day of the Lord Jesus the day Jesus comes in to doe good unto him for when ever the Lord Jesus takes an oportunity to doe good to a sinner that is the day of the Lord or the Lords day when he manifests mercie see Psal 110.3 2 Cor. 6.2 Thus Christ rules by his Law generally in the Assembly of Saints But 2 He manifests his Kingly power in ordaining officers with their gifts and callings which the Scripture seems in the strictest and most refined sense to call Elders and Deacons or Bishops and Deacons 1 Tim. 3.1 2 3 c. Of Bishops or Elders are two sorts or a different administration with relation to their gifts ruling and teaching these although they ought not to seeke it for they are the Churches servants yet by the Church are to be accounted worthy of double honour 1 Tim. 5.17 and in things partaining to Christ are to be obeyed for they watch for soules Heb. 13.17 Quest But what power hath Christ committed to his Church wherein his Kingly office appears Answer Hee hath given power to his Church 1 To Judge 2 To Determine 3 To Passe sentence 1 To Iudge and this under a twofold consideration 1 Of the faith of members that are to be received 2 Of proceedings within the same body 1 Of the faith of members that are to bee admitted This belongs to the Church or some appointed thereunto by the Church For if faith be required of those that are to be admitted then faith is to be manifested in those received to those that receive it this is a truth generally held forth in Scripture Act. 2.38 with the 41. and Act. 8.37 and 19.17 18. And likewise there seems to bee somthing to this purpose in that Scripture Mat. 16.19 I will give unto thee the keyes of the Kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt binde on earth shall be bound in heaven Whatsoever the Church of Christ concludes on on earth is approved of in heaven while they walke according to rule although I believe the great mystry couched under these words is another thing to wit the power Christ gives to the faith of Peter all that obtain like precious faith whatsoever is bound on earth that is whosoever believes on earth that is bound in heaven whosoever believeth not on earth looseth all it is loosed in heaven for it is to Peters faith Christ commits the keyes 2 There is power to judge of things in the Church and this every member ought to make use of in looking to the wayes of each other Phil. 2.4 Look not every one to his own things but every one to the things of one another Mat. 18.17 18. Thus all the body ought to watch over each other and to judge the actions of each other thus the Elder is to watch over the body and to judge the actions and to reprove rebuke exhort with patience and love where is occasion and thus may nay and ought the whole Church to watch over and if occasion be reprove admonish c. the Elder Thus is the Kingly office of Christ carryed along sweeetly in the Church of Christ 1 Tim. 5.19 20. When all watch over each other when all are subject each to other 1 Pet. 5.5 2 Christ hath given power as to Judge so to Determine of things and this for the good of the body for the order of the Church of Christ 3 And also It to passe sentence I mean spirituall by way of excommunication as you heard before I conceive the Church and state of the Jews who was Abrahams naturall seed was a type of the Church of the Gospel the spirituall seed of Christ Gal. 3.26 They had laws and statutes so hath the Church of Christ now onely theirs carnall ours spirituall for that Church was more carnall then Spirituall for that was the naturall seed this the spirituall they were to admit none but those that were naturally or bodily circumcised we none but those that are spirituall Rom. 2. ult They were not to touch any thing whereupon was any externall uncleannesse wee are not to touch the spirituall unclean thing that is Sin or sinfull worships or fellowships 1 Cor. 6.15 16 17. They were to put offenders that were grosse to death bodily the Church of Christ spiritually by excommunication Thus is the Kingly office of Christ carried along in the Kingdom in the Church of Christ under the Gospel and you see both Church and Laws are spirituall 3 The executions of the Churches Laws are spirituall but this I have opened already in my foregoing discourse therefore I passe 4 The ends of it are spirituall namely as you have heard 1 The good of the body the edifying of the body of Christ see Ephes 4.11 And 2 The glory of Jesus the execution of the Laws of Christ as it tends to the Saints good so Christs glory Yee call me Lord sayth Christ but where is mine honour This should be the end as of all the Saints Church actions so of all civill actions the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.23 Thus you see Christ is King and he hath a spirituall Kingdome and he rules by his Scepter in this Kingdom and there is good reason for it 1 He was borne King he hath a right to it by birth it is his birthright Mat. 2.2 Where is he that is borne King of the Iews He is a Iew that is one inwardly and it is Christs birthright to reigne over them and those who take the rule the Kingdom from Christ are no lesse then enemies