is mans time The good Emperour not hearing a Cause or doing some charitable Act in the day would complain at night unto his Courtiers Sirs I have lost a day 2 Cor. 6.2 Hoc Nunc nullum habet crastinum Aug. Delays are dangerous yea Delay is the Mother of Danger Delay is almost as bad as Denyal There is a word which is the Lords Adverb and the Devils Verb Early say God stay sâ—y the Devil Now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation This Now saith one hath no to morrow Take heed of playing the Courtier with thy Soul the Courtier do all things late he riseth late dineth late goeth to bed late and repenteth late Henry the fourth asked the Duke de Alva if he had seen the great Ecclipse of the Sun which had lately been no said the Duke I have so much to do upon Earth that I have no leisure to look up to Heaven Let thy Thoughts be taken up with Death Ambrose I have not saith one so lived that I am afraid to die or ashamed to live longer Death is a Theam worthy the most serious and solid the most spiritual and sanctified meditation Be much through Christ in prayer Multiply cries and cry mightily unto Christ that Heaven may be thy Haven that Paradise may be the Port for thy Soul Prayer is the first and should be the last Dish If ye be Christs ye must Pray while ye live and Pray when ye die ye must live and die Acts 7.59 praying Thus Stephen did They sloned Stephencalling upon the name of the Lord and saying Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Yea thus a greater than Sephen Luke 23.34 the Lord and Life of Stephen the Lord Jesus Christ did Father forgive them for they know not what they do When the Heart-blood of Christ was comming forth then was the heart-prayer of Christ also comming forth Rev. 8.3 4. Gen. 48.16 Father forgive them for they know not what they do We read of an Angel that stood at the Altar The Angel is Christ the Angel that redeemed Jacob from all evil the Angel of the Covenant The Altar is Himself who sanctifieth prayer as the Altar did the Gift This Angel which is Christ had a golden Censer his own Body Mal. 3.1 To him was given much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints or that he should add to the prayers of all Saints upon the golden Altar which was befere the Throne Christ by his Intercession perfumes the prayers of his being the only High Priest of the New Testament And the smoak of the Incense which came with the prayers of the Saints ascended up before God out of the Angels hand It is such a prdyer that I intend a pure prayer a Gospel prayer a prayer that passeth a Christ that passeth out of the Angels hand that passeth through the hand of the Son 1 Sam. 1.15 Rom. 8.26 to the heart of the Father Now what is this Prayer but a pouring out of the Sonl to God what is pure prayer but a breathing out that before God which was first breathed in by the Spirit of God As Fear is so principal a Grace that it is sometimes put for all grace Now I know that thou fearest God Gen. 22.2 seeing thou hast not with-held thy Son thine only Son And as Faith is so principal a Grace that it is sometimes put for all Grace Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith so Prayer is so principal a part of Worship that it is sometimes put for all worship Mat. 21.13 Luk. 18.1 1 Thes 5.17 My house shall be called an house of prayer but ye have made it a den of thieves Pure Prayer is imposed therefore incumbent Christ spake a Parable that men ought alwaies to pray and not to faint To pray alwaies is not to faint in prayer Pray without ceasing Pray there is the Act without ceasing there is the Duration of that Act. As it is the duty of a Christian of Christs making to pray so it is the property of this person to pray A living Child is a crying Child Until the Child come out of the womb it cannot cry but when it come into the World it cry So long as a a man is in the womb of a natural state Gal. 4.6 he cannot cry Father Father Because ye are Sons God hath â—sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts Act. 9.11 crying Father Father Was Paul ever said to pray until converted from his Pharisaical state Go for behold he prayeth He who was a Persecutor before is a Prayer now Soul if God design thee for Heaven he will put thee upon prayer yea Mat. 6.6 upon closet-prayer But thou when thou prayest enter into thy closet 'T is death to a living man long â—o hold his breath If we breath we live if we breath not we die Thus 't is death as it were to a truly gracious soul long to be kept from inward and intimate converse and communion with God and Christ with God in Christ. A declining of this Duty will prove a drawn Flood-gate unto great Iniquity Where is that man like to stop who declines this Duty Eph. 6.18 Praying alwaies there 's the Duty with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit there 's the Direction If we would prepare for death we must be much in prayer To this end reflect the Income of prayer and Influence of prayer Be much in the reflection of the Income of prayer A Soul in Christ would not lose his Incomes of prayer for a world for a thousand worlds if there were so many Oh what have thy Tears and thy Triumphs been in a Closet Oh what have thy Sighs and thy Sights been in a Closet O what have thy Shines and thy Smiles been in private prayer Oh how melted have thy Soul been and mortified have thy sin been when thou hast been engaged and enlarged in private prayer Have not thy Soul been sent away with more of the sanctifying and with more of the sealing work of the Spirit too Davids Incoms of prayer were great and he valued them greatly I love the Lord why because he hath heard my voice Psa 116.1 2. and my supplications because he hath enclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him so long as I live What an estimate is set upon the Income of Prayer Be much in the reflection of the Influence of Prayer Prayer hath a great Influence for instance Pure Prayer through Christ had an Influence and Command over the four Elements Aire Fire Earth Water Over the Air. Elias which was Elijah praved earnestly in prayer he prayed Jam. 5.17 18. so the Greek That is he prayed earnestly for the ingemination hath this force that it might not rain and it did not that it might rain and it did Over the Fire Thus it had in
