out of the Book of the living as Psal 69. 27 28. whence that Eccles 9. 4. with 2 Cor. 5. 15. Even for all those sins and offences found in and upon men or done by them before the day of Gods grace and patience be quite out with them or their sin be so finished as to have brought forth death in an utter separation from God sin when so finished is not to be prayed for because he is not the propitiation for it as appeares by comparing 1 Tim. 21 1-6 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. with ch 5. 16. But to him that is joyned to all the living there is hope and help in Christ there is yet pardon for all his sins and healing for all his diseases For he was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification Now our sins and offences even the sins and trespasses of the World which the Lamb of God was sent to take away for which he was delivered and gave himselfe they are of two sorts and so distinctly spoken off in the Scripture And accordingly the termes on which he was delivered for them are distinct and different 1 The sins are of two sorts 1. That offence of one man called Adams transgression in which all have sinned and by which sin and so death by sin entred into the World and overspread the whole nature And so all that sin and sinfullnesse that is the naturall and necessary fruit thereof 2 Sins that are now committed by men after the similitude of Adam's transgression such as in which men sin voluntarily by a willfull complyance with Satan against light and power to withstand for though men since the fall of the whole nature in the first man Adam have not that light knowledge and power by which they may withstand Satan in them as a naturall habbit or as Adam in his first constitution yet God by Jesus Christ giveth more grace more abundant light or discoveries of more abundant grace and glory with supernaturall power answerably in and with those discoveries of his goodnesse leading to repentance and teaching and strengthening to resist sin and Satan And thus Christ is a testimony to men and the grace of God in and through him bringing salvation to them all in due time So that if when light thus comes to them they then love and choose darknesse wickedly resisting and departing from him that calleth them into the grace of Christ hardening their hearts against his melting and softening opperations refusing to be healed and so as children of disobedience to the grace of God walking after the course of this World after the Prince of the power of the ayre They then and therein sin of themselves after the similitude of Adam's transgression like men or like Adam Hose 6. 5 6 7. yea their sins being against more grace even against the light and power of the grace in Christ faithfully and seasonably given are greater and of a higher nature though resembled by his See both these sorts of sins distinctly mentioned Rom. 5. 14. Neverthelesse death raigned from Adam to Moses as well as since even over those that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression where he clearly implyes that some there were before as well as since that sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression And also that there were some that had not so sinned and yet that death reigned over them also which shewes that they had sinned and were uncleane and polluted by sin though they had not so sinned For death came in by sin as vers 12. By one man sin entred into the World and death by sin for as much as all have sinned so that sin was in the World before the Law given by Moses and was upon them as an overspreading Leprosie even upon them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression which also shewes that there was a Law and a Law broken and man fallen under the penalty of it before that more full and declarative giving of it by Moses for where there is no Law there is no transgression And after this distinct mention of sins he shewes in the next verses how the gift and grace in and through it by that one man Jesus Christ goes beyond the offence in that it is of many offences There is in it provision of pardon and healing for many other offences besides the first and the necessary branches of that even for such sins as are after the similitude of Adams transgression All sins of the first sort are mentioned as already entred into and overspreading the whole nature even from the first receite and consenting to the temptation of Satan by Adam And so found in the World before Christs undertaking to dye for them And alwayes considered as having being in men in order of nature before that gift and grace in and by it as Rom. 3. 23. All have sinned namely in that offence of one as Rom. 5. 12. And are come short of the glory of God deprived and bereft of that Image and glory of God in which they were created in the first man so that they come forth naturally unclean and altogether filthy the Imaginations of his heart evill from his youth and that enmity of the mind leading to all evill works Gen. 8. 21. Psal 14. 3. with Rom. 3. 9-19 Coll. 1. 