and traitors to the royall crowne and dignity of the Lord Jesus and he will take them alive one day and cast them into the lake of fire Revel 19.20 2 He is thereunto appointed by the Father God the Father hath committed all judgement to the Sonne Iohn 10.22 For the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to the Son ver 27. And hee hath given him authority to execute judgement because he is the Son of God God the father hath given up the Kingdom to the Son and all government rule and dominion is in the hand of Christ as he is man as well as God Act. 17.31 He hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World by that man whom he hath ordained Mat. 28.18 All power is given to me both in heaven and in earth c. Thus you see power and authority is given to the Lord Jesus and he is to exercise it and not man farther then hee hath appointed for the good of his Church 3 He hath purchased this Kingdom with his own bloud and therefore good reason he should reigne in it and over it Act. 20.28 He hath purchased his Church with his own bloud is it not reason then that Christ should reigne over those whom he hath purchased those who were lost and undone children of wrath as well as others Christ having redeemed them out of the hands of all their enemies and now rules-over them in love
the spirituall Israel page 95 Knowledge of Christ brings men to the knowledge of themselves page 117 L LIve by saith what 165. How the soule doth live in the want of the full enioyment of him page 103 Love of God to be admired 45 It is free Ibid. Full 45. Everlasting 47. What love is 170. Properties and effects of it 172. It is quieted in the single enioyment of Christ 174. It slights all hardships 175. Love among the Saints the excellencie of it 176. It covers a multitude of infirmities 178. It is an everlasting grace 179. How it is manifested page 193 M MAns righteousnesse what page 10 Marter of Christs Kingdom spirituall page 223 Miracles How Christ Works them at this day page 199 N NEw Why Christs commandement called new page 169 Naturall conscience and the Law have a conflict 217. How to know it page 228 O OBedience the fruit of faith page 123 Offering of Christ what 16. The offering of the High-priest what page 16 17 Offices of Christ 15. Priestly Office of Christ wherein it consists 32. Office of Christ as Prophet page 82 P PEace with God the ground of a Christians ioy page 77 Power of God to be admired page 50 Priests Christ hath made the Saints Priests page 71 Priviledges of the Iews and of Christians their difference 101. Priviledges under the Gospel what page 101 Propheticall office of Christ page 82 R REconciliation wrought by Christ page 32 33 Remedies against corruption oppressing the soule 64 65. against temptations page 71 Resting in any thing beneath Christ what an evill page 57 58 59 Righteousnesse if Christ onely iustifies 11. Righteousnesse of man what page 10 15 Rule for Baptisme not one with the rule for Circumcision 97. The Scripture the rule by which Christ teacheth his people page 92 S SAints Why oftentimes sorrowfull 20. They are made Priests 78. God hath nothing against them 78. Their estate happy in the world to come page 80 Selfe-denyall 124 125. Selfe-sinfull 125. Selfe-righteous 127. Selfe-wisdom 131. Selfe-profit 134. Selfe-pleasure 135. Selfe-love 141. Selfe-will page 142 Selfe-sufficiencie 144. Selfe-ends page 145 T TEach Christ teacheth those whom he teacheth to know themselves 109. To believe 121. How wee may know when Christ teacheth the soule page 156. seq Type The Iewish Church a Type of the Christian Church 94. Kingly power put in Israel after the flesh a Type of the spirituall power Christ hath in his Church page 95 V VIrgins Mat. 25. Why called foolish page 57 W WIsdom of God to be admired 42. Christ the wisdom of the Father page 43 Word The Word is the rule by which Christ teacheth his people page 86 World to come what benefit to the Saints page 80 Worke of the Devill Christ destroys two wayes page 205 Errata Pag. 14. l. 7. for her 1 He p. 23. l. 11 your thou p. 26. l. 3. for hear no pray r. hear nor pray p. 66. l. 7 as r. us p. 67. l. 19. two r. few p. 76. l. 8. the r. thou P 79. l. 14. stay r. way p. 88 l. 4. walk r. work l. 15. to r. too p. 89. l. 10. That is mentioned is the first r. The first that is mentioned is p. 100. l. 10. once should the type r. once come the type should p. 103. l. ult or r. are p. 118. l. 25. dele o p. 132. l 22. put in not p. 140. l. 17 was not so r. was so p. 186. l. 1. for freed r. frets p. 187. l. 24. fire r. fiery p. 198. l. 14. add r. and p. 219. l. 10. enow r. ere now p. 225. l. 26. professe r. proceed p. 233. l. 4. dele It. THE EXALTATION OF CHRIST The alone High-priest of SAINTS CHAP. I. JOHN 3.14 And as Moses lift up the Serpent in the wildernesse so it behoves the Son of man to be lift up c. THis text presents you with the exaltation of the Lord Jesus and the manner of it Occasioned by a discourse between Christ Iesus and Nicodemus from the beginning of the Chapter these words being a part of that discourse and they are the words of Christ who is truth it self and cannot lie the faithfull