers have communion with Christ him He is the head and hath influence upon his members they participate of the sap and nourishment of the roote a communication of water from the fountaine to the streame 1 Joh. 1. 3. Truely our fellowship is with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ But 3ly What grounds may be given why and how it comes to 3. The Reasons passe that there are such a people who are Christs and have interest in him 1. The first ground shall be drawn from the promises because R. 1. Drawn from the Premises there are a peculiar people who only have right unto the Gospell promises and they only who have interest in Christ have right unto the promises The promises of Eternall life belong only to true Believers Joh. 3. 16 36. These are they that come unto Christ and he hath promised that he will not cast away Joh. 6. 35 37. 2. Another ground shall be drawne from the Donation of God R. 2. From the Fathers donation the Father They have a Kingdome Luk. 12. 32. 3. From Christs Redemption For ye are bought with a price 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. Christ hath purchased his Church with his R. 3. From Christs Redemption blood Act. 20. 28. Zipporah said to Moses a bloody husband hast thou been to me She spake concerning the circumcision much more may Christ say to his Church A bloody Spouse hast thou been unto me for thou hast cost me my blood 4. From the Sanctification of the spirit the Saints are a people R. 4. From the sanctification of the Spirit loved and washed even washed with the lover of regeneration and renewed by the Holy Ghost Tit. 2. 5. And these have the image of Christ stampt on them which after the image of God is created in righteousnesse and holynesse Eph. 4. 24. In he 4th place What are the benefits which those receive that have interest in Christ The 1. Is Justification and this is free as free as the freest gift Rom. 3. 24. 2. It consists in Remission of sinnes Psal 32. 1. 3. In the Imputation of Christs righteousnesse unto us and imputing our sinnes unto Christ 2 Cor. 5. 19 21. And Justification is the mother grace from whence such a rare issue proceeds as peace joy accesse unto the Throne of Grace hope patience Rom. 5. 1 2. c. 2. Those that have interest in Christ have the benefits of Christs intercession at the right hand of God he interceeds for all his Children Heb. 7. 25. Rom. 8. 34. For them Christ prayeth and for them exclusively I pray for them I pray not for the world Joh. 17. 9. 3. They have the benefit of speciall providence the Guardianship of Angells Psal 34. 7. Heb. 1. ult 4. They have a Sanctified use of all the creatures of God 1 Cor. 3. 21 22. All are yours and ye are Christs c. They in joy Christ in the creature and with the creature have Christs love tokens Rom. 8. 32. With him they have all things 5. They shall hereafter reap the benefit of glorification so runs the Climax Whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Rom. 8. 30. 5. Now in the last place what doth all this concern us Ans Much every way as will appeare by the particular Application Applicat of all 1. Here 's an Use of Consolation to those that are Christs Art Vse 1. For Consolation thou in a doubt he is thy Counsellour Isai 9. 6. Art thou in distresses he is thy comforter Art thou tempted Christ was tempted and is able to succour those that are tempted Art thou full of infirmities Christ himselfe had infirmities which were not sinfull and Christ is a compassionate high Priest touched with the feeling of our Infirmities Heb. 4. 15. Art thou reviled censured nay condemned O go to Jesus Christ get assurance of thy interest in him and then claime for thy comfort Rom. 8. 31. If God be for us who can be against us 2. For Exhortation Art thou Christs let thy life give a proofe Vse 2. For Exhortation hereof give up thy selfe unto Christ let him be thy King and Lord to rule and governe thee set up Christ Commander in chiefe in thy soule As the Centurion profest of the ready obedience of his servants so do thou go when Christ bids thee go come when Christ bids thee come give thy selfe wholly to be disposed counselled and governed by Jesus Christ As then we have received the Lord Jesus Christ so let us walk in him 3. Here 's an Use of Triall whether we are Christs or no. Vse 3. For Triall 1. One Character is the new creature as we have it 2 Cor. 5. 17. 2. Another we have Joh. 15. 5. Bringing forth much fruit 3. Another we have 2 Tim. 2. 19. To depart from iniquity 4. Another we have 1 Joh. 3. 3. To be borne againe 5. Another we have in my Text viz Crucifixion of the flesh which brings in the second Doctrine wherein I purpose to stay longer Thus it was propounded 2. That those that have Interest in Christ have crucified the flesh Doct. 2 with the affections and lusts For the unfolding of this point of Doctrine I shall inquire Method 1. What 's meant by flesh 2. What 's meant by affections and lusts of the flesh 3. What 's meant by crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts 4. I shall then give in the proofe of Doctrine And 5. and lastly conclude with particular Application 1. By flesh we are to understand the corruption of the whole Q. 1. What 's meant by flesh Perkins in Loc. nature for the right apprehending hereof I shall distinguish with Judicious Mr.
