thing as should bee called God-Man and is really and verily God and man together in one I say this is the greatest wonder that ever was in the world that the Divine and humane Nature should bee joyned together that wee should have a Saviour that is as verily man as God and as verily God as man that those two Natures the Nature of God and the nature of man should come together in one that were so distant before one from another this is a wonder beyond all sense and reason and wee had need have a Prospective-glass of God to bee able to see indeed any thing into it wee can easily beleeve wee think that Christ was God and man every childe can do so when you ask your children what Christ was you teach them that hee was both God and man I but I appeal to you when were your hearts taken with this as the geatest wonder in the world that there should bee ever such a thing as God and man in one and that to be the Savior of mankinde That man that is miserable should look up to God to save him look up to the mercy of God this were not so wonderful but that miserable man must bee saved by one that is God-Man Man and God this is that that except the Spirit of God that searches the deep things of God as you had it before reveal it unto a man it were impossible for man ever to have such a thought as this is and indeed the setting out of this so great a mystery is one great argument that the Scriptures are Divine for it is too high a thing to have entred into the thought of a creature I say too high a thing that ever a creature should have such a thought that the saving of man must bee by Gods being man it cannot bee imagined how such a thought could have come into a creature to bee verily man I say this argues the Scripture to bee from God it is too great a mystery for any creature ever to have imagined or thought of it is that that is the stumbling-block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles but the power and glory of God to those that shall bee saved If God should have put this unto us and said Well I am inclined to do good to you and willing to save you but know your estate is such as you can never bee saved except there bee such a Saviour such a Mediator for you as must bee God and man both why certainly both Angels and Men would have stood amazed at this and have concluded that the estate of Man-kinde is desperate then if so bee that the estate of man that is fallen from God and hath sinned against him bee such as there is no way to deliver one soul from eternal condemnation and eternal wrath but by such a Saviour as must bee both God and man I say All Angels and Men would have even concluded then man must perish for ever but it is God the Wonder-woâ—king God that hath wrought thus for Mankinde which hath sent us such a Saviour as is both God and Man Surely then his Name may bee called Wonderful Christ is wonderful in his Person But Secondly Here is a greater wonder than that God is God and man God and man you will say that may bee hee hath come in the similitude of flesh and hath taken the shape of man some kinde of union there may bee between the Divine and humane Nature but consider this second Wonder hee is not onely God but a second Person in Trinity Consider these two things in the Person of Christ First He is to be looked at not meerly as God but as God the second Person of the Trinity and this is a great wonder in Christian Religion for it was little known before Wee read but little in the Old Testament about the Trinity onely in Christ the Trinity comes to bee known when wee are in streights wee will cry to God that made the heavens and earth to bee a Saviour but for us to know that wee must bee saved by God in the Second Person that is the character and ingraven form of his Image the Son of God and yet so the Son of God as hee is Co-eternal with his Father equal with his Father as the Scripture speaks and so God the Second Person in Trinity as yet hee is of the same Nature that his Father is of the same God and yet the Son of God the consideration of the mystery of the Trinity that appears in Christ is a great wonder above reason that wee may adore it but search into it wee are not able And then the second thing to bee considered in his Person is this That hee is not only God and man but God and man hypostatically united the union of the Natures that these Natures should bee united both in one Person this is the great wonder in Christian Religion There are two principal Wonders in Christian Religion I beseech you consider aright of them The first is divers Persons in one Nature 2 Wonders in Christian Religion The second is divers Natures in one Person These are the two Wonders in Christian Religion First divers Persons in one Nature and that is the wonder of the Trinity for there you have but one Nature the Divine Nature but three Persons Father Son and Holy Ghost and that is a Wonder that the Heathens knew nothing of and was little known till Christ came And the second Wonder in Christian Religion is divers Natures in one Person that is in Christ Christ is God-man but one Person united hypostatically now to search into this that the same Person that is God is man and how the humane nature subsists in the Deity and hath no subsistence at all in its self but in the Deity how this is onely the Scripture reveals it to bee so but how it is I say is too deep a sea for any creature to wade into wee must stand and admire it and adore God in it that hath revealed this as the object of our faith but to bee able to search how such a thing can bee that that union can bee in one person this is that that is a wonder above all admiration Indeed it is one of the most wonderful works that ever God did in the world to unite two such creatures that seemed to bee of such distant Natures as the body of man and the Soul of man in one Person to unite a peece of earth and a peece of flesh to such a glorious thing as a rational immortal soul is the union of these two together in one person is the greatest work for the works of Nature that ever God did in the world David saw his body wonderfully and fearfully made but certainly the union of the body and soul the soul being of the same nature with the Angels that it should bee united with the body to make but one Person this is a
added for decency and order in the Church Answered 72 73 Christ is such a King whose soveraignty is absolute 74 Hee hath power to binde conscience ib Christs Kingly power reaches to mens hearts ib. Christ is wonderful in his Kingly office in this hee hath A perfect knowledge of all his subâ—ects 75 Is present with them in all administrations hee over-rules all the plots and counsels of his enemies hee is the King of righteousness and peace 76 14 Christ is wonderful in his Kingly office other Kings are born to bee Kings but Christ died that hee might bee King 77 15 Christ is a King from everlasting to everlasting 78 16 Hee sits at his Fathers Throne now at this time ib. 17 Christ will not onely subject all enemies but hee will put down all rule and all authority 79 18 Wonderful is Christ in his Kingly office for hee makes all his subjects Kings with him in a spiritual sense 80 Exercise of Faith aright is upon Christ as King 81 Christ wonderful in his Priestâ—y office 83 1 Christs Priesthood joyned with Kingly power ib. 2 All Priests in the Law did typifie Christ and cease in him 3 Hee needed not to offer for himself 4 Christ offered the blood of God 83 5 Christ offered a Sacrifice that was sufficient to satisfie God 84 6 Hee is wonderful in that hee offered himself ib. 7 Christ was not onely a Sacrifice but an Altar 85 8 Christ offered but one sacrifice at one time 86 9 His Priesthood indures for ever 87 Christs Priesthood preferred before Aarons Priesthood 88 89 Christ wonderful in his Prophetical office 90 Hee knows all the mind of God perfectly therefore must bee a wonderful Teacher 91 2 Dulness of understanding weakness of parts cannot hinder his teaching 92 How wee shall know whether Christ teach us 93 3 Christ is wonderful in his Priestly office in that hee is sent to reveal high and supernatural things 94 95 4 These high things are not revealed to the wisest and great ones of the world 96 97 5 Hee reveals these things many times suddenly 98 6 Jesus Christ teaches the heart so hee is wonderful 7 Christ teaches immediately himself 100 8 Christ teaches infallibly so hee is wonderful 101 Christ wonderful in his Miracles 102 In the wonders that hee wrought while hee lived 103 Christ wonderful in his endowments and excellency of his person ib. Fairer than the children of men ib. All the fulness of the God-head in Christ 104 This an Argument to us to take heed of abusing the humane nature of our bodies ib. Christ the