whom will ye liken God or what likeness will ye compare unto him To whom will ye compare Christ He is a Beauty without a spot Cant. 5.10 He is white and red the Armour-bearer among ten thousand White and red as they are the best Temperature of Man so they are the natural and the native Badges of Beauty Isa 49.6 Hos 13.4 I will give thee for a Light to the Gentiles that thou mayest be my salvation to the ends of the Earth Christ hath no Competitor in Salvation There is no Saviour besides me Christ is an invincible Saviour Oh say the soul I am weak weak as water But Soul 1 Sam. 15.29 Margent Christ is strong strength it self The strength of Israel will not lie nor repent The strength of Israel the Eternity or Victory of Israel Oh say the Soul I am not a match for those Temptations without nor for these Corruptions within But Soul Christ is a match for both Thou art Peter Mat. 16.18 and upon this Rock will I build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Thou art Peter thou art but a Fisherman Super hanc Petram not super hunc Petrum 1 Cor. 10.4 at best but a Fisher of Men Not upon this Peter but upon this Rock It is not called a Rock of Peter but he is called Peter of a Rock as we call Christians from Christ The Church is not built upon Peter but upon Christ the Rock of Ages They all drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ Upon this Rock will I build my Church 1 Cor. 1.24 and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it All the Power and Policy of Hell shall not prevail against it Christ is not only the Power of God but also the God of Power All Power in Heaven and Earth is devolved upon him But take a Tast of the Power of Christ Christ hath engaged the world and overcome Be of good cheer I have overcome the world Jo. 16.33 Christ hath engaged the Heart and overcome The Lord opened Lydia's heart Acts 16.14 that she attended unto the things which were spoken by Paul Paul was the Preacher but Christ was the Opener Paul preached to the Ear but Christ opened the Heart Christ hath engaged Hell and overcome I am he that was dead and am alive Rev. 1.18 and behold I live for evermore and have the Keys of Hell and of Death The Keys are an Emblem of Power a metaphor either taken from Stewards who have the Keys of the House to let in or keep out whom they please or from Conquerours who having entred a City have the Keys delivered up to them in token of Conquest Christ hath engaged Heaven and overcome Christ hath cancelled the Bond hath crossed the Book hath discharged the Debt hath given a plenary and perfect Satisfaction to Divine Justice by his active and passive Obedience Christ was Man that he might suffer and God that he might satisfie God being offended with Man He who was God and Man 1 Thes 1.10 satisfied God for Man And to wait for his Son from Heaven whom he raised from the dead even Jesus who delivered us from the wrath to come Now did Alexander the Great say when his Army was low for how many do ye reckon Me May not Christ then say when Zion is reduced unto an astonishing Ebb for how many do you reckon Me Christ is so Many that he may well stand for All. No Arithmetick upon Earth will reach Christ he is a match for the Vniverse he is invincible Christ is a full Saviour Christ is a Fountain and that is full 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col. 2.9 alwaies full In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead personally really substantially Though the stream should be cut off yet the Fountain is full though the Chanel should be empty yet the Ocean is full There is in Christ for those that are Christs Joh. 1.14 Non Specie sed Gradu a fulness of Grace Christ is full of Grace and Truth Grace is such a pearl that the Vniverse is not able to weigh against and yet Christ is full of Grace Grace differs nothing from Glory but in name and in degree it is the same state in another stature Grace is Glory militant and Glory is Grace triumphant That there is a fulness of Grace in Christ is evident and that this fulness of grace in Christ is for those who are Christs Joh. 1.16 Plenitudo Abundantiae Redundantiae is as evident Of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace There is in Christ not only a fulness of Abundance but also of Redundance there is an overflowing fulness in Christ Jesus Grace for Grace A cumulation of grace grace upon grace As the Paper from the Press receiveth Letter for Letter or as the Wax from the Seal receiveth Print for Print or as the Glass from the Image receiveth Face for Face so Christians receive from Christ Grace for Grace There is in Christians in some measure and proportion a grace answerable and agreeable