the righteous he is a Buckler to them that walk uprightly 3. You that live under the New Testament Dispensation be very thankful that the written Word is so very copious and so large To have such a compleat Declaration of the Mind of God by his own Son was a Priviledge which the Old Testament Believers wisht for but did not enjoy What Moles are they who are onely busie and working in the Earth and for Earthly things and regard not the clear shining of the Sun of Righteousness To be deaf and regardless when God speaks so much to us not to understand when he speaks so fully and so plainly is inexcusable but to have Knowledg and to sin against it and to detain the truth in unrighteousness is inexcusable much more here is Ingratitude and Presumption together and the more stripes are threatned and deserved Luke 12. 47. And that Servant that knâ—w his Lords will and prepared not himself neither did according to his will shall be beatâ—◠〈◊〉 many stripes Search the VVord of God be much that you may be mighty in the Scriptures By this weapon you may defend your selves against the subtilest Enemies of the truth nay against the old subtle Serpent himself It was not an unwritten but a written word that Christ produced when he was assaulted by the Tempter Mat. 4. 4 7 10. It was an Injunction of our Lord himself Joh. 5. 39. Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal Life It was a right thought that the Scriptures direct unto Life Eternal but it was a presumptuous thought in the Pharisees to imagine Eternal Life was theirs since instead of building upon the Foundation Stone in Sion they stumbled at it But the Injunction it self is of great Moment The Scriptures are Gods own Books and the onely Books he has in the World. Longâ assiâ—uâ meditatione Scripturaram prâ—tus suun fecerat Bibliothicam Chriâ—â—â— Hyeronym de Nepotiano Every ones Breast should be like Nepotian's Bibliotheca Christi A Library in which these Books should be kept safely To be acquainted more intimately with the Word is the way to be better acquainted with God and the consequent of this acquaintance is Peace Job 22. 21. Acquaint now thy self with him and be at peace thereby good shall come to thee By Searching of the Scriptures the Understanding is improved the Heart is purified the Life is regulated This Book is indeed the thankful Glass that mends the Eyes of all that rightly look into it It was an honest Distich of one Ex aliis paleae viles hinc grana leguntur Aurea tu paleas linquito grana lege Which another thus Englishes Mens Books with worthless chaff are stor'd Gods Scripture Golden grains afford Reject the chaff and spend thy pains In gleaning up these golden Grains 5. Pray for the Spirit who endited the Word that he may interpret it and lead you into the understanding of it He is called the Spirit of wisdom and Revelation Eph. 1. 17. He reveals the Gospel he enlightens the eyes of the Understanding True Wisdom is the special Gift of the Holy Ghost It is an encouragement in Prayer that the best things may be asked with the greatest confidence The Gift of the Spirit comprehends the best things of all doubt not of Gods willingness to bestow it Luk. 11. 13. If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts to your Children how much more shall your heavenly Father gave the holy Spirit unto them that ask him It is not a notional Knowledge which many Hypocrites excell in that you should content your selves with Such Knowledge being alone puffs up him that has it 1 Cor. 8. 1. and disturbing Strife and contention follows upon Pride and High-mindedness such Knowledge aggravates Sin in the careless and carnal Professor and will exceedingly inflame his Reckoning in the day he must give account of himself to God. It is true wisdom a Spiritual understanding of the Scriptures that you should cry for When the Spirit of God discovers a truth to you with what Satisfaction will your Mind receive it When the Spirit shews you your Duty how Righteous how reasonable and what a Priviledge does it appear The Spirits Light and Strength go together so that the Will is inclined to a compliance when the enlightned Soul does understand the Will of God. When the Spirit applies a Promise to you how will your Faith be confirmed how will you abound in Hope and how full of sweetest peace will your hearts be while you securely rest on the God of Truth whose VVord will endure when Heaven and Earth shall pass away Isa 26. 3 4. Thou wilt keep him in perfect Peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee Trust ye in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting Strength 6. Let your Knowledge of the Word of God be more perfect Alas how little do we know of what may be known and what we do know how much better may we know it Though the Children of God are Children of Light and Children of the Day yet there are great remainders of darkness in some of them and some remainders in all This remaining Ignorance is both their Sin and Misery by reason of which Satan their subtle enemy has many times great advantage against them Labour after a more perfect Knowledge of God his Son his Truth his Will his Word informs you of all If the Happiness of Heaven lies so much in a beatifical seeing Oh use all possible intention of mind that you may see more and more even while you are here on Earth True Knowledge will debase the idolized World and make it nothing in your eyes and it wil humble you and make you perceive that really you are worse than nothing How does a clearer Knowledge of God make holy Job much more humble than ever Job 42. 