brightness of Gods glory 105 Christ hath his excellency by virtue of the personal union 106 Christ wonderful in this that all his personal excellencies depend upon himself 107 Christ becomes worthy of divine honour ib. Christ wonderful in this that hee is an infinite object of the delight of his Father 107 108 109 Christ wonderful in his endowments in this that his excellencies are in him to bee conveyed unto his people 110 This should bee a strong Argument to draw our hearts to Christ 111 Christ is wonderful in regard of the glory of the Father that shines in him 112 113 First The glory of Gods Attributes shines in Christ as for iâ—stance Power 11â— Wisdome ib. Holiness 115 Justice 115. Mercy 116. Truth 117 2 The glory of thâ— great counsel and works of God appears in Christ 118 3 All the good from God in order to Eternal Life is from Christ 119 4 The glory of the Father is wonderful in Christ in this that by him hee attains unto his greatest design in making the world and preserving the world 120 What design ib. 5 All the services and praises of Gods Elect come to him through Christ 121 Christ wonderful in his Humiliation 122 The first wonder in his humiliation is that all the sins of the Elect should bee laid upon Christ 122 A second That hee that was so high should bee brought so low for the sin of man 123 A third Christ is wonderful in his humiliation in that hee suffered in his soul 124 A fourth wonder in Christs humiliation is that hee should suffer so much from his Father 126 A fifth In that God doth not spare him at all but is the executioner himself 127 A sixth wonder of Christs humiliation is that God should leave him 128 A seventh Though Christ sore-saw his suffering yet that hee should willingly undergo it 128 An eighth That this should bee the way of saving men 129 Use of Trial whether Christ bee revealed to us 131 A ninth wonder in Christs humiliation is this that God the Father should bee pleased with all this 132 A tenth is the efficacy of his humiliation is a wonder 133 An eleventh Christs humiliation takes away the venom of all the Saints sufferings ib. A twelfth Christ suffered as a common person ib. A thirteenth another wonder is that by such a way of humiliation Christ entred into his glory 134 A fourteenth Christs humiliation was a most wonderful argument of Gods hatred of sin 135 Christs suffering a pattern of Self-denial ib. Christ wonderful in his Conquests what did hee conquer answered 136 Christ conquered death by dying 137 Christ conquered in his own power ib. Christ conquered as a common person 138 Christ wonderful in his resurrection 139 to 144 Christ wonderful in his ascension 145 And sitting at the righâ— hand of his Father 144 Christ wonderful in his coming to judgement 145 Christ wonderful in his working towards his Saints and in their high esteem of him 146 In Heaven Christ shall bee wondred at for ever 147 Application 1 Christ but little known in the world 150 2 How vile a thing is it to prefer a filthy lust before Christ 151 3 It discovers the misery of mankinde to bee exceeding great 154 4 Hence then all beleevers have exceeding cause of rejoycing in hearing of what Christ is what a wonderful Saviour they have 156 God hath exceedingly honoured Beleevers ib. Jesus Christ a full Object for their souls rest 156 157 God doth intend wonderful things for the Saints 158 to 163 The reason that Christians are so empty in their spirits and conversations is because they know so little of the Mystery of the Gospel 164 Duty of Christians to hold out the wonderful glory of Christ in their conversations 166 If Christ bee wonderful here every one that hears of Christ should think it a dreadful thing to miss of Christ 167 Lastly Let us long for the time when Jesus Christ shall appear in all his glory 168 to the end The First SERMON ON The Nature of God THE last day you may remember wee opened that Point of the condition that men are in that live without a God in the world It is evil to bee without bread without friends without outward comforts how great an evil then to bee without a God in the world and who they were that did live without a God in the
great wonder in the works of Nature But to unite the second Person in Trinity to the nature of man not to the nature of Angels Heb. 2.16 for so the Scripture saith Christ did not take upon him the nature of Angels but the seed of Abraham for if Christ would have been united to another nature one would have thought it should have been to an Angelical nature but to refuse that and take mans nature and unite it in one Person that so it should bee said that that Person that is God the same Person is man Here is the great Wonder in Christian Religion the Personal union of the Natures of Christ and indeed from hence many wonderful things will arise As from hence that same Person that was the Creator of all the world was a creature the same Person I do not say the same Nature this is the wonder in Scripture And hee the same Person that is the Lord of Man-kinde yet is the Son of Man the Son of Man and yet the Lord of Mankind The same Person that is Eternal Immortal yet hee dyed so the Scripture saith They crucified the Lord of glory What can God that is the Lord of glory that made heaven and earth the Eternal God whose Name alone is excellent can hee bee crucified yet that Person that was the Lord of glory whose Name alone is glorious that Person was crucified but suffered in his humane nature whatsoever Christ did suffer in his humane nature it may bee said that that Person that was God did suffer though not the Divine Nature the Divine Nature could not suffer but the same Person that was God as well as man hee did suffer it is the Scripture phrase clearly and I might give you many Texts of Scripture to shew you that that person that was God suffered but that is enough They crucified the Lord of glory 1 Cor. 2.8 But you will say to what great purpose is it for us to understand this that Christ was God and man in one Person is it not enough to understand that hee was God and man what need wee look so much at the union of the two Natures My brethren Know that there is a great deal in this in knowing the union of the two Natures It is of marvellous use unto you for the helping of your faith to know not onely that Christ had those two Natures but the union of those two Natures You will say How may it help our faith Thus because hereby you may see that whatsoever Christ did or suffered though but in his humane nature yet it was of infinite value and efficacy and the infinite value and efficacy of what Christ did and suffered doth arise from the union of the two Natures because it was that Person that was God did such things and suffered such things I remember I my self once knew a very godly man in the time of his sickness was in a great Agony under a very great temptation and at Mid-night sent a mile or two for a Minister and hee comes to him and this was his temptation Fearing hee should dye A temptation of the Devil to a godly man and the Devil came with this temptation Why thy sin doth deserve an infinite punishment thou hast sinned against an infinite God and thou dost deserve eternal death but Christ in whom you have trusted hee being man and suffering onely in his humane nature hee could suffer onely that that was finite and his death was but a few dayes a day or two how can he by suffering that that was but finite by induring a little while pain upon the Cross and by being under death but a day or two how can hee deliver you from an infinite suffering and from eternal death This was the temptation that lay upon him and hee was in a most lamentable agony of spirit upon this temptation but now in his calling to minde this that though Christ in his humane Nature was but finite and that that hee suffered could bee but finite yet because his humane nature was united in one Person unto the Divine Nature hence what the humane nature did suffer though finite came to bee of infinite value and worth and though his death that hee was under was but for a day or two yet it was of merit sufficient to ransome from eternal death because the Person that was God as well as man was under the power of death and by recalling what hee had heard heretofore about Christ being God and man in one Person hee came to bee eased and the Temptation began to vanish and the truth is there is no way that I know of to satisfie ones heart and conscience in the sufficiency of Christs merits but in this that it was the merit of him that was both God and man in one Person It is true those that do not see a necessity of an infinite merit they can easily satisfie themselves and say they beleeve in Christ Jesus that dyed for them I but how canst thou tell that this