to the same in Christ. Thus generally but now particularly There is in Christ for those who are Christs a fulness of Power All power in Heaven is given unto Christ He is the Object of the Angels adoration He hath the Angels at his Command and can send them forth as an heavenly Host to assist his people Mat. 26.53 Peter saith Christ thinkest thou not that I can now pray to my Father and he shall give me more than twelve Legions of Angels The Roman Army consisted ordinarily of twelve Legions such an Army of Angels could Christ have had and this had been a vast Army A Legion they say is six thousand armed Souldiers but here are more than twelve Legions it may be a definite number put for an indefinite more than twelve Legions of Angels seem to import an infinite number of Angels But as Christ hath power in Heaven so on Earth As he is the Object of the Angels adoration so of the Saints admiration Christ hath power over the Princes and Potentates of the Earth how magnificent and mighty soever they be in their own eyes or in the eyes of others Rev. 17.14 He is therefore stiled King of Kings and Lord of Lords Christ also hath power over Hell That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow Phil. 2.10 both things which are in Heaven Angels and the spirits of just men made perfect and on Earth Saints and Sinners and under the Earth infernal spirits As Christ is the Object of the Angels Adoration and of the Saints Admiration so of the Devils Consternation There is in Christ for those that are Christs a fulness of pardon Sin is evil all evil alway evil the pardon therefore of sin must needs be a singular and a signal mercy a precious Luk. 5.20 John
children of God 'T is a sanctifying Spirit Abel differed not from Cain Abraham from Absalom Isaac from Ishmael Jacob from Esau Simon Peter from Simon Magus James the Lords Brother from Judas the Lords betrayer in respect of their Substance but in respect of the Spirit which the one had but the other had not It is the Spirit that sanctifies 2 Thes 2.13 God hath chosen us to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth 'T is a sealing Spirit After ye believed ye were sealed with that holy spirit of Promise Eph. 1.13 The use of a Seal is two-fold and consists in two things In the Nature of it In this sense Christ was sealed Labour not for the meat that perisheth Joh. 6.27 but for that which endureth unto everlasting life which the Son of Man shall give for him hath the Father sealed To Seal a thing is to stamp the Character of the Seal upon it In the Vse of it This is two-fold To ratifie A Seal is to ratifie any Grant or Conveyance made in writing A writing sealed is authentick this confirms the Testimony that is given by any one of the Truth of any thing Such was the manner among the Jews Joh. 3.33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true Thus by way of Ratification To Appropriate A Seal is to appropriate distinguish or keep safe Rev. 7.4 In this sense are the Servants of God sealed I heard the number of them that were sealed and there were sealed an hundred forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the Children of Israel Thus by way of Appropriation Thus the Spirit of God is a sealing Spirit it confirms and assures the Soul of the love of God of life from God of life with God And grieve not the holy Spirit of God Eph. 4.30 whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption The Spirit here according to the Greek Text is set forth with very great Energy and the Text may be thus read Grieve not the holy the Spirit of that God Not a Spirit but the Spirit not holy but the holy and not of God but of that God Would ye prepare for Death Look then unto Christ and lay the Stress of Obedience upon Him Obedience is or ought to be the White in a Christians eye at which he should level every arrow Obedience is better than Sacrifice and hearkning than the fat of lambs A man truly gracious had rather with one have Grace to be obedient Luther than Power to work Miracles Obediene is two-fold active and passive and the stress of both to be laid upon Christ but to these distinctly Active Lay the stress of Doing for a Christ upon a Christ. Acti agimus Active Obedience is a Doing what God imposeth now being acted we act Not that we we Apostles we Disciples we accounted Cedars in Lebanon not Shrubs of the Valley are sufficient of our selves 2 Cor. 3.5 to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God Were they so what are we then If insufficient as to thinking what are we then as to acting To do what we ought when we ought and as we ought is from Christ. Passive Lay the stress of Dying for a Christ upon a Christ. Passive Obedience is a suffering what God inflicteth Passive Obedience brings as much Glory to God as active Obedience doth Luther was troubled that he did not lay down his bloud on this side the grave and pass through a violent death as all the Apostles but John did Art actually in Christ then possibly thou shalt not long live his Servant but die his Sicrifice now Passion as well as Action dying as well as doing bleeding or burning as well as believing is from Christ Phil. 1.29 and the Grace of Christ To you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe but also to suffer for his sake Suffering-work is Noble work the Noblest work Mat. 6.10 for though Saints be inferiour to Angels as to Action yet they are superiour to Angels as to Passion for they are Spirits and incapable of suffering 1 