5 6. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the Ear but now mine Eye seeth thee wherefore I abhorr my self and repent in Dust and Ashes The better you know the Lord the more you will Love and Fear and Praise him The better you know his Christ you cannot chuse but still more highly prize him and your Hearts will cleave to him with the fuller purpose The 〈…〉 er you know his Commands the more they 〈◊〉 be your Counsellours your longing your delight and your Songs in the house of your Pilgrimage The better you know the Cross of Christ you will be the less offended 〈…〉 heaviest Afflictions will be made light of 〈◊〉 compared with a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. 7. Let your Love be greater and more perfect to this perfect VVord of God. The World indeed hates this VVord because it testifies against them that their works are evil and will have an ill end True love to it will argue spiritual Life by it and that it has been effectual to turn and
only Rulers in the World the greatest Monarchs that are graceless are slaves to their ambition carnal interests and to divers lusts and pleasures but the Converted are more than conquerors and recover that dominion over the Creatures which was lost in the first transgression 6. Conversion is a directing all we do to the glory of God. They that take aim shut one of their Eyes The Convert in his aims and ends has a single Eye Gods honour is designed above all He that makes not God his End has not yet begun to turn to him in sincerity The Convert in his civil actions as buying and selling in his natural actions as eâ—â—â—â—g and ar 〈…〉 does what he does to the glory of God as the Apostle enjoyns 1 Cor. 10. 31. And especially in his religiâ—us actions his design is that the Name of God may be hallowed and glorified in the desiring and working out his own Salvation he designs that God may have the glory of saving him as well as he 〈…〉 self the happiness of being saved Thus have I shewn what Conversion is with reference to God. Fifthly Conversion may be considered with reference to Jesus the Mediatour As God is He to whom we turn so Christ is He through whom we do it and indeed there is no coming to the Father but by this one Mediator between God and Men the Man Christ Jesus Joh. 14. 6. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Christ is both God and Man in one person and two Natures so very distinct and the one so infinitely above the other being united in the Person of Christ hence follows an Vnion and Reconciliation between God and those of the Children of Men for and of whom Christ undertakes to be an Advocate a Surety a Saviour and Redeemer In Conversion there is an absolute necessity of using the Mediation of Christ it is by the Grace of Christ strengthening that the Sinner is enabled to turn to God and 't is upon the account of the Obedience and Intercession of the Lord Jesus that the returning Sinner does find acceptance with the Father Christ is the Lord whom the Prophet speaks of Isa 45. 24 25. Surely shall one say in the Lord have I righteousness and strength in the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be â—ustified and shall glory Now how the Convert in his turning has his Eye and Heart â—n Christ I shall shew you in these particulars 1. The Convert is perswaded that God is accessible in Christ Jesus Eph. 3. 12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the Faith of him God is not implacable he is not mexorable but ready to forgive and plenteous in Mercy unto all that cry for it Christ has satisfied the Justice of God to the very utmost of its demands he paid more to Justice in an hour than Believers could have paid unto Eternity Christ can â—ppease the Almighties 〈◊〉 Anger and his Blood can do away the greatest transgressions 1 Joh. â— 7. The Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseâ—â— us from all sin The Convert is encouraged by the Blood of Christ which is the Blood of him that is God and by the rich Grace of God in him Eph. 1. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his Grace Indeed the Scripture speaks of one Sin that is unpardonable that against the Holy Ghost but the reason is not as if it were too great for the Blood of Christ to procure the Pardon of it but because such Sinners resist and do despight to the Spirit of Christ and will by no means be brought to him but trample under foot the Son of God and count his Blood an unholy and common thing The Remedy is not insufficient for them but they perversely despise and will by no means use it and therefore perish 2. The Convert is encouraged by the general serious frequent gracious invitations made in the Gospel All Offenders are invited to Christ who is Sinners Peace for the Chastisement of their peace was upon him Isa 53. 