21. All sins of the second sort that is hateing when they see rejecting when they hear sinning wilfully against the light and power of the grace of God in Christ bringing salvation are expresly mentioned as sins that could have had no being in the World nor had the World known them or been capable of committing them If there had not been such a gift at least vertually for so it was from the first of our need prepared and accepted and the grace of God through it bringing salvation If he had not made peace for them by his bloud and also preached peace to them even to their spirits by his spirit They had not known or been capable of committing sin as it is now charged upon them that is of seeing and hateing willfull sinning against light Joh. 15. 22-24 with ch 3. 19. 12. 46-48 2. The termes on which he was delivered for them are different The sins of the World of the first sort which are all that had or have beeing in the World in order of nature before the gift and the grace that is in and through it bringing salvation even that offence of one and the naturall uncleannesse from thence entring into and overspreading the whole nature and so remaining in us as a naturall heritage while we are in this body as a Law of sin in the members even in those in whom the spirit is made alive for righteousnesse sake yea in such as walk not after the flesh but after the spirit All these were imputed to Him He was so made under the Law that concluded us guilty And for us that they were legally charged on him
mighty voyce 1 It shall be by vertue of or because of his being the son of man his being made so and his continuing ever to be so by and in the vertue of the works finished in that his own body which the Father gave him to do on Earth So much is plain in the foregoing verses compared with this The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son For as the Father hath life in himselfe so he hath given to the Son to have life in himselfe and hath given Him authority to execute Judgment also because he is the son of man yea on that this which followes in the Text doth also depend being part of that exccution of judgment to which the Father hath given him authority Because he is the Son of man therefore it is that all that are in the Graves shall hear his voyce and shall come forth c. If he had not suffered the judgment of this World which the Father had against them under which they were fallen by the transgression and disobedience of the first man in which all have sinned and by that sin and sinfullnesse which thereby entred into and overspread the whole nature which judgment he could not have suffered if he had not had a body prepared for him in mans nature subject to all our infirmities yet without sin And if also in suffering that judgment he had not so satisfied as to discharge and overcome it If he had not compleated righteousnesse in riseing up from the Dead in the name power and glory of the Father that delivered him to it And in the same body in which our sins were imputed to him and in which he bore them to the Tree a Conquerour over all that Curse and Death inflicted on him for us And offered up that body an acceptable and effectuall ransome or price of Redemption to God for all mankind so as to be therein and as such a ransome received and accepted for ever with the Father now no more to return to coâ—ruption Then that first judgment could not have been remitted nor mankind released from under it to him And the whole judgment of them committed to him nor could he have received authority and power to raise them all out of the first death And bring them to his judgment seat But this power authority and glory is given him because he is the Son of Man according to that Joh. 12. 31 32 33. Now is the Judgment of this World namely then when his soul was in trouble as vers 27. in that Agony in which it was made an offering for our sin Then was the Judgment of this World executed on him and suffered by him now shall the Prince of this World be cast out That is this suffering work being over and finished By vertue of it and of the well-pleasednesse God hath taken in it The power of death should be and was before vertually taken from Satan And he cast out of that dominion and principallity he had gotten over mankind by the receite and prevailency of his temptation Bringing sin weaknesse and death into the World and upon the whole nature And so bringing whole man under the Judgment of banishment and separation from God in the first death which was such as left them as so shut out from God necessarily under the power and dominion of Satan subject to his bondage all their life time And so for ever to be left under the power and dominion of the first death This plot and snare of Satan he hath broken That no man is necessarily holden out from God by sin death or the Curse of the Law as so brought in nor shall any be for ever holden in that death Christ hath abollished death by his appearing and therein spoyled Principallities and Powers The Prince of this World is judged And see what followes And I says he if I be lifted up from the Earth will draw all men to me which he spake saith the Text signifying by what death he should dye yet doubtlesse 't is a direct expression of his exaltation with the right hand of God in that Body in which he bore our sins to the Tree But that so expressed as therein was signified the manner of his death by being lifted up upon the Cross through which