Tim. 5.21 6. Verse of Judes Epist Psa 37.24 2 Pet. 2.4 The Apostle speaketh of elect Angels These fell not from their estate As the elect Saints cannot finally fall Though he fall yet shall he not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand so the elect Angels did not foully fall Now Suffering was the Consequent of Sinning And spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to Hell True Obedience may be known three waies By the Sincerity of it My rejoycing is this the testimony of a good Conscience how that in sincerety 2 Cor. 1.12 and godly simplicity c. By the Vniversality of it Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy Commandments Psa 119.6 We must not only respect all Gods Commandments but also respect them all alike and give them all the like respect Obedience must be Vniversal By the Constancy of it As Obedience must be sincere and Vniversal so constant 1 Cor. 15.58 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col. 3.11 Be ye stedfast unmoveable alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord. If we would prepare for Death we must lay the Stress of Obedience whether active or passive upon Christ for he is All and in All or according to the Greek All things and in all things It may be understood of Persons as well as Things Christ is All from the Father All to the Father All with the Father but to these distinctly Christ is All from the Father I am come that ye might have life life here Joh. 10.10 and life hereafter and that ye might have it more abundantly The life of Grace and of Glory they are by Christ Christ is All to the Father I am the Way the Truth and the Life Joh. 14.6 no man commeth unto the Father but by me Every word here hath its Article in the Greek Christ is the Way wherein the Truth whereby and the Life whereunto we walk Christ is the Way without Error the Truth without Falshood and the Life without Death Truth lies between Way and Life as if the Way to Life were through Truth Christ is All with the Father I know thou hearest me alwaies Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 3.17 hath Gods Ear at all times Christ is at Gods right hand yea Christ is as Gods right hand Christ is the Object of the Fathers delight This is my Beloved Son in whom I acquiess so the Greek It is an emphatical word and signifieth an infinite Affection DIRECTION II. ART actually in Christ Direct 2 Sen. Artem bene vivendi moriendi study then through Christ the Art of Dying well May a Heathen speak When I was young my care was to live well I then
equal and compare me that we may be like Christ hath not his second Christ is an inexhaustible Fountain This Ore is never goldless this Sun is never lightless this Ocean Eph. 3.8 is never waterless That I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ Fear not Death for Christ is thine and he is a God What of a Christ is not called into Question That Christ is God I shall endeavour to evince from plain and positive Texts and Truths from gracious and glorious Appellations and Titles from probable and promising Arguments and Reasons From plain and positive Texts and Truths Thy Throne oh God is for ever Psa 45.6 Heb. 1.8 and ever That this is spoken of Christ is evident But unto the Son he saith Thy Throne oh God is for ever and ever Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 2.5 6 The word here Form signifieth an essential and substantial Form Christ was in the form of God i.e. he was in the Nature and Essence of God or in the Glory and Majesty of God And thought it not Robbery to be equal with God Once more My Lord Joh. 20.28 and my God These places are unanswerable proofs of the Deity and Divinity of Christ From gracious and glorious Appellations and Titles Christ is called I AM. Before Abraham was I AM. But what is this I AM Joh. 8.58 This is one of the names of God this is proper to God and with this name was Moses sent to the children of Israel I AM hath sent me unto you Exo. 3.14 Now this name I AM takes in all time past present and to come which speaketh Christ to be a God Christ is called the chiefest or Standard-bearer among ten thousand Cant. 5.10 Now Standard-bearers are choice men Elect of the multitude Christ is called a great God Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God Tit. 2.13 and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Not only God and great God but also the great God Christ is called the true God This is the true God and eternal life Not a false but a true God 1 Joh. 5.20 not an Impostor as the Jews call him nor a less Prophet than Mahomet as the Turks call him nor a feigned God among the Gentiles as the blind and the bloody Papists call him but the true God and eternal life being the Author of it and the Donor of it the God of it and the Giver of it Christ is called God over all Whose are the Fathers and of whom as to the flesh Christ came Rom. 9.5 Oecumenius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who is over all God blessed for ever Amen Christ is over all over Angels over Saints over Devils Is not this a pregnant proof for the Deity and Divinity of Christ Blush said one for shame and be thou confounded oh thou wretched miscreant Arrius when thou hearest Christ by the Apostle glorified with the Title of God in the singular number and with the Article Ho the God that God and yet denyest his Deity who is over all the or that God blessed for ever Amen What more legible than the Deity of Christ in this place with many other