5. The Captives are invited to this Redeemer that they may have liberty by him and such liberty as is freedom indeed Joh. 8. 36. All thirsty Souls are invited to come to him for the Waters of Life Rev. 22. 17. Whosoever will let him drink of the waters of Life freely Finally the lost that see themselves to be lost are invited to come to Christ for Salvation and He is able to save unto the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. Whatever the guilt of Sin is whatever the pollutions are the Blood the Spirit of Christ are offer'd in the Gospel and are sufficient for the justifying and washing of the guilty and defiled 3. The Convert receives Christ and relyes upon him for Pardon Grace and Life eternal He is troubled that he received him no sooner that his Heart was with a foolish Obstinacy shut against him for so long a time though to receive him is to have power to become a Son of God Joh. 1. 12. But now his Heart is open to entertain this Lord of life this Prince and maker of Peace his accepting Christ is a voluntary a glad a thankful acceptance and in Him not in the Flesh he places his confidence and hopes he despairs in himself and every thing else but he abounds in hope because of that superabundant Grace that reigns by Jesus Christ Rom. 5. 20 21. And because the Apostle plainly sayes He that spared not his own Son but deliver'd him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things Rom. 8. 32. The Converts eye is fixt on Jesus at his very first Conversion and still he is looking to him to his very dissolution he sees in Him an everlasting Righteousness a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an all-fulness of Grace on Christ therefore he depends for acceptance with God and all needful Strength and Grace until he comes to Glory 4. The Convert submits to the easie Yoak of Christ Jesus He walks no longer after the course of this World he fulfils no longer the â—â—siâ—â—â— of the Flesh and of the Mind he casts off the Yoak of Mammon and of Satan and now his great Inquiry is what the Lord Jesus would have him to do that he may do according to his Will He looks on Christ as Law-giver and King in Sion and his Laws he is willing to obey and he remembers that Christ endured the Cross and was Crown'd with thâ—rns therefore he stumbles not at the Cross but takes it up and follows the Lamb and reckons those are light Afflictions which are but for a moment and that they ought not to be feared or shunn'd when they can't be avoided without sin being they work for those that undergo them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. 5. The Convert loves the Lord Jesus in sincerity and lives by Faith on him is long as he lives here in
which indeed is not this is a daring this is a wicked addition unto the VVord of God but to expound the Scripture by it self to compare the VVord of God with it self that so we may attain to the better understanding of it this is very allowable nay it is a very needful Duty The Apostle Paul doth deliver to us an excellent Rule of Prophesie Rom. 12. 6. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us whether prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of Faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In our expounding of Scripture this Analogy and proportion of Faith is very much to be observed Now this Analogy or proportion of Faith doth imply the constant mind of God in the more plain parts of the Scripture and therefore contrary unto this a sence of the more obscure parts is in no wise to be admitted The Apostle Peter tells us 2 Pet. 1. 20. That no prophesie of Scripture is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of private interpretation or of Mens own interpretation which I think it had better have been translated This interpretation it may have a double reference either to the inspired Pen-men of Scripture themselves who were the Interpreters of the Mind of God unto the Church and unto the World and they spake nothing that was private they spake nothing that was their own but all that VVord delivered in inspired Scripture it was from God. Or Secondly This Interpretation may have a reference unto the Expounders of Scripture and whosoever they are at this day that do expound the Scripture that Exposition it must not be their own Suppose there was never so great a Council assembled together suppose it was a General Council yet if they deliver any thing that is their own it would be a private Interpretation and it is in no wise to be admitted The VVord of God is a perfect VVord and by it self alone it is to be Interpreted Shall I give you three Rules I wish they were observed The Rules are these In Mans corrupt and fallen state Sin is all in all In Mans renewed state Christ with his Grace and Spirit is all in all And hereafter in Glory God will be all in all If these three Rules were observed it would help you the better to understand the whole Word of God. Thus much be spoken by way of Negation 2. I am to speak by way of Position and in several Propositions I shall tell you in what sence the VVotd of God is perfect 1. The VVord of God is perfect as a Moans and therefore in the using of it your Eye must be unto him who is the Fountain and principal â—â—ficient of all that is truely good Natural means as Food to sustain Nature Physick to recover it when it is decayed have their Efficacy from God therefore you read Mat. 4. 