and by meanes of which he was so exalted And so in both it answers to this Text Because he is the son of man Because of his taking mans nature in that one body prepared for him and in that his own body humbling himselfe to death even the death of the Cross as the Son or Heyre of man even his Heyre at Law of all his sin misery death and curse that came in meerly through the offence of one man Adam Therefore he being raised from the dead by the glory of the Father in that his own body in which he bore our sins to the Tree now no more to return to corruption and exalted with the right hand of God to appear in his presence in Heaven it selfe for us is therein glorified with the Fathers own selfe so as to bring all men under his power dispose and Government in their severall Ages that through him they may be saved yea therefore because of his sufferings and giving himselfe as raised from the dead and being accepted for ever a ransome for them all he will redeem them all wholly from the first death ransome them from the power of the Grave and bring them to his Judgment seat Hose 13. 14. with 1 Tim. 2. 6. For to this end Christ both dyed rose and revived that he might be Lord of all both dead and living Rom. 14. 9 11 12. Phill. 2. 6-11 For as by man came death so by man also the resurrection of the dead for as in Adam all dye and that is no otherwise but in the demerit and influence of his transgression Rom. 5. 12. even so in Christ That is in the merit or vertue and influence of his perfect sacrifice and righteousnesse shall all be made alive Hence the Apostle gives this as the ground of that Doctrine that we must all appear before the Judgment seate of Christ that every one may receive according to the things done in the body whether good or bad namely that one dyed for all and rose again so effecatiously as it was accepted with the Father as if all had dyed and to such a gracious end that they which live every man in his severall Age and life time should not hence forth after this grace comes to him bringing salvation live to themselves but to him that dyed for them and rose again If he had not dyed for them their death and suffered their curse and that so effectually as to become himselfe a ransome for them a price of redemption from that death and curse They must necessarily have perished for ever in and under it If also this had not been by the grace of God and so reall
his righteousnesse for the remission of sins that are past And that he might be just and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus where is boasting then it is excluded By what Law of works Nay but by the Law of faith And hence the Apostle concludes the forementioned Doctrine of Justification and so being made the righteousnesse of God in Christ by faith without the deeds of the Law suitable also to that Rom. 5. 17 18 19. Gall. 3. 13 14. As also 3 Concerning that wonderfull manifestation of Gods graciousnesse to manward and having no pleasure at all in the death of any sinner no not in the death of wicked and rebellious Backsliders while yet it is to day and of the plenteousnesse of redemption even the forgivenesse of sins with him in Christ that he may yet be feared and hoped in by such And of the everlasting goodnesse excellency and certainty of this ground and way of believing in Christ for all and so of seeking righteousnesse and strength in the Lord so as by faith in him I say concerning that wonderfull manifestation of all this that is in Gods riches of compassion shewed in for bearing and suffering long with such froward and rebellious Backsliders and in his using such manifold and various meanes for the seeking up the lost and Wanderers by Christ And in his infinite readinesse as with great desire and joy to receive such on their turning to him in the light and power of his reproofes which are alwayes still with discoveries of his goodnesse melting and turning the soul to him His not upbraiding such with their weaknesse dullnesse brokennesse and imperfection in their turning or looking again to him not breaking the bruised reed nor quenching the smoaking flax nor remembring their former unprofitablenesse backslidings and iniquities against them But graciously healing them loving them freely and casting all their sins into the depth of the Sea not of works but of the grace of him that calleth even of his grace to man-ward and for that love wherewith he loved them while dead in sins and trespasses and walking after the course of this World That in them he might shew a pattern of the exceeding riches of his grace in Christ to others even in Ages to come according to those Scriptures Math. 18. 11. 14. Luk. 15. tot Isa 42. 1-6 18-21 chap. 50. tot Jer. 3. 1. 12 14. 4. 1 2. Hose 14. Mich. 7. 18 19 20. Eph. 2. 1 4. 5-7 c. And that this rightly known believed with the heart and believingly minded would make us willing to confesse our sins and acknowledge our aptnesse to wander our readinesse to halt our manifold iniquities and backslidings from him that hath called us into the grace of Christ yea particularly to take shame to our selves in confessing wherein soever any of us have exceeded and perverted that which was right and acknowledging how unprofitable shamefull and destructive such wayes are and have been to us and further might have been even to the losse of our soules for ever had not his tender mercies and compassions in Christ to sinners been infinite as Psal 38. 