death of Jesus Christ is of infinite merit to satisfie the infinite Justice of God that requires satisfaction for thy sin Why God hath so appointed it and I hope in God it is so but if thou canst see the ground of this that will bee a marvellous help to thy faith that thou canst look upon thy Mediator as God and man in one Person and therefore thou canst look upon whatsoever hee hath done or suffered as of infinite value and so thou canst present it with boldness unto God The right understanding of Christ thus will help us to honour Christ much and will make him to bee a further object of our faith Thus Christ is wonderful in his Person in his Person as relating to God the Father the second Person in Trinity So in his Person that is his humane and Divine Nature united into one Person Christ Wonderful in the manner of his Incarnation Thirdly Well may hee have this Title of Wonderful seeing hee is such a one as hee is thus opened unto you But thirdly Christ his Name is wonderful hee is wonderful in the manner of his Incarnation Christ hee is God and man but how came Christ to take mans nature upon him it was a wonderful and a strange kinde of way that the second Person in Trinity came to take our nature upon him it was by being conceived by the Holy Ghost by being born of a Virgin Christ was man and came from man but not by man the way of Christs generation it is wonderful Oh who can declare it Wee ordinarily can say â—sa 53.8 wee do beleeve that Christ was born of a Virgin born of the Virgin Mary who cannot repeat his Creed but I appeal to you when were your hearts ever taken with the wonderful work of God in the Incarnation of Christ that way of being born of a Virgin God faith that hee will do a great and marvellous thing Isa
is to see him that hath all excellency in him and to see all the good there is in God as the good of the soul The soul is capable of the understanding of the minde of God to have all the glorious Counsels of God about his works and wayes that hee hath had from all eternity to bee revealed unto so far as concerns it and as any way may make it happy To live to see what the wayes of God have been from all eternity and what they shall bee to all eternity and that for the good of this soul that it may bee for ever in his presence and to stand and look upon his face and see him as the portion of it Oh this must needs bee a glorious thing Certainly if the presence of God put such a glory upon the heavens it must needs put abundance of glory upon the soul that shall stand immediately alwayes in his presence To have eternal communion with God that is to have the imbracements of God imbracing the soul and delighting himself in it above all other his works but onely the Angels and his Son delighting I say himself in the soul and imbracing it communicating and letting out himself in all his lustre and glory when hee shall have inlarged the soul to bee able to the uttermost to receive in that glory that hee hath to communicate And for him to converse with the souls of men to all eternity in a familiar way as one friend with another and for the soul to bee letting out its self again to God for that is in communion there is Gods letting out himself to it and its letting out its self again to God now I say it is the greatest delight to what God hath in himself his Son and Spirit and Angels the letting out of himself to the souls of men those that shall bee saved And on the other side it must needs bee an infinite delight to the soul alwayes to bee letting out it self upon God as now what delight do men take in eating and drinking now if there bee such delight from the humour in the palat meeting with a peece of meat in the mouth because of the suitableness between one object and another Oh what delight must there needs bee when this immortal precious soul being inlarged to the uttermost with all excâ—â—â—ency shall then meet with an infinite God the infinite first-being of all things as the most suitable object to it and so bee letting of its self forth to God and God letting of himself forth to it again Again the good that the soul is capable of with God it is to have an union with God for the soul to be made one with God to be united so as to be made one with him Hee that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit saith the Apostle and saith Christ in Joh. 17. Father I will that those that thou hast given mee may bee one with mee as thou and I are one Spiritual things do most unite one to another there may bee a thousand beams of the Sun united and almost into one point because it is of a more spiritual nature so when the soul shall bee made one Spirit with God it being a Spirit and God likewise a Spirit there will bee an exact union one with another And so the more spiritual things are the more they communicate one to another as in nature the more corporeal a thing is the less it communicates its self the earth doth not communicate its self with any creature the water communicates its self more than that and the air more than that and the fire more than that the Sun that is less corporeal than any of these elements that wee have here and therefore that communicates its self more than the element doth Now God being a Spirit and the souls of men spiritual Oh what a communion will there bee of each to other And then further the soul is capable of fruition of God union and communion and fruition what is that you will say that is to have God not onely to bee united to it but to have a kind of possession of him to have the use of all that there is in God that can make mee happy to have the full use of it when I will then a man doth injoy a thing when hee can have the use of such a thing when hee will Now the souls of the Saints shall enjoy God that is shall have the use of all that glory and good there is in God that can make them happy when they will shall have as much use of God as they will surely they must needs bee happy that shall thus enjoy God If a man had the fruition of the world that hee could have the use of all the good things in the world when hee would you would think him happy but this is the happiness of the souls of the Saints that they shall have such a fruition of God that they shall have all the use of God that they will and when they wâ—ll And further Fruition hath this in it it hath a reflect act A man though hee hath a great deal of riches given him yet if hee doth not know this or if so bee that hee doth know it and yet have not the comfort of it hee doth not enjoy it such a man though hee bee born to a great deal yet if hee have not the reflect act to know that hee hath it hee doth not enjoy it So wee enjoy but little of God now because God though hee bee the portion of a gracious heart yet the heart doth not know this fully But knowledge when it shall bee perfect then the soul shall perfectly know what good there is in God and how far my soul may and is happy in the enjoyment of this God I shall know how to make use of God to the full and shall have continually the comfort of all that good there is in God And yet further the presence and communion with Jesus Christ that the soul shall have besides that of God the Father it shall bee with him where hee is It is a blessed thing here to follow the Lamb whithersoever hee goes but to bee alwaies with him to have alwaies fruition of him and to have communion likewise with all the Saints and Angels and all the blessed spirits that is a blessed thing indeed I remember I have read of Cato when hee was about to dye Oh blessed day saith hee for now I shall go to the souls of wise men and Philosophers and so upon that ground he did account the day of his death a blessed day because hee should go to have communion with the souls of Philosophers and wise men But how blessed is it then for our souls to have communion eternally with Angels and blessed spirits You are come to an innumerable company of Angels Heb. 12.22 23 and the spirits of just men made perfect When a soul is converted it