places Christ is called a mighty God Giâ—d thy Sword upon thy thigh oh most mighty He is mighty Psa 45.3 yea most mighty There cometh one after me mightier than I. Jesus was mightier than John What is a Pharaoh a Sennacherib a Mounsieur to this mighty Christ Psa 89.15 All Nations unto him are but as the drop of a bucket What is Man to God I have laid help upon one that is mighty Yea Christ is an Almighty God Rev. 1.8 I am Alpha and Omega The beginning and the ending saith the Lord which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty Christ is called the only wise God To the only wise God our Saviour 25. Verse of Judes Epistle Christ is wiser than men wiser than Angels the wisdom of Men the wisdom of Angels the wisdom of God the God of wisdom Christ is called the End of the Law for righteousness Rom. 10.4 He is the End of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth Thus he is in respect of Nation whether Jew or Gentile in respect of Sex whether Man or Woman in respect of Age whether Green or Gray in respect of Degree whether a Man in his Rags or a Man in his Robes Christ is called the Image of the invisible God Christ is exactly like unto God Col. 1.15 Who is the Image of the invisible God the first born of every creature Christ is called the Desire of Nations What is there in any Nation Hag. 2.7 that is the Desire of every Nation Christ is the Desire of all that are actually his in all Nations I will shake all Nations and the desire of all nations shall come Christ is stiled the Saviour of the World The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World 1 Joh. 4.14 Now who below a God can save a Man Christ is stiled King of Saints Just and true are thy waies Rev. 15.3 thou King of Saints Christ hath a Kingdom in this World though his Kingdom be not of this World Christ hath a Kingdom and his Saints are the Subjects of his Kingdom Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords The Kings of Tarshish Rev. 17.14 Psal 72.10 11. and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts yea all Kings shall fall down before him all nations shall serve him As Christ is King of Saints and of Sion so he is to be King of Nations Christ is the Father of Eternity Christ as God is from Eternity and the Father of Eternity Abi Gnad Isa 9.6 His name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Father of Eternity so the Hebrew the Prince of Peace Christ is the Bread of Life I am that Bread of Life Christ is not only Bread and Bread of Life Joh. 6.48 but also by way of Emphasis the or that Bread of Life Christ is the Water of Life I will give unto him that is a thirst Rev. 21.6 of the fountain of the water of life freely Now is not he God who is the Bread of Life and Water of Life Christ is called the Rock of Ages Christ was the Rock for Old Testament Saints 1 Cor. 10.4 and Christ is the Rock for New Testament Saints They all drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ Christ is called Emmanuel A Virgin and yet with child shall bring forth a Son Mat. 1.23 and his name shall be called Emmanuel which being interpreted is God with us As God for Vs so God with Vs Christ is called Jesus
indeed As it is true this is a Paradox it is as true Sol. that it is an Orthodox-Paradox Though Christ be not alwaies a wall of Fire about the Bodies and Baskets of His yet he alwaies is about the Hearts and Souls of His. Blessed Bainam that Maryan-Martyr in the midst of the Flames called Oh ye Papists ye look for Miracles here is one though half my Legs and half my Arms are burned yet in this Fire I feel no more pain than if I were in a Bed of Down and it is unto me as a Bed of Roses Now though those actually Christs may be banished yet not damned though burned yet not damned Rom. 8.1 There is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Fear not Death for Christ is Thine and he is a Good The Lord is good his Mercy is everlasting Psa 100.5 and his Truth endureth from generation to generation Now Christ is Lord. The Lord said unto my Lord. Luk. 17.5 The Father said unto the Son The Apostles said unto the Lord Increase our Faith Praise ye the Lord for the Lord is good Or according to the Hebrew Praise ye Jah for Jehovah is good or Goodness Now Christ Halelu-jah ki tob Jehovah Psa 135.3 Jer. 23.6 hath this name of Jehovah also In his days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is the name whereby he shall be called Jehovah our Righteousness Christ is good very good a great good the greatest good But what manner of Good is this good Christ Quest Sol. 1. Christ is a substantial Good He who is a Soul Good must needs be a substantial Good but Christ is a Soul Good and the Soul of every Good He who is All from the Father to the Father and with the Father must Himself be a Soul Good but thus Christ is Mat. 3.17 This is my beloved Son in whom I acquiesce Creatures are good as they come from God are enjoyed with God are improved for God but these lesser and lower things these dirty and drossy things are not a Soul good abstracted from Christ. Christ is not a shadowy but a substantial good The Psalmist speaking of some that had a full Table and a full Cup that had an Affluence and Confluence of these poor and perishing things call them happy Psal 144.12 13 14 1â— Happy is the people that is in such a case This is a kind of happiness and this goes for happiness with those that cannot see through this world and graciously take a prospect of that within the Vail but then