4. That man doth not live by Bread alone But now the VVord is a Moral means and consequently the Efficacy of it is not so common and ordinary as the Efficacy of Natural means Nature doth like that which is for its own Preservation but the Souls of men are so corrupted and besotted by sin that they utterly dislike what is for their own benefit Therefore God is seriously to be sought unto that he would bless this Means with success that of his own will he would accompany his VVord and make it effectual to Regeneration James 1. 18. Of his own will begat he us by the Word of Truth Brethren the Means of Grace are to be used as Means and in no wise are they to be advanced higher as if their Efficacy was of themselves Being satisfied in the work done O how many thousands hath it hindered from working out their own Salvation and they have perished for ever because they have thought that bare using of the Means of Grace was sufficient to save them God is very much provoked to Jealousie when we place confidence in our own Endeavours or in the Means of Grace which he hath instituted You are forward to hear the Word of God but you must remember that the Word of God will never be effectual unto your enlivening unto your eternal Happiness unless God work like himself along with it You must hear but your Hope must not be in the Word it self consider'd alone by it self but your Hope must be in God whose Word it is For he hath said Look unto me and be saved all ye ends of the Earth 2. When the first Part of this Word of God was written and given as a Rule of Faith and Worship and Life it was perfect considering the Churches present State. When Israel had no more than Moses's writings that Revelation was perfect and sufficient concerning the will of the God of Israel considering the present state of Israel therefore you read Num. 10. 7. That Moses was faithful in all the House of God. God himself gives him this Testimony He set before Israel life and death and told them the way how the one might be escaped and how the other might be obtained Deut. 30. 19. Moses did faithfully deliver the Moral Law that was first spoken by Gods own Voice and afterwards writ with his own Finger and which is indeed of perpetual Obligation He likewise did faithfully deliver the Ceremonial Law and the Ordinances of it which was a Pre-signification of Jesus Christ what he was to doe how he was to suffer and to dye that he might make an Atonement for Sin and that he might sanctifie and cleanse his Church and People The Apostle Gal. 3. 24. sayes That the Law was our School-master to bring us unto Christ The Moral Law doth force sensible Sinners unto Christ because from the Curse of it they can be delivered no other way but by a Mediator But the Ceremonial Law doth instruct concerning Christ and doth notably display his Sufferings his Satisfaction that he made to the Justice of God and the Benefits of his Crucifixion and so it is our School-master to bring us unto Christ And Moses added the Judicial Law which concerned Israel as they were a Theocracy as they were a Common-wealth of Gods own Ordination and contrivance Thus the Word as a Rule of Faith and Life was perfect and by this Word of God the Elect were instructed to turn to God and at last brought safe to Glory 3. When the New Testament was added to the Old then the Church had the most perfect the most large and compleat Edition of the Word of God. And this was suited unto the Churches Age of greater maturity Heb. 1. 1. God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake aforetime unto our Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son. And truly the Son who is in the bosom of the Father hath made the fullest Declaration of the Father and of his Will unto the Children of men Christ telleth his Disciples how they were Priviledged in seeing him the
themselves unto God. This Doctrine concerning Judgment was Preached early in the World we find 't was Published before the Flood of Noah as you may see Jude v. 14 15. where you have the summe of a Sermon but a very terrible one Preached by Enoch the seventh 〈◊〉 Adam Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints to execute Judgment upon all 〈◊〉 to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all the hard speeches which ungodly Sinners have spoken against him Under the Mosaical Dispensation the Children of Israel heard the same Doctrine That great Prince and Preacher Solomon thus concludes his Book of Ecclesiastes having displayed the Creatures Vanity having taught Man his Interest and Duty To fear God and to keep his Commandments he closes with these words Chap. 12. ult God will bring every worâ— into Judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil And how plainly does the Apostle Paul speak to the same purpose 2 Cor. 5. 