Gospel-Revelation IN THREE TREATISES Viz 1 The Nature of God 2 The Excellencies of Christ And 3 The Excellency of Mans Immortal Soul By JEREMIAH BURROUGHS late Preacher of the Gospel at Stepney and Giles-Cripple-gate London Published by William Greenhill William Bridge Philip Nye John Yates Matthew Mead. William Adderly Let them praise the Name of the Lord for his Name alone is Excellent Psal 148.13 My Beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest of ten thousand Cant. 5.10 Fear not them which kill the Body but are not able to kill the Soul Matth. 10.28 LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Angel in Cornhill and Thomas Parkhurst at the three Crowns over against the Great Conduit at the lower end of Cheapside 1660. Burroughs Gospel-Revelation A Testimony to the world concerning these Three Treatises contained in this Book of Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs Reader THese may assure thee that whatever thou findest here spoken either of God of Christ or the Soul was taken from the mouth of that Reverend Author Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs as hee preached them and by the same ready hand that took most of the former Treatises as Gospel-worship Contentment c. Now in Print William Bridge William Greenhill Philip Nye John Yates Matthew Mead. William Adderly THere is now published that much-desired Discourse of Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs on the fifth of Matthew being many Sermons preached at Cripple-gate upon all the Beatitudes taken by the same ready hand and published by the same Testimony viz. VVilliam Bridge VVil. Greenhill Philip Nye John Yates Matthew Mead. VVil. Adderly To the Reader THou art here presented with the living Sermons of one who is faln asleep in Jesus whose memory is sweet and fragrant unto the Saints Hee was famous for the Work of God and Christ in his Generation and Instrumental for the begetting of many spiritual Children unto the Lord Jesus The Author of these Sermons Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs like Abel being dead yet speaketh And of that which is not only our Duty to hear but our Priviledge to be made acquainted with for he Treats of God of Christ and Mans Soul three choice subjects Knowledge is Pleasant Prov. 2.20 but none more pleasant than that is Divine The knowledge of the holy God is Vnderstanding Pro. 9.10 the knowledge of Christ is Excellent Phil. 3.8 the knowledge of both is Life eternal John 17.3 And for the Soul it is that piece of Immortality which is of greater value than the whole world Mat. 16.26 It is that which God challengeth to be his Ezek 18.4 and that which the Lord Christ accounted not his precious blood too much to give for 1 Pet. 1.18 19. I shall not hold thee longer from the Work it self But desire the blessing of God to go along with it and those that are exercised in it R. W. The CONTENTS of the Treatise Of the NATVRE of GOD. NAme of God what meant by it p. 2 A gracious heart pâ—aises God for himself p. 3 And loves God for himself p. 4 Which is the difference between sanctifying and Common Grace ib. God is a most excellent Beeing above all things p. 5 Impossible it is to set forth the excellency of Gods Beeing ib. 1 God is and there is none else besides him p. 6 Other beeings are but a shadow to Gods Beeing ib. 2 God is a present Beeing p. 7 This Beeing of God is in all places God is in all places p. 8 3 God is as much beyond every place as hee is in every place p. 9 4 God is a Beeing that is all-sufficient in himself 5 All the excellencies in the creature are in God virtually and eminently p. 10 11 6 All the scattered excellencies in the creatures are united into one excellency in him p. 13 7 All possible good and excellency is in God p. 14 8 All good and excellency in God is eternal in him p. 15 9 And not onely eternally but also immutably ib. 10 All these are essentially in God p. 16 11 All excellencies are in God purely and unmixtly God hath nothing but excellency in him 12 All excellencies are in God originally p. 20 13 God is the fountain of all excellency to all creatures ib. 14 All things depend upon him ib. 15 God alone is excellent in his operation hee doth whatsoever hee will in Heaven and Earth p. 21 Hee doth the greatest things as easily as hee doth the least ib. What is done in time was decreed to bee done from eternity p. 22 Act of Gods will that was from eternity is matter enough to work by ib. All Gods works add nothing to God p. 23 16 God alone is excellent in the manner of communication of himself ib. God can let out as much of himself as hee will to any creature ib. God hath never the less for what hee lets out to the creature p. 23 17 There is no comparison to bee made between God and any thing else p. 24 18 God hee is the highest end of all things p. 25 Use What cause wee have to bee ashamed of those low thoughts wee have had of God p. 27 2 It shews the dreadful evil that is in sin it being against such an infinite God p. 28 29 30 3 Wee see cause to bee vile in our own eyes p. 34 4 Hence wee may learn to know the vanity of the creature p. 36 5 Let us labour to know God to search into his excellency p. 39 6 Wee are taught from hence to labour to keep the sense of the infinite distance there is between God and the creature alwaies in our hearts p. 40 Grace doth cause this the heart hath a kinde of infiniteness towards God p. 41 7 If God bee so excellent then Gods people are the most excellent ones p. 43 8 See what caâ—se wee have to fear this great God from p. 45 to the end THE CONTENTS OF THE EXCELLENCY of CHRIST COherence of the words 49 50 Clearest Prophecies of Christ when the Church was in the greatest distress 50 Four Reasons of it 50 51 Five notable and famous Titles of Christ 52 Doct. Christ is the great wonder of the world proved 52 53 54 Thirteen things in and concerning Christ that are wonderful 55 1 Hee is wonderful in his Natures God and Man 56 57 58 2 Wonderful in his Natures 59 Two wonders in Christian Religion 59 The Lord of man-kinde the Son of man 60 The knowledge of the union of the two Natures how a help to Faith 61 3 Christ is wonderful in the manner of his Incarnation 63 4 Christ is wonderful in his works 65 What the work was Christ came about ib. Use of it 67 Christ wonderful in his Offices hee was the Anointed 69 71. Wonderful in his Kingly Office 69 Hee is King over all Kings 71. His power is universal ib. Hee makes his subjects his subjects do not make him ib. Subjects of this King are for him 70 It is this King alone that makes Laws ib. Quâ—st Can there bee no Laws
cause faith in the soul Christ is not onely an object for us to work upon when wee have a faculty but such an object as being set before the soul hath a quickning power to cause life therefore we cannot say why should Jesus Christ bee preached to a company of people as are dead in sins I Christ indeed is a glorious object But they must have somewhat to work upon Christ Wee must not say so for Christ is not onely an object for the soul to work upon when it hath an eye to see but such an object as the very setting of it before the soul hath a quicking power to work life in the soul to cause an eye to see him and to cause the heart to make after him though it was never so dead before And it should bee the work of Ministerâ— to set Jesus Christ before the hearts of people before their eyes continually and though it may bee there comes nothing of it this time I but try it again and though nothing comes of it the other time but they passe all lightly by and little regard the glory of God that appears in Jesus Christ yet hee is to bee set before them again and again who knows when the quickning power and life may come from Christ Now this is the scope of the setting Christ thus before you This day I have endeavoured to set him but a little before you in the opening this Title of his Let this bee the Use of it Oh when you go home go and meditate of what hath been said and labour when you are before God which is the time for the exercising of your faith upon Christ Labour to set Jesus Christ before your eyes and look upon him as the great Wonder of the World and never leave meditating until you finde your heart come to this to admire at the Glory of God in Jesus Christ If ever your hearts were taken with admiration at any thing in the World Oh let them bee taken up with the admiration of Jesus Christ this may confidently bee concluded upon that that Soul that â—eâ—â—r found its self taken with admiring of the Glory of God in Christ did never know what Christ meant for Christ is such a kinde of Saviour that if God do propound Christ to the Soul in any measure it is impossible but that the heart must bee taken with him There is a Saviour sent into the World hee that is the Object of my faith and by him my Soul shall bee saved Now the first work of the heart is for to think this is too good to bee true do not therefore think that you must bee onely saved by Jesus Christ but know what manner of Saviour it is it s hee whose Name is Wonderful The Second SERMON ON The Excellency of Christ Isaiah 9.6 And his Name shall bee called Wonderful Christ Wonderful in his Offices CHrist further is the Wonder of the World in his Offices In his Natures In his Person In the manner of his Incarnation In the end why hee was sent hither And in his Offices in his Anointment as hee was Christ Christ signifies the Anointed of God and is all one with the Messias that