there is another and a better happiness opposed and interposed Yea happy or blessed is that people whose God is Jehovah The other is the shadow of Happiness the shell of Happiness the shew of Happiness this is a real and substantial Happiness our Felicity is bound up in our propriety in God and Christ in God through Christ Christ is an essential Good Christ is good as God Bonum complexum Psa 136.2 Mat. 19.19 for He is God Christ is a complex Good a complicated Good Christ is God yea the God of Gods O give thanks unto the God of Gods for his mercy endureth for ever Now God is so good that he only is said to be good Why calâ—est thou me good there is none good but one that is God If thou dost not acknowledge me to be God why callest thou me good for God is essentially good originally good the Original of good Christ is an impartial good Christ is no respecter of persons Acts 10.34 35. but in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh Righteousness is accepted with him Christ hath not any distinguishing kindness but for those for whom he died and within whom he liveth Christ hath as great kindness for him that sitteth upon the Threshold as for him that sitteth upon the Throne The Peasant hath as much kindness from Christ as the Prince Circumcise the foreskin of your hearts and be no more stiff-necked why for Jehovah your God is the God of Gods Deut. 10.16 17. and Lord of Lords a great God mighty and terrible that regardeth not persons nor taketh reward Christ is an universal Good Christ is unlike some men good to some but not to All they will smile some but frown others they will do good to some but do evil to others but Christ is good to All He causeth the Sun to shine upon the good and bad and the rain to fall upon the jâ—st and unjust As Christ is an universal Good in Himself He was made sin for us 1 Cor. 5.21 Psa 145.9 who knew no sin by Himself that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him So he is universally good to others The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works Christ is an unchangeable Good What changes soever are made by Christ there are no changes made in Christ I am Jehovah and I change not Mal. 3.6 therefore ye Sons of Jacob are not consumed Christ is alwaies of one and the same mind and that is a mind to do good by all that he does or suffers to be done to his believing ones to his beloved ones Times may be changed men may be changed but Christ changeth notâ— Jesus Christ yesterday to day Heb. 13.8 and for ever the same Christ is a sutable Good Christ is an adequate good to the Soul and nothing below a Christ will suit and serve the Soul The Soul must have that which will quadrare with it and be an adequate good to it The Soul is an excellent piece is an excelling piece it is the Breath of God the Beauty of Man the Wonder of Angels the Envy of Devils Now all below a Christ is below this Soul All short of a God in Covenant of a God in Christ will not suit and serve this Soul if throughly awakened The Soul is such a Jewel that no thing can be given in exchange for it Mark 8.37 What can be given in exchange for the soul The Soul is so noble that it is below a gracious Soul to live upon any thing below a Christ This Soul may look upon the Stream but it lives upon the Fountain may look upon the Water but it lives upon the Angel may look upon the Cabinet but it lives upon the Jewel may look upon the Field but it lives upon the Pearl Christ is the object of the Saints Desire and Delight Whom have I in Heaven but Thee Psa 73.25 Bonum in quo omnia sunt bona and there is none upon earth that I desire besides Thee Christ is that Good in whom is all Good and nothing but Good He that can answer the desires of the heart must needs Himself be a sutable good but this Christ can do Psa 37.4 Delight thy self in the Lord and he shall
Eternity then Grace shall go into Glory There is a twofold Perfection a Perfection of the Truth of Grace and a Perfection of the Growth of Grace but suffer a distinct discussion of these There is a Perfection of the Truth of Grace The wise Virgins Mat. 25.4 took oil in their vessels with their lamps Oil onely in the Lamp is onely aâ— blaze of Profession Oil in the Vessel is Truth oâ— Grace in the Heart This is a Perfection of parts Since the day ye heard it and knew the Grace of God in truth Col. 1.6 Thus a Child is a perfect Child having all the parts of a man The Soul which hath the Truth of Grace hath something of every Grace There is a Perfection of the Growth of Grace Till we all come into the unity of the faith Eph. 4.13 and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. This is a Perfection of degrees when Grace is swailowed up in Glory Heb. 12.23 To the spirits of just men made perfect Those actually Christs shall be indulged hereafter perfect Peace Pax Bello potior Nomen Pacis desiderabile Esto bellando pacisicus Aug. Greg. Nyssen Peace is better than War yea the very name of Peace is desirable Peace is a confluence of all good things the Jews therefore when they wish a man well salute him thus Peace be unto thee The effect of War is waste It is said of the Turkish-War that where the Grand Seigniors Horse sets his foot no more Grass will grow he makes havock of all Every Seat of War becomes a Seat of Wrath an Ire-land In War saith One seek Peace Another saith Both the name and nature of Peace is sweet Outward Peace is the chiefest of outward Blessings inward Peace is the chiefest of inward Blessings Peace