and true witnesse the Alpha and Omega the first and the last of all truths and heavenly mysteries of the Gospel The text divided in two parts In this Scripture you may be pleased to take notice of two particulars first an act to be done Christ lifted up Secondly how it must be done even as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wildernesse c. I shall not meddle with that title by which Christ is pleased to describe himself the sonne of man I might note that Christ is the sonne of man and so true and perfect man as well as God Romans 3.4 But I shall rather pitch upon the mayne glorious Gospell truth held forth in this Scripture and the truth or conclusion is this Doct. That the Lord Jesus Christ now in the dayes of the Gospel is to be lifted up even as Moses lifted up these pent in the wildernesse Christ is to be lifted up now in the dayes of the Gospel Note 1 Christ is to bee lifted up in the preaching of the Gospel 2 In the soule of believers 1 In the preaching of the Gospell and that first for justification and life as the alone Priest Attonement and peace maker between God and his people 2 He is to be lifted up as the alone Prophet to teach as the alone King and Law-giver to his Church and people And this is to be done both in the preaching of the Gospel and in the hearts of believers 1 In the preaching of the Gospel Christ is to be lifted up for justification and life this was the end for which Christ came into the world John 10.10 I am come that yee might have life and that yee might have yet more abundantly ô beloved Christ came to give life to dead soules John 5.25 The dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God and they that heare shall live and this life Christ communicates to his in giving his life to purchase life for his own who were dead in trespasses and sins Ephes 2.1 And so freely and fully ustifies all whom he intends to save Rom. 3.24 And this justification although free through the redernption that is in Christ yet we come to participate of that justification by faith Rom. 3.26 27 28. And the preaching of the Gospell is the Instrumentall means in the hand of God working faith Rom. 10. from ver 14. to 17. Faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the Word of God therfore Christ is to be exalted in the preaching of the Gospel for justification and life that men beholding him may have life by him See this truth confirmed Mat. 10.27 What I tell you in darknesse speak yee in the light and what ye hear in the eare that preach yee on the house tops Note what Christ doth tell his servants in the darke he
of glory the soul in whom Christ dwels who lives in the continuall enjoyment of God must needs enjoy much consolation In his presence is fulnesse of joy and at his right hand pleasures for evermore 4 He brings over those in whom he rules to submit to the outward regiment of his Kingdome The second particular propounded is the Kingdome of Christ over the Saints as Christ reigns in so he reigns over the Saints It is this Kingdom in them that brings them in submission to his Kingdom without them and this is a spirituall Kingdom likewise note I pray you this kingdom of Christ is all spirituall likewise 1 There is spirituall matter 2 Spirituall Laws and Institutions 3 Spirituall executions 4 Spirituall ends 1 Christ he is a King he is the King of his people and God will exalt him and manifest him to be King one day Psal 2.6 Yet have I set my King upon the holy hill of Sion Christ is King and he shall reign notwithstanding the opposition of men of great men Why do the Gentiles rage and the people imagine vain things they consult they take counsell together against the Lord and against his Christ Kings and great men and wise learned men they rage they consult they take counsell together against Christ to destroy his Kingdome The most great and learned men in the world at this day rage against the Kingdom of Christ they would set up a Kingdom of their own and then compell men unto it who ever it is that establishes a worship with Laws and Edicts to compell all unto it and to inflict bodily punishments upon all that refuse it or cannot joyn with it doth what in him lyeth absolutely to destroy the Kingdome of Christ over the soule and if men be erroneous and worship contrary to the rule of truth it is Christ himselfe that must judge him and not man he to wit God hath committed all judgment to the Son therefore saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 4.5 Judge nothing before the time and Jam. 4.11 12. if thou judge another sayth the Apostle thou art not a doer of the law but a judge There is one Lawgiver who is able to save and destroy What art thou that judgest another Note for men to passe a finall sentence is not to doe the minde of Christ but to get into the room of Christ for man to set up a law in matter of worship and compell unto it and judge and condemne body and soule for not submitting is to exalt themselves above Christ and so indeed is Antichristian not but that the Churches of Christ have power to judge and determine of things amongst themselves about the spirituall affairs of Christ and