that was the Messias in the Old Testament is Christ in the New The word signifies Anointed And Christ is the Anointed of the Father Anointed to those three great Offices King Priest and Prophet Great in all these three Offices never any man in the world had them all before I say never man in the world was Anointed to these three together but onely Christ Wee read in Scripture of a King and Priest so Melchisedeck was wee read in Scripture of a King and a Prophet and so David was wee read in Scripture of a Prophet and a Priest so Jeremiah was but of King Priest and Prophet together anointed by God wee read of none but Jesus Christ onely Among the Egyptians they were wont out of their Philosophers their wise men to choose their Priests and out of their Priests to choose their Kings and so whosoever was a King to them was eminent first in wisdome being a Philosopher able to teach and eminent in his Priestly office and then eminent in his power that hee might bee honoured by all people as having those threefold eminencies that was accounted the greatest eminency in the world for those were the three great eminencies the eminency of wisdome to teach and of Priesthood and of Kingly power Now Jesus Christ hee was wonderful in all these now that is the thing that I aim at to shew in every particular of these Offices of Christ how wonderful hee was and then though but briefly I shall set the beauty and excellency of Christ in his three Offices before you and that shall bee all that I intend to do at this time and shall but bee very brief in them too For I told you in the opening of the Excellency of God I did not intend to stand to open every particular Attribute at large but onely to set the Excellency of God before you briefly so of Christ The Kingly Office of Christ Now for these Offices of Christ his Kingly Office first Christ is King and wonderful in this Office of his for you cannot understand Christ your Saviour aright except you understand him as before in his Natures in his Personal union and so in his Offices First As King I shall not need to shew Scripture for these the Scripture is full If you read the 45. Psalm at your leasure about the middle of it Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever the Scepter of thy Kingdome is a right Scepter And Rev. 17.14 Christ there is said to bee Lord of Lords and King of Kings Now Christ is a glorious King and wonderful in his Kingly power First Hee is King over all over all Kings over all Powers hee hath the highest Authority of all Take that for the first thing In Rev. 9 hee is said to bee King of Kings and Lord of Lords I remember Theodotius and another Emperour did use to call themselves the Vassals of Christ and so certainly all the Kings and Princes in the world they are but the Vassals of this great King Now hee is wonderful in his Kingly power that hath all the Kings and Lords and all Authority in the world under his feet indeed they all hold on him and that will appear from the second place 2 As his power is the highest so it is universal universal over all the world the Government of all the world is committed to him 1 Cor. 15.27 All things are put under his feet God the Father hath given unto him the Government of all the world hee is not onely the King of the Saints though hee bee their King in a special manner but hee is the King of Nations too Christ hee is the King of Nations God-Man I say the government of all the world is given to him all the Nations of the World
shall be sure never to have any oppression any wrong at all done by them but they shall enjoy all in a righteous and just way Jesus Christ is such a King thou shalt have nothing but righteous dealings from him I but there is something more in this he is not only righteous because he makes righteous Lawes and hath righteous Administrations but this is a King that brings everlasting righteousnesse to his people yeâ— he himself is the righteousnesse of his people it is hee that doth cloath his people with righteousnesse Indeed it is said of Saul that hee cloathed the people with Scarlet By a good Governour people may come to be cloathed with fine raiment and enjoy glorious prosperity and the like But this is that King that cloathes his people with everlasting righteousnesse to make them all to stand righteous before his Father here is the glory of this King And then hee brings peace he brings peace by righteousnesse hee doth not bring peace to them by the sword but by his righteous Administrations so he comes and brings peace brings peace to the conscience to the soul which no Kings can doe What can Kings doe they may treat about peace and if they be righteous they may be the cause of abundance of outward peace I but they cannot bring peace of soul Christ is the King of Righteousnesse and the King of Salem so Melchisedeck signifies hee was King of Righteousness and King of Salem that is King of peace this is the glory of this our King 14 And further other Kings are born to bee Kings but Christ dyed that hee might bee a King it is true hee was a King when hee was born and hee was born as others are to be a King but especially Christ had his power upon his death it behooved him to suffer and so to enter into his glory so to enter into his glory that is upon his sufferings it behooved him and so the Apostle tells the Jewes in the second of the Acts that they had crucified Christ and upon their crucifying of him Peter there stands up and tells them in the six and thirtieth verse that God had made that same Jesus whom they had crucified both Lord and Christ by his death he came unto his glory Others come to glory by their Lives but Christ comes to his glory by his Death and was raised to sit upon the Throne of Majesty and glory upon his death and in that hee is wonderful in his Kingly power 15 Further Christ is King from everlasting to everlasting for ever Thy throne O Lord endures for ever and ever other Kings are but of yesterday and they are dead and gone but it is not so with our King the Lord is King for ever 16 Further he is wonderful in this he sits upon his Fathers Throne now at this time You have such a place in the third of the Revelations vers 21. where Christ promises to those that over-come that they shall sit upon his throne even as he over-came and is set down with his Father in his throne The administration of all things in the World now I say it is given to Christ joyntly with his Father Jesus Christ God-Man sits upon the Throne of his Father not only the second Person in Trinity but Christ God-Man sits upon the Throne of his Father together with his Father doth order and govern all things here is a height of glory that no creature else can bee capable of the Humane Nature of Christ being joyned in one Person with the Divine so it comes to have of the glory of this Kingly power upon it that it may bee said That Person that is Man doth now at this time sit upon the Throne of his Father and together with his Father doth administer his power so that the Apostle speaks of a subjection of Christ that shall be afterwards unto the Father more than is now 1 Cor. 15.25 26 27 28. in 1 Cor. 15.25 it is a text certainly that hath a great mystery in it and is very hard to understand For hee must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death for he hath put all things under his feet but when he saith all things are put under him it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things under him And when all things shall be subdued unto him then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him that God may be all in all When all things shall be subdued unto him then the Son himself shall bee subject It seems there is not that subjection now as shall be hereafter Christ now sits upon the Throne of his Father and rules together with his Father but there is a time that Christ shall give up the Kingdome that now hee hath and hee himself shall bee subject that is hee when hee hath subdued all the enemies of the Church hee shall in a visible and a more glorious way rule over his own Saints and that eternally and then hee to together with his Saints he as the head of his Saints shall in another way bee subject unto God than now hee is for the present there shall bee another administration of things than now there is now Christ sits upon the Throne oF his Father here Christ makes his Throne his Fathers Throne distinct so that there is yet to come another kinde of Throne that Christ hath besides the Throne that now hee sits upon but this I say is a great mystery onely the Scripture holds forth such a thing as this that hereafter Christ shall have another Throne than that hee hath now 17 Yea Wonderful in this that hee will not onely subject all enemies in the conclusion but hee will put down all Rule and all Authority and Power It is a very notable Text often read but little observed 1 Cor. 15.24 Then cometh the end when hee shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God even the Father when he shall have put down all Rule and all Authority and Power Though as our condition is for the present we have a great deal of need of humane Rule and Authority yet that is certain that there hath not been any such enmity unto the Kingdome of Christ as the Rulers and Kings and Princes of the earth for the greater part I say Christ hath had no men that have more kept-under his Kingdome than the Rulers great ones and Princes of the earth therefore it seems his Kingdome cannot bee full till hee hath put down all Rule and Power and hee himself to reign wholly without any such help of man as now But now in regard of our necessity it is true If all Rule and Authority should bee put down while wee are in such a condition as wee are for the present certainly wee should bee all in a confusion therefore though Christ sees that so many of the