begotten of the Father full of grace and truth And this is the great mystery of Godlinesse mentioned 1 Tim. 3. 16. And without controversy great is the mistery of godlinesse God was manifest in the flesh justified in the spirit seen of Angells preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the world received up into glory Christ was God from all Eternity Joh. 8. 58. Jesus said unto them Verily verily I say unto you before Abraham was I am There he speaks of his Godhead A further proofe we have Phil. 2. 6. Who being in the forme of God thought it not robbery to be equall with God Compare this with Zech. 13. 7. Awake O sword against my shepheard and against the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of hosts smite the shepheard and the sheep shall be scattered and I will turne mine hand upon the little ones This is love unparrelleld unexpressible 4. Christ himselfe voluntarily undertook this great work of Proposit 4. Christ voluntarily undertook the worke of our Redemption our redemption he laid down his own life freely And because the Godhead could not suffer death he united our nature unto himselfe and took flesh upon him There are two words setting forth his humiliation Phil. 2. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he made himselfe of no reputation c. Joh. 1. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and he dwelt among us c. He took the man hood as if he should unite a clodde of dust unto himselfe who was God from all Eternity As if the Antient of daies should become the infant of daies the Eternall God become a Child As if he that the heaven of heavens could not containe should be inclosed nine months in the wombe of a Virgin Thus it was in respect of his humane nature he was born of Virgin wrapt in swadling cloathes laid in a manger He who had heaven and earth at his command was laid in a manger Herein appeares the singular love of Christ in condescending to take mans nature to take a body that he might accomplish the great work of our redemption by suffering upon the crosse Heb. 10. 5 6 7. Wherefore when he cometh into the world he saith sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not but a body hast thou prepared me In burnt offerings and sacrifice for sinne thou hast had no pleasure Then said I loe I come in the volumne of the book it is written of me to do thy will O God 5. Christ by his active and passive obedience made full compleate Proposit 5. Christ by his obedience hath made full satisfaction and absolute satisfaction to his Fathers Justice for all those that were given him by the Father Rom. 3. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousnesse for the remission of sinnes that are past through the forbearance of God To the same effect the Apostle speaks Eph. 2. 13. But now in Christ Jesus yee who sometimes were farre off are made nigh by the blood of Christ Col. 1. 20. And having made peace through the blood of his Crosse by him to reconcile all things unto himselfe by him I say whether they be things in earth or in heaven Christ gave himselfe a sacrifice to expiate for sinne He trod the winepresse of his Fathers sury By his stripes we are healed who his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his owne body on the tree that we 1 Pet. 2. 24. being dead to sinne should live unto righteousnesse by whose stripes we are healed He is the reconciler Col. 1. 20. The price of our redemption 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 6. 20. For yee are bought with a price Matth. 20. 28. Even as the Son of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister and to give his life a ransome for many See Christ's great end of coming into the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to give his life a ransome for many Christ is the high Priest that entred into the holy of holiest and offered up himselfe a sacrifice Thereby as a surety he paid our debt satisfied his Fathers justice to the utmost Isai 53. 5 11. But he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed He shall see of the travell of his soule and be satisfied by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many for he shall beare their iniquities And this is a thorough satisfaction 2 Cor. 5. 21. For he hath made him to be sinne for us who knew no sinne that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him Tit. 2. 14. Who gave himselfe for us that he might redeeme us from all iniquity and purify unto himselfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes Hereby we are justified Rom. 5. 9. Much more being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him Hereby we are sanctified Rev. 1. 5. And from Jesus Christ who is the faithfull witnesse and the first begotten of the dead and the Prince of the Kings of the earth unto him that loved us and washed us from our sinnes in his owne blood Feare not we are now made nigh Eph. 2. 13. But now in Christ Jesus yee who were farre of are made nigh by the blood of Christ By him we are reconciled Col. 1. 20. And having made peace through the blood of his Crosse by him to reconcile all things unto himselfe by him I say whether they be things in earth or in heaven By Christ we are blessed Gal. 3. 13 14. Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the law being made a Curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree that the blessing of Abraham might come upon us And that Christ doth fully satisfy is evident because he continually interceds for his people and pleads the vertue and benefit of his perfit satisfactionion Heb. 7. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the utmost that come unto God through him seeing he ever liveth make intercession for them And what was the motive that moved him to do all this for his people to be incarnate to live on earth amongst sinners to suffer reproaches contempts and infamies what moved him to drinke that bitter Cup to poure his blood out of his side and become obedient unto the death of the Crosse Nothing moved him but his love his good will his compassion moved him to heale bodily diseases and his compassion love and mercy moved him to heale soule diseases 6. This love of Christ is a distinguishing speciall love for a peculiar Proposit 6. The Love of Christ is a distinguishing Love sort of people He sweat drops of blood in the garden he was afflicted smitten wounded but all this he endured for the transgression of his own people Isai 53. 8. He was taken from prison and from judgment and who