to excommunicate a wilfull offender it is according to the rule to cut him off from every fellowship with the Saints as you shall heare anon but not to destroy his body but the Church of Christ hath nothing to doe to judge or meddle with those that are without 1 Cor. 5.12 13. Therefore if any Church or Magistrate would exercise that power they conceive Christ hath entrusted them in about spirituall Church affaires I humbly conceive that they have nothing to do with those that are not of the same body with them or the same society as many Churches may be in society but those that are without be they Saints be they what they will good or bad they are without to them and what hast thou to doe with them that are without God judgeth them Rom. 14.4 Who art thou that judgest another mans servant to his own master he standeth or falloth If it be objected that the Church of England is a true Church and all these that absent themselves were members and therefore they are to be dealt with as offending members in the Church This is all can be objected I am sure against them for I think their faithfulnes to the State speaks in the eares of every man almost of reason and therefore the State cannot meddle where there is no Civill law transgressed Therefore for answer to that objection suppose Englands Church were a true Church which will never be proved but I passe it in this place yet can they but proceed according to the rule Christ hath given in Scripture if in this perticular there might be a proceeding according to rule that is to admonish those that are contrary minded if that will not do to excommunicate passe the Church censure upon them this is the furthest that I know can be done by any Church of CHRIST and they are then not to cut them off out of the Land out of the World but to admonish them as brethren 2 Thess 3.15 If such as do not or cannot cōform to the worship prescribed by man should be cut off our of the land out of the world what meanes could then be used for their conversion Is there not still hope while the creature is yet alive and above ground Therefore I conceive it to be unchristian cruelty to judge men in this case never any wee read of but heathens that did the like under the Gospel and Christ hath said Judge not that ye be not judged for with what judgment ye judge ye shall be judged Mat. 17.1 2. Jam. 2.13 For hee shall have judgment without mercy that sheweth no mercy Mercilesse men are the miserablest men under Heaven there is no mercy for them God wil deal with them as they deal with others it is both the Law and Prophets to do as we would be done unto Now consider a little I pray thee thou that canst be content in thy heart to persecute those that differ from thee in judgement wouldest thou be content to be so dealt with thy self Doth the Lord Jesus the King of Saints require or accept of any service but that is free and voluntary but I professe Christ you see is King and he shall be exalted King and manifested to be King on day Psal 45.6 with Heb. 1.8 But unto the Son hee sayth thy throne ô God is for ever a Scepter of righteousnesse is the Scepter of thy kingdome Here is a King a Kingdome a Scepter Christ the King the Saints the Kingdome the Word the Scepter Esay 9.6 7. He is a King and of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end that is till there be no more time till time shall cease in this World after he shall give up the Kingdome to the Father and God shall be all in all 1 Cor. 15.28 Thus you see Christ is King I come in the second place to the Kingdome which is wholy spirituall My kingdom sayth Christ is not of this world 1 The matter of Christs Kingdome is spirituall Saints called out of the world this is the Church the Kingdome of Christ the Saints gathered out of the World by the preaching of the Gospel into the order and fellowship of the Gospel they are Saints although some thinke strange to hear of Saints in
this World yet they are in Scripture called Saints that is Sanctus holy see 1 Cor. 1. called to be Saints called to be holy so Heb. 3.1 Wherefore holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling so that the kingdome of Christ is or should be Saints holy ones not the world for all the world are not Saints but the Kingdome of Christ are Saints called out of the World John 15.19 Ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world The Church of Christ are Saints chosen out of the World they are not of the World they are a people separated or severed out of the World so was the Church of the Iews Levit. 