upon Earth is imperfect but Peace in Heaven shall be perfect Heaven is called the Joy of the Lord Mat. 25.21 23. because there is Joy and nothing but Joy is there Enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord. Those actually Christs shall be indulged hereafter perfect Vision Potter 's Compendious View p. 54. Vision on Earth is imperfect but Vision in Heaven is perfect In the most Northern part of Tartaria they have Day for six months together and Night also for the other six months together It is thus with some Souls if they have Day the shines of God for a considerable time they also have Night the Frowns 〈◊〉 God for a considerable time A Christian is â—â—ke the Marigold that opens with the shining and â—â—uts with the setting of the Sun God often leaves â—â—e brightest men in an Eclipse to shew That they â—rrow their light from his Reflection It is said Clark's Mirror p. 190. â—hat over the top of the mountain of Potosi there â—ways hangs a Cloud even in the clearest day Unâ—er the greatest Calm thou may'st be near a Storm â—nder the greatest Vision be near Desertion Aug. It was â—â—e desire of One to see three things 1. Rome in â—s Flower 2. Paul in the Pulpit 3. Christ in â—he Flesh Did Alexander lay up Homers Iliads in 〈◊〉 Cabinet embroidered with Gold and Pearls Certainly then a deserted Soul will lay up reciâ—us Promises in the Cabinet of his heart as choice Treasure The Saints on Earth cry out of Deâ—artures Eclipses c. but in Heaven there shall â—e Vision without Amission and Intermission In Heaven there shall be Vision without Amission There will be no loss of Vision in Heaven Here â—he Cry is Saw ye him whom my Soul loveth Can. 3.3 Do you â—ee him for my part I have lost sight of him but â—o such Cry in Heaven as the loss of Vision In Heaven there shall be Vision without Intermission As it is the felicity of a Person upon Earth that God always beholds him so it is the felicity of this Person in Heaven that he always beholds God Upon Earth the Sun goes down upon thee and it is often Night to thy Soni but in Heaven it shall never go down upon thee but shall be always Day to thy Soul If once arrived at Heaven thou shalt never more lose sight of the Tree of Life when once there no Cloud will at any time interpose beeween thy Soul and thy Saviour Blessed Mat. 5.8 are the pure in heart for they shall see God The pure in heart here see God and then lose sight of him but the pure in heart hereafter shall so see God as never more to lose sight of him Those actually Christs shall be indulged hereafter perfect Freedom A threefold Freedom shall these have Those actually Christs shall be indulged here after a perfect Freedom from Satanical Suggestion Now Satan rages ranges roars for his time is short Who is able to enumerate now the temptations of those who are Christs Satan always goes about like a Lyon to devour or like a Serpent to deceive and delude Are not the best tempted most But Satan being once cast out of Heaven shall never come there more he is confined to the Aireal part Eph. 2.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he is the Prince of the Power of the Air. He tempted in the terrestial but he cannot tempt in the celestial Paradise yea under the Personality of Christs Reign upon Earth the thousand years Rev. 20.3 according to the Greek Satan shall be chained up Those actually Christs shall be indulged hereafter a perfect Freedom from sinful Communion The Cry of a Christian here is Wo to me that I live in Mesech Ps 120.5 with a barbarous People and dwell in the tents of Kedar with the Sons of Ishmael The Cry of Christians in this world may be like the complaint of the Prophet The Princes of the Nations are like the Princes of Sodom and the People of the Nations like the People of Gomorrah but there are no Nero's and Nebuchadnezzars in Heaven no Pharachs and Pilates in Heaven no Cains and Caligula's in Heaven no person living 1 Cor. 6.9 Heb. 12.22 23 24. and dying in his sin shall inherit the kingdom of God There is in Heaven a holy God and a holy Christ there are in Heaven holy Angels and holy Saints but not an unholy Soul there Those actually Christs shall be indulged hereafter a perfect Freedom from sinful Corruption I know none save those that are perfect strangers to their own hearts but complain of Sin some of one Sin some of another Oh how fain would the Soul which is actually Christs lay down this body of Sin and Death Oh says the Soul when shall I go home when shall I go to my Fathers house where I shall never sin more He that is dead is freed from sin Rom. 5.12 Death came in by Sin and Sin goeth out by Death the Death of the Body freeth us from the Body of Death Art actually in Christ Cordial VII