you see the excellency of Christ in being the character of the Father and having the Divine Attributes in him in another manner than any creature in the world could have that is a meer creature 2 And then further this personal excellency of Christ will appear when wee consider how Christ comes to have those excellencies that hee hath them all by vertue of the personal union The humane Nature alone it is but a creature if you take it distinct But now this humane nature is filled with all excellency from the Father and indeed the Father is the fountain of all firstly these excellencies that Christ hath they come from the personal union immediately now God unto other creatures gives them as it were of bounty out of himself hee doth confer from himself hee puts forth an act of power for the bestowing of such and such excellencies upon such creatures but when the humane nature of Christ was to bee filled with such excellencies it is by taking of the humane nature of Christ into himself as wee say concerning sight Philosophers have a dispute whether it bee by taking in the species or by sending out something from the eye This may a little resemble this great mystery there are some things that God bestows by sending out from himself other excellencies hee bestows by taking in to himself Now all other creatures Angels and men but onely the humane nature of Christ have all the excellency that they have by Gods sending out from himself but now all the indowments of Jesus Christ and all his excellencies hee hath them all from God taking of him into himself that is in a pesonal union not taking him into communion with himself as his Saints but taking him into a personal union and so comes to have all excellencies in another manner than any other creature can possibly have Thirdly Christ is wonderful take him God and man in this That all his personal excellencies that hee hath depend upon himself hee is Independent the excellency that Christs humane nature hath it is I say Independent in this that is it depends upon his person there is no dependence of the excellency that Christ hath but upon the very person of Christ himself all depends upon him for hee saith of himself That hee hath life in himself so you have it in Joh. 5. Joh. 5.27 it is spoken concerning Christs excellency there For as the Father hath life in himself so hath hee given to the Son to have life in himself Indeed the Son is from the Father by an eternal generation but now though hee bee firstly from the Father yet now the Son hath life in himself yea and eternally hee had life in himself and so what excellency the humane nature hath it doth depend upon its own person which is a higher and a more glorious way of having excellency than it is possible for any thing else to have 4 And then in the fourth place hence Christ even God man hee comes to bee worthy of Divine honour Divine honour is due to Jesus Christ that is God-man there is no creature can partake of Divine honour by coming never so near to God but onely the humane nature of Christ being personally united Let a childe of God a Saint bee never so holy because hee comes to partake of so much excellency of holiness hee is not therefore to partake of Divine honour nor an Angel but now Christ God and man the very humane nature joyned with the Divine in one personal union comes to share in the Divine honour that is due to him both God and man and it is a wonderful Work of God to bring that that is in its self but a creature to come to have a share in Divine honour 5 And then Christ is wonderful in this that hence hee is an infinite object of the Delight of his Father not onely as hee is eternally begotten of the Father but as hee is both God and man Matth. 3.17 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased I am pleased fully in him Jesus Christ is an object even adequate to the very heart of God the Father Oh how should wee take content in him certainly if hee bee so excellent as hee is as to give full satisfaction to God the Father then hee may very well give full satisfaction to your souls Yea and God the Father manifests his satisfaction so fully in him that hee hath made him to bee heir of all things Heb. 1.2 and therefore hee is said to bee the beginning of all things all do subsist by him Yea and further there is that satisfaction that the Father hath in him that God the Father did make all things for his sake I say all things in the world are made for the sake of Jesus Christ Angels are made for his sake and this world and seas all the work that ever God did or will do to all eternity it was for the sake of Jesus Christ that God the Father might honour himself in Jesus Christ that Text is very full for that and wee need no more in Col. 1.16 All things were created by him and for him So that God hath a higher end in creating the world than you think for God did not onely create that hee might manifest that hee was a mighty God and merciful and bountiful and the like but God had a higher end when hee made the world it was to advance his Son when hee made the Angels God would never have made them but for the honour of his Son Oh what infinite cause have wee to honour Jesus Christ Oh how happy are they that live to the honour of Jesus Christ by whom God may have glory beyond a natural way did you consider this that you were made for the honour of Jesus Christ and the honour that God the Father would have from you is this that you should live to the honour of his Son and all other honour that you give unto God except it bee in order to his Son it is not accepted I say whatsoever honour any man or woman doth endeavour to give to God is not accepted of him but in relation to the honour of Jesus Christ therefore if you look at God in a meer natural way and honour and worship him never so much as the heathens did all this would not do but now that honour that God hath in reference to his Son when a poor sinner is sensible of the breach that sin hath made between him and the infinite God and comes to see Jesus Christ and seeks to advance Jesus Christ by faith I saith God here is the honour that I would have And therefore when all the elect ones that were given to Jesus Christ to redeem when they are all converted and brought to Jesus Christ the world will fall about our ears why because saith God I have the end that I made the world for and now I have brought in all