20.26 Ye shall be holy to me for I the Lord am holy and have severed you from other people that you should be mine And thus it is with the spirituall Israel of Christ under the Gospel of which the naturall was a type they are not of this World they are called out of this World and severed or separated from the World 2 Cor. 6.14 to the end they are to be separated from the world although the world hath gotten a forme of godlinesse See 2 Tim. 3.1 5. The Apostle speaking of the last times reckons up what courses men should take what sins they should be addicted to and yet concludes they shall have a forme of godlines but from such turne away or be ye separated So that you see the Church which is Christs Kingdome are a people called out of the world they are not of this world as he is not of this world Then certainly those are no friends to Christ that would turn the World in to a Church and so make the kingdome of Christ not a spirituall but a carnall kingdom and so make the Lord Jesus a lyer for he hath said His Kingdome is not of this world but let Christ be true and every man a lyer The Church of Christ his kingdom they are such as are in the order and fellowship of the Gospel compacted together according to the Gospel rule in order and fellowship it is in the spirituall kingdome of Christ in this case as in the body politick the whole kingdome under one governmēt is but one body politick or state so the Kingdom of Christ his church although gathered in many bodies yet it is but one body and every body hath the same power the same priviledges so that it ought to be a body compacted together under the reign and rule of one Lord lesus Ephes 4.16 and the externall way by which the Saints enter into this fellow ship it is by baptisme as you may see Acts 2.41 Then they with the godly received the word and were baptized and so added but I have spoken of this formerly and therefore I passe it here 2 As Christ hath a Kingdom and that is spirituall in relation to the matter so he sets up Laws and they are spirituall the Laws of Christ in his Kingdom is 1 The law of love 2 The law of edification 1 The law of love Gal. 5.13 14. By love serve one another for all the Law is fulfilled in one word even this Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe and Jam. 2.8 It is called the royall Law of God Thou shalt love thy neighbonr as thyselfe this is the Law of the Gospel love to Christ and love to the Saints A new commandement give I unto you that yee love one another Joh. 13.34 Now this love breaks forth in causing the Saints to walke up according to every rule of the Gospel it constrains them to submit to every word to every comand of Christ it causeth the Saints to watch over each other to build up each other in the most holy faith to restore a weak brother with the spirit of meeknesse being falne Gal. 6.1 to beare one anothers burthens and so to fulfill the Law of CHRIST Thus CHRIST rules in and over his Kingdom by this law of love It is the end of the command of the Gospel love out of a pure heart and faith unfained 1 Tim. 1.5 He gives rules unto his people out of love he causeth them to obey out of love there is no condemnation in his law to his people but if they sin they have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous 1 Joh. 2.1 who is a propitiation for their sins Here is love in the King love in the subjects love in Christ commanding love in Christians obeying a Kingdom upheld and maintained by the law of love O that the God of love would increase this love more abundaritly both in your and my soul 1 Thes 3.12 The Lord make you to abound in love one towards another and to wards all men O this love is sweet amiable pleasant Psal 133.1 love to the Saints love to all men it is the way to win them to the Lord Jesus 2 Tim. 2.25 This is the main law by which Christ rules in and over his Saints his Churches his Kingdom and this is spirirituall 2 There is the law of edification 1 Cor. 14.26 Let all things be done to edifying It is the law of Christ in his Church that all things should be done to edification for the building up of the Saints in their most holy faith therefore the Apostle 1 Cor. 10.23 makes light of that which tends not to edification All things are lawfull for me but all things edifie not that is it which a Christian should looke most unto that is it that will edifie most it is the end of their compacting and building together in faith and fellowship that they might edifie each other in love Ephes 4.16 All done in the Church is for the edification of the body or should be every Ordinance that Christ hath set up in his Kingdom is for Edification Watching over each other Exhortation Admonition it is all for edification Baptisme Preaching the Supper of the Lord Communion and fellowship it is all for edification and consolation as Christ hath appointed it Act. 2.41 to 46. 1 Cor. 14.3 Church censure excommunication it is an Ordinance appointed of God for edification to bring the sinner into the sight of his sinne and that should bee the Churches end in the use of it Give him up to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the soule might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 5.5 that is the end of this ordinance and should be the Churches end in the execution of it 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus let him be Anathema Maranatha let him be accursed till the Lord come so the word Maranatha implies it consists of two Syrian words Maran out Lord Atha come till our Lord come That is as I understand it till the Lord come either in a way of love convincing him by this ordinance or to judge and condemne him so that other Scripture seems to imply 1 Cor. 5.5 That his soule may be saved in the