15 16 17 18. Jer. 3. 12 13. Job 33. 27. yea also that while yet through the riches of his compassion and the infinite and everlasting vertue and power of the sacrifice and mediation of Christ with the Father for us a Door is held open for our turning to him opportunity given and his goodnesse with it melting and moving to repentance if yet we resuse to return and go on still in our trespasses wickedly departing from him by an evill heart of unbeliefe hide our sins and will not be healed or after so many deliverances sin again we shall not prosper But so going on falling away till the opportunity be past shall make it impossible to our selves to be renewed again by repentance and make our drawings back in the finishing of them compleatly to our own perdition and so aggravate our everlasting condemnation by the manifold mercies bestowed and so oft renewed against which we have sinned and hardened our selves to the utmost Nor is there any harm in such apprehensions and acknowledgments of our own aptnesse to wander readinesse to halt And of the perniciousnesse and danger of willfullnesse in wandering and refusing to be healed to be ever with us While Gods love and faithfullnesse in Christ the plenteous redemption forgivenesse of sins and healing with him The riches of his compassion and tender mercy in Christ for recalling and on their turning receiving pardoning and healing greatest Back-sliders while it is yet to day is with it known and believingly minded by us But much profit is administred by these apprehensions together retained even gracious admonition with encouragement to turn to him from whom we have deeply revolted seeing yet there is such mercy with him and plenteous redemption that he may yet be feared and hoped in by such as Psal 130. These then being the Instructions which she desired should be opened to the people we shall speak some thing farther to them in the explication of the point under consideration And first to the first part of it who they are that have done good Here conder 1 What that is which by the wisedome of God is called mens doing good 2 When is the time or opportunity for doing it 3 When in a Scripture sence any are said to have done it 1 That which is by the wisedome of God accounted and here called Mens doing good is explicated in the former verses to be Mens honouring the Son and so there honouring the Father in him vers 23. with 1 Joh. 2. 23. And that in hearing the word or voyce of the Son the preaching of peace by Jesus Christ in that hearing given them in the evidence and demonstration of the spirit with power that is in the declarations of that his word or voyce vouchsafed them so as by it and according to it to believe on him that sent him see vers 24 25. with 1 Joh. 2. 24 25. 5. 9 10 11 12 13. Joh. 1. 12. And to this we have the generall consent of all Scripture For of all Adam's naturall posterity there is none righteous or that doth good in any light wisedome strength or works of their own By the deeds of the Law shall no man be justifyed in the sight of God for by the Law is the knowledge or discovery of sin in their best as well as in their worst works They therefore only are accounted doers or workers of good to whom God imputes righteousnesse without works And that is To him that worketh not That seekes not to attaine righteousnesse by the works of the Law or in his own wisedome and strength by which no man shall prevaile But ceasing from his own works believeth on him that justifyeth the ungodly he believes for righteousnesse or seeks righteousnesse by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law as Rom. 9. 30. 32. and
as his own sins And he owned and acknowledged them and willingly bore and suffered for them as his own sins Psal 40. 12. 1 Pet. 2. 24. Though he knew no sin for God made him that knew no sin to be sin for us 2 Cor. 5. 21. All we like sheep have gone astray namely in that offence of one in which all have sinned Rom. 5. 12. 3. 23. Therein we have volluntarily and together run out from God at one Gap and so like Sheep And from thence have turned every one to his own way As the naturall fruit of that first generall departure we are naturally following every one his own lust Thus both the branches of the sins of the first forâ— are expressed and with respect to them all he affirmes the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all Answerable to which is that of the Apostle 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconcileing the World to Himselfe not imputing to them their trespasses meaning plainly by their trespasses as appeares by the matter treated on and the dependance those expressions have on the former even all their trespasses that occasioned and brought in the first enmity and breach between God and mankind which God was in Christ reconcileing and making up in those works he gave him to finish in his own Body on the Earth And so all those sins and trespasses in which they were naturally dead and are so as considered without and before this gift and the grace in and through it