Termes yet in a strict acceptation Suidas makes some difference And ‖ Chrysostome makes Forma de animat is species de Inanimat is dicitur Suidas a greater difference between 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I shall not be over-curious in Criticall Punctilloes For if the Rule amongst Lawyers hold good Vbi lex non distinguit distinguendum non est Much more doth the Rule hold good amongst Divines Vbi Scriptura 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Chrysost in Loc. non distinguit non est distinguendum Now I find the words used in one and the same sense As for Instance Matih 17. 2. It 's said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And was transfigured And Phil. 3. 21. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who shall change or transfigure c. Secondly From the Notation of the name I should come to the thing it selfe but that I must first prepare my way by a distinction having in my eye the Rule observed amongst Logitians Distinguendum est priusquam definiendum Now we are to consider of a two fold Metamorphosis or Transformation one is in substance from one substance to another so Lots wife was changed into a Pillar of salt We read of many fabulous and ridiculous stories in Ovids Metamorphosis not worth the nameing in such a place as this especially But of such a kind of transformation we are not to speak as no way concerning our businesse in hand But there is another Transformation and that is of Faculties and Qualities as when men are changed from darknesse to light from waies of sinne and wickednesse to waies of holinesse When bad men proove good and profane men become holy when Formalists become sincere halfe-Nominall Professors become whole Reall Professors when from a forme there followeth the power of Godlinesse this kind of change is that Transformation mentioned and injoyned in the Text. Hence learned * Homo est formatus per Creationem deformatus per culpam Reformatus per gratiam Conformatus per assimilationem transformatus per contemplationem Reformatus per gloriam Goran in Loc. Gorran gives an observation That a man was formed by Creation deformed by sinne reformed by grace conformed by assimilation unto Christ transformed by Contemplation and to be further reformed in the state of glory So that in the Text Regeneration and transformation which are an effectuall change wrought by the spirit of God are all one And this as Learned †Est mutatio sui à veteri conditione in novam Rol. Rolloc observes is a change of a mans selfe from an old condition into a new And this change is of absolute indispensible necessity Of this change notwithstanding how farre our progresse is we have need as ‖ Semper in hac vitâ quatumcunque etiam profecerimus hac transformatione de reformatione opus est Est in Loc. Eâ—ius observes It 's sufficiently knowne that amongst Philosophers there are reckoned six species of Motion and accordingly there are so many mutations As for Instance there is a change in Generation and Corruption and these are reduced to the Predicament of substance Yet the same man whether alive or dead hath the same integrall parts of leggs armes and thighs c. The carcasse of a man although the spirit be gone was infinite hath those integrall parts they are yet remaining Another change is in Augmentation and Diminution Now to change from lesse sinnes to greater is most abominable and to change from greater to lesser is but a partiall-halfechange altogeather rejected by God Another change is in place when a person removes from one place to another yet he is one and the same man notwithstanding In case of bodily sicknesse and diseases we know by experience that change of ayre remooving from Towne to Towne from one bed to another doth not a whit remoove the disease Likewise in case of soule diseases which are most dangerous change of place doth not produce amendment of life and conversation As for such although their pretences be specious who betake themselves to Cells Cloysters Wildernesses and relinquish humane society yet let them go where they will to the uttermost parts of the earth still they carry with them a body of sinne a corrupt nature in which are sowne all the seeds of rebellion against God Such as pretend out of conscience to seperate from the company of the wicked yet they keep company with one wicked man i. e. every one with himselfe Basil an Eminent Greek Father being much troubled with the incursions of daily corruptions which brake in upon him resolved to remoove from all company and to live holily and retiredly in the wildernesse But upon second thoughts he acknowledged Alas saith he I carried with me my wildernesse sinnes and there I was haunted with my own hearts corruptions The last change I shall mention which only is to my purpose is in Quality and affections and dispositions When sinne and wickednesse are abominated and the way of holinesse is embraced when there is a new frame upon the heart and it 's alter'd from bad to good from sinne to grace this is that Transformation which alone concernes our present discourse This distinction being previously explained the Definition which results from the Premisses is this Definition of Conversion That a true Converted man is one truely changed in Qualities endowed with new dispositions and affections and thoroughly renewed in his mind 2. In the second place in order I am to inquire what 's meant 2. What 's meant by the renewing of the mind by the renovation of the mind The Originall is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysostome expresseth this renewing by a Similitude drawne from an old house where although the same roomes remaine still yet they are adorned beautifi'd and repaired so although the same man and the same faculties remaine yet they are rectified reformed and altered for the better when the old Adam is mortified and the new Adam quickned day by day The nature of man is a Fountaine poysoned but as soon as Christ comes with his grace he heales that fountaine Now by the mind we understand the will and understanding both which are repaired renewed and altered for the better This is properly an after wit which is an Individuall companion of true conversion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a fore-wit was wanting wherefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an after-wit is required 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Proprie significat post factum sapere de errore admisso ita dolere ut corrigas Bez. Matth. 3. 2. especially The Understanding is as it were a Queen Regent in the soule the Commander of an Army as a Pilot to a ship It 's called by Philosophers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for guiding ordering and directing all our affaires But if this understanding be blinded If as our Saviour saith the light that is in thee be darknesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How great is that darknesse The Apostle although he mentions the mind