that do belong to my Son and all those works by which my Son will come to have his honor eternally are done let there be an end of the world and the end of the world is like to be the sooner now because that we see God is doing so much for the setting up of Jesus Christ in this latter age as when a mans time is almost at an end for his work then hee doth work more speedily than hee did before now saith God I have made the world for the honour of my Son but yet to this day how little honour hath my Son had from the world and there is a time saith God that I will manifest to all the world that I did make it for Jesus Christ hee did not make it for a company of Tyrants to do what they would in nor for a company of prophane people to eat and drink and follow their lusts in but the end at which God aimed at in making the world saith hee I will set up my Son in the world and all the works that ever have been done in the world shall at length come in to conduce to the honour of my Son And this shall bee the great work that shall bee done at the Day of Judgement hee will shew to all the world how all those works that did seem to go most against Jesus Christ how they were brought about for the honour of Jesus Christ Oh blessed are those souls that come to see that all things were made for the honour of Jesus Christ and so give glory to him accordingly Thus you see what a wonderful Saviour wee have that God hath made all things for him Surely our Saviour is glorious and wonderfull 6 There is one thing more hee is wonderful in his Indowments and Excellencies in this that his Excellencies are in him to bee conveyed to his people Joh. 1.16 Out of his fulness do all we receive and grace for grace Out of the fulness of all Excellency that is put into him The Saints of God and elect ones they draw all the excellency they have here or shall have to all eternity For you must know this Though the Divine Nature bee the fountain of all Excellency yet it is not to bee conveyed but onely through Jesus Christ this is the great mystery of godliness and this is the wonder in the Gospel that is so much above nature that though God bee the fountain of all in himself yet hee hath determined that this goodness of his shall bee first let out to his Son and so shall bee conveyed through him to the Saints so that all the gifts and graces wee have wee must not look upon them onely as coming from â—od the Creator of all things but as coming from God through him that is God and man in this mystical way therefore if you say you look at God and beleeve in Gods mercy without understanding the way of Gods communicating himself you may utterly mistake it must bee in Christ that wee must receive grace for grace Now that there should bee such a thing revealed that God should say I will set up my Son the second Person in Trinity to take your nature and to bee God and man and hee shall bee as a Conduit to bee filled with all things whatsoever and you shall have as it were your pipes joyned to him and through him you shall come to partake of what good I intend for you This is the wonder of the world And hence it is that Christ is compared to all things that have any excellency in them Is there an excellency in light Christ is called a Joh. 1.9 Light Christ is called b Mat. 13.46 Pearl and c Rev. 3.18 Gold and Rayment and the d Psal 84.11 Sun and e Joh. 7.38 Living water any thing that hath any excellency in it f Joh. 6.50 Bread g Isa 15.1 Wine Milk whatsoever in the creature hath any excellency in it Christ is called by that Name to shew that all Excellencies are in him as one As I told you that Gods Excellency was such an excellency as the very quintessence of all excellencies was united in one in him so Christ hath the quintessence of all excellencies in him and in him as in a conduit to bee conveyed to all that God intends eternal good unto Oh what a Saviour have wee my Brethren now mee thinks this should bee a very strong argument to draw your hearts to Jesus Christ or at least to say as Philip said Let us see but Jesus Christ this wonder of the world and wee will never wonder at any thing more in the world Oh let us understand what Jesus Christ our Saviour is here you may see what a full object of your faith Jesus Christ is and how you may venture your souls upon him and your eternal estates here is enough to draw faith and incourage faith and inlarge faith and oh that God would bee pleased by presenting what Christ is to work faith in some soul that hath not had it before but now where faith is before this look beyond your own worth and your own inlargements And thus in these things you see how wonderful Christ is There remains two things more The Fourth SERMON ON The Excellency of Christ Isaiah 9.6 And his Name shall bee called Wonderful Christ is Wonderful in regard of the glory of the Father that shines in him WEE proceed The Name of Christ is Wonderful in regard of the wonderful glory of the Father that shines in him It is in Jesus Christ that God reveals himself and appears both to men and Angels It is true somewhat wee might know of the invisible things of God by the things that are seen as the Apostle speaks in Rom. 1.20 by his great Works of Creation and Providence but there is as much difference between the Glory of God that shines in all his Works of Creation and Providence and the Glory of God that shines in the face of Christ as between the glittering of a Glow-worm in a dark night and the glory of the Sun in the full strength of it Now onely take this along with you that God expects that those that do see his glory in Christ should glorifie him in another manner than those that see his glory onely shining in the Works of Creation and Providence that as there is much difference between the shining of the Sun in its full strength and a Glow-worm even so there should bee as much difference between beleevers glorifying God and heathens as there is between the Glow-worm and the glory of the Sun you should not satisfie your self except you finde that there is some such proportionable difference for certainly if you have seen God in Christ you have seen him wonderfully indeed therefore in 2 Cor. 3.18 saith the Apostle But wee all with open face bebolding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image
from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. This Scripture hath very much in it hee speaks of the Gospel and compares that to a Glass wherein the glory of God shines so as wee may behold it with open face and so behold it as that we are changed into the very same image of it from glory to glory from one degree unto another Wee may behold the glory of God in the glass of the creature and never bee changed into the same image but when wee behold the glory of God in the glass of the Gospel wee then come to bee changed into the same Image and still to bee changed more and more and with open face wee do behold it And in chap. 4. vers 6. For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined into our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ Mark it hee is the knowledge of God the light of the knowledge of God and the light of the knowledge of the glory of God and all this is in the face of Jesus Christ in the face of the creature there may bee the knowledge of God but the light of the knowledge of the glory of God this is in the face of Jesus Christ Hee that hath seen mee hath seen the Father saith Christ to Philip It was a maxim among the Fathers in the time of the Law that no man could see God and live God was so glorious that they thought that hee could not bee seen but it would overwhelm any creature that was in the flesh that should see him but now mark in that Prophecy that wee have of the times of the Gospel in Isa 40.3 There is a Prophecie of Christ that is apparent The voice of him that cryeth in the wilderness prepare yee the way of the Lord which is in express words applied to John the Baptist the forerunner of Christ And in the very same words make streight in the Desart a high way for our God every valley shall bee exalted and every mountain shall bee made low and the crooked shall bee made streight and the rough places plain Then it follows in the fift verse And the glory of the Lord shall bee revealed and all flesh shall see it together before no man could see God and live Flesh was not able to behold God but now when the Word was made Flesh when the times of the Gospel came wherein God would make himself appear through his Son more clearly and fully now all Flesh shall see it shall see the glory of the Lord now the glory of God appears wonderfully in Christ in these four or five particulars The Power of God appears in Christ First The glory of Gods Attributes do shine more brightly in the face of Christ than any other wayes As for instance The power of God appears infinitely more in Christ than in making heaven and earth for God to unite God and man together in one Person is a greater work than making heaven and earth there is more power of God put forth in the hypostatical union of the Natures of Christ besides all the power of God that appears in the great Works that Christ did do and in carrying Christ through all those great Works that hee was carried through than in making of heaven and earth There is more power of God appears in the conversion of one soul to Christ than in making heaven and earth Then what power of God appears in Christ himself And the wisdome of God appears more in Christ than in the creation of heaven and earth The Wisdome of God appears in Christ Now for God to finde out such a glorious way of Reconciliation as hee hath found out in his Son in this the wisdome of God is more glorious than in all his works infinitely the glory of Gods wisdome in other things is darkned in comparison of his wisdome in this If God had put it to Angels to finde out a way of Reconciliation they could never have guest at such a way as this is that wee should bee reconciled in Christ here is the