10 11. For we must all appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord we perswade Men. In the handling of this Doctrine this is the Method I shall observe First I shall Discourse concerning Him that is to be the Judge Secondly I shall speak concerning the Persons that are to be judged Thirdly Concerning the things that shall be brought into Judgment Fourthly I shall demonstrate the Certainty of this Judgment And then in the lest Place make Application In the first Place I am to Discourse concerning the Judge and the Text plainly tells us that the Judge is Christ The Father I grant is said to judge 1 Peâ— 1. 17. If ye call on the Father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work pass the time of your sâ—journing here in fear Yet it is said in another place The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son Joh. 5. 22. How shall these Scriptures â—e reconciled The reconciliation is easie thus the Father judges because the Authority of Judging belongs to him because he does Consent unto the Sons Judgment and has ordained him to Judge the World in Righteousness the truth is the Father Judges all but 't is mediately by Jesus Christ And yet in another sense the Father judges not because Christ the Son the second Person in the Godhead alone was incarâ—ate and manifested in the Flesh and He alone will visibly Judge the World at the great approaching Day These four things may be observed concerning Christ the Judge He is a Saviour to the uttermost He is the Only Saviour He is Lord of all And as such a Lord he will come with a â—â—st glorious Attendance 1. Christ the Judge is a Saviour to the uttermost and really at the Judgment-day he will compleat the Churches Salvation he began it here in this World and still is carrying it on but the last day will be the day in which he will put his last Hand to this Work and make it perfect Heb. â— 28. Christ wâ—◠〈◊〉 offered 〈◊〉 tâ—â—ear the sins of many and unto them that lâ—â—k 〈◊〉 him shall he appear the second time without sin 〈◊〉 Salvation then Salvation shall be cons 〈…〉 the whole of it shall be wrought nothing oâ— Sin or the sad effects of it shall remain nothing that shall cause the least frown in the Face 〈◊〉 God to eternity Death will be swallowed 〈◊〉 in Victory the whole Man will be glorious anâ— immortal Christ will then have compleated his whole Design upon all his Saints and Members he will have made them as holy and happy aâ— he did intend to make them he will indeed prâ—sent his Church a glorious Church not having sâ— or wrinkle or any such thing but it shall be all holy and its Beauty without the least 〈◊〉 Eph. 5. 27. 2. Christ the Judge is the Only Saviour therefore those that are Condemn'd by Him 〈…〉 vain for them to expect Salvation from any 〈◊〉 Christ is the only Foundation-stone on which all that build shall stand other Builders are foolish and build upon the sand and what they build will fall and great will be the fall of it They that are not interested in the Lord Jesus by Faith that are not Justified by his Blood who besides can save them from Wrath those whose Iniquities are not done away by his offering up oâ— himself without spot to God there can be found no other Sacrifice for their sins but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery indignatioâ— that shall devour the Adversaries And how dreadful will it be to be Sentenced to Death and 〈…〉 by the only Author of Salvation and Life they that by his Mouth shall be doom'd â—o eternal Destruction that Destruction will be made ten thousand times the sorer by eternal Desperation Alas what Hope can be left when the Lamb of God who alone can take away Sin shall â—e so full of Wrath as for ever to reject and cast away the Sinner 3. Christ the Judge is Lord of all this is a truth that the Tongue of an Angel did Proclaim Luk. 2. 11. a truth that every Tongue should confess Phil. 2. 11. that every Heart ought to believe and which the most unbelieving and obstiâ—aâ—â— at last shall be made to know Christ hath on his Vesture and on his Thigh this Name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 1â— He has all Power in his hand things in Heaven and Earth and under the Earth are subâ—ect to him Those that are wise do willingly â—ow before him and they who will not bow â—e can easily break and dash them to pieces A mighty Lord Christ is at whose Command Death shall deliver again all that for so many years he had imprisoned in the Grave he has indeed the Key of Death and Hell too Rev. 1. 1â— both are under his Power at his Command also the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Eartâ—â—lso and the works therein shall be burnt up There is no dealing with this Judge by way of resistance it concerns us all to be diligent that â—e may be sound of him in peace without spot and blameless â— Pet. 3. 10 14. 4. Christ the Judge will come with a 〈◊〉 glorious Attendance How awakening to the Worâ— will the Voice of the Arch-Angel and the Trâ—mp of God be Christ will appear with a light sâ—â— above the brightness of the Sun not a Member of his but shall shine like that glorious Luminary Mat. 13. 43. Then shall the righteous shâ—â—â— as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father And what a spectacle will all the Saints together be as so many millions of Suns shining at Once