2 Chron. 18.3 31. Chap. 19.2 3. Be joyous also for thou art on the best side As there is the worst so there is the best side The worlds side is the worst side Gods side is the best side It was not the Virtue but the Vice of Jehoshaphat to be of Ahab's side and it had like to have cost his life That side is the best side on which holy Saints and Angels are on which a holy God and a holy Christ are but these are on thy side if thou beest actually Christs That side is the best side on which holy Saints are but they are on their side who are actually Christs Though God hath a Bag for the Sins of his yet he hath a Book for the Prayers of his and a Bottle for the Tears of his Now all the Prayers and Tears of all the Saints throughout all the Vniverse are engaged for those who are actually Christs I have seen Acts 7.34 I have seen the affliction of my People which is in Egypt and have heard their groaning and am come down to deliver them That side is the best side on which holy Angels are but they are on their side who are actually Christs Sodom and Gomorrah were not a match for two Angels Sennacheribs Army was not a match for one Angel and yet holy Angels are on their side who are Christs Are they not all ministring Spirits Heb. 1.14 sent forth to minister unto them who shall be heirs of salvation That side is the best side on which a holy God is but God is on their side Psal 118.6 who are actually Christs Jehovah is on my side or for me I will not fear what can man do unto me That side is the best side on which a holy Christ is but he is on their side who are actually his For how many did Alexander stand For how many did they reckon Gideon The Sword of the Lord Rev. 6.2 and of Gideon But a greater than Gideon is here Christ Jesus the Lord who went out conquering and to conquer and for how many stands He Now is not that side the best side on which holy Saints are and they are numerous I looked Rev. 14.1 and lo a Lamb stood on mount Zion and with him an hundred forty and four thousand Is not that side the best side on which holy Angels are an◠they are innumerable Heb. 12.22 Isa 40.15 To an innumerable company◠Angels Is not that side the best side o◠which a holy God is For All Nations unto him are but as the drop of a Bucket Is not that side the best side on which a holy Christ is For He is the Captain of the Saints salvation Heb. 2.10 made perfect thorough suffering Soul thy side is Christ side and Christs side is thy side take now 〈◊〉 taste what manner of side Christs is Christs side is the strongest side Are not me◠for the strongest side but most men mistake tha◠side that is the strongest side on which Christ is Be strong and courageous be not afraid nor dismayed for the King of Assyria 2 Chron. 32. 7 8. nor for the multitude tha◠is with him for there are more with us than with him with him is an Arm of flesh but with us is the living God to help us and to fight our Battels God is incomprehensible therefore innumerable Here all natural and spiritual Arithmetick and Rhetorick are puzled and posed Christs side is the soundest side The worlds side is an unsound side an ulcerous side a rotten side Their Root is Rottenness The world hath a stinking Breath and the Air of the world is infectious Joseph had not been long in the Court of Pharaoh before he learned to swear by the Life of Pharaoh But now Christs side is a sound side there is soundness within there is truth in the inward parts yea 't is sound within and without The Kings daughter is all Glory within Psal 45.13 and her cloathing is of wrought Gold Christs side is a prudent side The greatest Sinners are the greatest Fools the greatest Saints are the greatest Sages Those who are actually Christs are wise unto salvation which is the greatest wisdom they have that wisdom from above which is first pure and then peaceable Thou thorough thy Commandments hast made me wiser than mine Enemies Psal 119.98 Christs side is a prevailing side He must reign until he hath put all his enemies under his feet A fourfold Conquest hath Christ Jesus made for His. Over Sin To conquer a Lust is more than to conquer a Land 2 Cor. 5.21 He was made Sin a Sacrifice for us who knew no Sin by Himself that we might be made the righteousness of God in him He slays the Sons of Zerviah within Over Satan Satan is a great Enemy though Sin be a greater but Christ hath made a Conquest upon both 1 John 3.8 Christ was manifested to destroy the works of the Devil Over the Earth The world is a potent Enemy unto all but a prevailing Enemy unto many unto most Few are a match for the world John 16.33 but Christ is I have overcome the world Over Heaven Heaven is worth the hearing worth the hecding worth the having worth the holding And to look for his Son from Heaven 1 Thess 1.10 whom he raised from the dead even Jesus who delivered us from the wrath to come Art actually in Christ Cordial VIII Be joyous also for thou art graciously interested in the blessed Blood of a bleeding Jesus But what manner of Blood is Christs Blood Quest Sol. 1. Christs Blood is precious Blood The Redemption of a Soul is precious for the Soul is redeemed with Blood that is precious If the blood of a Christian be so precious in Gods eyes how precious should the Blood of a Christ be in our eyes The blood of Saints is precious in the eyes of God Psal 116.15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints This Blood is also precious in the eyes of Christ Psal 72 14. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence and precious shall their blood be in his sight Is the blood of a Christian thus What should the Blood of a Christ then be in our eyes for it is precious Blood Ye are not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold There is the negative part Silver and Gold are corruptible things though unto some as Micah's gods were to him take away these things though corruptible things and they have nothing left Ye have taken away my gods from me and the Priest and what have I left Here is a Redemption but not with corruptible things as Silver 1 Pet. 1.18 19. and Gold Silver and Gold may redeem a person in captivity to the Turk or Tartar but Silver and Gold cannot redeem a Person in captivity to Sin and Satan If this cannot what can the Blood of