glory of wisdome There likewise doth appear the glory of Gods holiness more in Christ than in any other way it is true The Holiness of God appears in Christ the Law is a glass of Gods holiness and those that cast reproach upon the Law they spit in the very face of Gods holiness I but that is no such glass as Jesus Christ is there wee see the holiness of God in another manner than wee can do it in the holy Law that God hath made God never shewed his hatred of sin so much as hee did in Christ and it cannot bee devised by all Angels and men how it were possible to have such an Argument to manifest the hatred of sin so as it is manifested in Christ that God should deal so with his Son as hee hath done for the sin of man I say if an infinite Wisdome should set it self on work never so much to finde out an Argument to manifest the hatred of sin there could not bee a greater Argument So that when God sent his Son into the world to dye for mans sin hee did as it were say I have many wayes to manifest my holiness to the children of men how infinitely I do hate sin but here is a way that it shall appear to the uttermost they shall see it in my dealing with my Son certainly in Christ Gods wisdome hath found out an Argument to make us all to bee convinced of the infinite holiness of God that God hates sin more than hell its self and that wee should do so too Again the Justice of God appears in Christ more than in any thing else It appears not so much in all the torments of the damned as in Gods dealings with Christ The Justice of God appears in Christ in that hee required such satisfaction from him as hee did when as wee hear of the dreadful curses of the Law and of the torments that are in hell wee may thereby be put in minde of an infinite Justice Oh how righteous is God in his wayes there and his Justice seems to bee wonderful unto us But when you behold in this red glass of the blood of Christ Gods Justice it is a great deal more glorious here than in all the damned in hell If God should grant to any of you to stand upon the very brink of hell and there to look into the pit and see all the torments and tortures there and hear all the cries there then you think your hearts would bee affected with the Justice of God to fear it I but when God makes himself known to you in Christ when you hear of the sufferings of Christ for sin God would have you to bee more affected with his Justice and to fear it more than if you saw all the Torments of hell
seek them out and so sometimes it is with the soul when it hath lost its evidences for salvation it may get new in less time and with less charge than to seek out the old It may bee thou lookest to see whether thou hast not been an Hypocrite all this while or formal Suppose upon examination thou canst not finde any thing to satisfie thy soul but that it hath been so yet now what hinders but that thou mayest this instant throw thy soul upon Jesus Christ I but I am afraid that when I have come to Christ I have not come rightly I but perhaps thou mayest come to Christ in that time that thou mayest know whether thou hast come rightly yea or nay But now the best way for those that are mightily troubled and solicitous about evidences whether their estate bee right or no I say let those rather than spend too much time in discouraging of their own hearts begin the work again let such a one present Jesus Christ now as a Saviour for lost man whose grace is infinitely full and infinitely free and there is nothing hinders thee but that thou mayest at this very instant cast thy self upon him to bee thy Saviour both to save thee from sin and from condemnation I but you will say I may presume and who hath right to do any such thing To that I answer that there is nothing can give thee right to Christ but by casting thy soul upon him by beleeving in him that right that wee have to Christ it is by beleeving It is not by any work before beleeving that gives thee right to Jesus Christ So that by this you see what I mean by rasing down the old foundation The next is by laying the new foundation of this great work of thy salvation and bee sure thou lay that sure You will say lay it sure what is it Christ is the foundation No other foundation can bee laid but Christ himself lay it there And then that that is next to Christ the foundation it is the true work of Faith and the true work of Repentance the true work of Faith that is next that is the foundation of what is wrought in our hearts Christ is the foundation first but of any work in our hearts the work of Faith Beleeve and thou shalt bee saved Now then this work of Faith thou must rightly know what it is and the way of thy beleeving and how thou dost receive Jesus Christ in thy beleeving and the power of thy Faith how that is wrought and what the work of it is upon thy heart now thou having laid Christ for thy foundation and understood the mystery of the Gospel then when thou comest to beleeve in this great mystery of the Gospel thou must consider what is it that I am now to beleeve why I am now to beleeve this that the thoughts of God from all eternity were for the good of the children of men and therefore hee hath sent the second Person in Trinity into the world to take mans nature upon him to die an accursed death for the sin of man And for mee in particular the thoughts of God were thus upon me from all eternity to send his son into the world to take my nature upon him and to bee made a curse for my sin to pay a price for my soul and through him when I beleeve I do beleeve all my sin to bee pardoned the infinite holy dreadful God to bee at peace with mee my soul to bee reconciled this wretched sinful soul of mine to bee received into mercy into the love of God as the love of a Father to bee made an Heir of God and Eternal life when thou dost beleeve this is the Object of thy Faith now this is a mighty work a mighty thing to beleeve such things as these are Consider therefore what thou doest when thou sayest thou dost beleeve in Jesus Christ put that to thâ— soul canst thou O my soul close with these things canst thou venture thy soul upon such things as these are and when thou comest to beleeve what dost thou it is not that thou thinkest that these things are true but thou dost in thy beleeving receive Jesus Christ according to the condition of the Gospel that is thy heart doth open to receive into it the King of glory Oh it is Châ—ist that is the foundation of the New Woâ—ld that God is to raise up It is Jesus Christ that brings in all the good and happiness and glory of God to the children of men and it is hee that my heart opens to receive in to imbrace to bee satisfied with all as all the good and happiness I expect and it is Christ that my heart opens too to save mee from my sin as well as from punishment to unite mee to God to bring mee to union with him that I may live for ever to the praise of the great God and it is this Christ that I take into my heart to bee King and Governour and now to rule Sin Satan Temptations Lusts shall not reign as they have done but Christ shall set up his own Government in my soul Now then upon this must needs follow wonderful and glorious effects upon the soul the soul that doth beleeve such high things as these are and doth open it self to receive Christ upon such tearms certainly I say there must needs bee wonderful effects wrought in that soul such things must needs work the soul up to God to live to him in another manner than ever and that is the reason of the Scripture expression 2 Cor. 5.17 Whosoever is in Christ is a New Creature all old things are past away and all things are become new For why the Lord hath revealed new glorious things to such a soul and the Lord therefore now acts and carries on the soul to other manner of objects than ever before it was wont to bee busied about And such a kinde of work of Faith is this that is the foundation of the great work of salvation next to Jesus Christ himself as the old must bee rased down so a new must bee raised up Now when you come to think of salvation that you hope to bee saved you must have recourse to such a kinde of work upon you as this how have I felt the power of the Holy Ghost rasing down old things and how have I felt the power of God even that power by which Jesus Christ was raised from the dead to raise such a foundation as this is And upon this now followes the work of Humiliation and Repentance that is Godly sorrow and so to mourn as to have the heart to bee taken from its former courses and waies and bee set upon the contrary good Now when the soul finds such workings of God upon it as certainly these things cannot bee and no notice at all taken of them when the soul takes notice how God comes in with power upon it and