which were all their sins as so considered as before is shewed God did not impute to them their trespasses but laid them upon his own Son And he was delivered for them as the guilty Person even as for his own sinnes The sins of the World after the second or following consideration viz. All those in which men sin after the similitude of Adam's transgression against the light and power of the grace of God bringing salvation loving and chusing darknesse when light comes These having no possibility of Beeing in the World before the consideration of peace made for men and preached to them by Christ were not of those imputed to or laid upon Christ as his own sins for him to satisfie for And take away from before the Father by and in that Act of the sheading of his bloud and offering up of his Body once for all But sins of that nature are still imputed to and charged upon the people by God while they continue in them Joh. 20. 23. with ch 3. 18 19 36. Yet for these sins also he was delivered and did give himselfe and shead his bloud That thereby he might purchase and obtain power to take away sins of this nature as they should be found in men while his grace is bringing salvation to them and so to make reconciliation for the sins of the people by his dayly mediation in the infinite and abideing vertue of his one oblation Hebr. 2. 14-17 Therefore was he made under the Law and all our sins after that first consideration imputed to him and laid upon him that by or through his sufferings he might not only make peace and attonement for them But thereby also obtain plenteous redemption even the forgivenesse of sins and so become by meanes of that death which was for the Redemption of the transgressions under the first Testament The Mediator of the new Testament yea a standing propitiation for the sins of the whole World even for their sins after the following consideration Hebr. 9. 15. with 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. For of sins of that nature he speakes 1 Joh. 3. 8 He that committeth sin is of the Devill Every man is a sinner and wholly sinfull from Adam even as a naturall heritage But the grace of God in such wise brings salvation to all men in due time that men are not left in a necessity of committing serving and so pineing away in their iniquities Therefore he that committeth or serveth consenteth yeildeth up to and walketh in sin he is therein of the Devill begotten born and led of Satan willfully consenting and complying with him against the light and power of the grace of God bringing salvation And to this he addes For this purpose was that Son of God manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devill not only to destroy his first and great work in which he had prevailed over all mankind by suffering the judgment of this World And so breaking the snare and casting him out of his principallity he had over mankind by conquest made in his resurrection But also that by vertue thereof he might destroy his following works in taking away those following sins of men complying with him in his new temptations which provoke and make lyable to that wrath that is yet to come in respect of the execution of it the second death And so it answers to the fifth verse yee know that he was manifested to take away our sins even our sins committed and continued in by us against the grace of God and hope set before us in Christ to purify us in which the Law also is transgressed as appears by comparing this with verses 3 4. He gave himselfe for us and for our sins that he might redeem us from all iniquity that he might deliver us from this present evill World And so that he might purify to himselfe a people out of the World for the good of the World a peculiar people zealous of good works He suffered the just for the unjust that he might bring us back from all our wandering to God So that he needs not to offer dayly or often as the former Priest first for his own sins and then for the peoples For this he did once when he offered up himselfe That one offering was first for all those sins of the World which were imputed to him as his own sins that therein peace and attonement might be made for them that they might not be so imputed to us And then also the same offering was for the sins of the people even those that are still imputed to them while they coâ—tinue in them And so he was delivered and gave himselfe for them as for the sins of the people that they might be found guilty of and running into after his grace bringing salvation to them and during the day of his grace and patience towards them That by that one offering perfected through sufferings and in his resurrection and ascension he might be impowred in the name of God to make intercession for the transgrestors and so to take away the sins of the World by his continued mediation appearing in the presence of God for us That patience and forbearance may be exercised towards Rebbels while it may be for their good And that he may in the same name of the Father give unto these that while it is yet to day are moved to repentance by his goodnesse whereby he is all the day leading to it The forgivenesse
of their sins and eternall life Joh. 3. â—7 Luk. 9. 56. 1 Tim. 2. 4 5 6. with Psal 68. 18 19 20. Isa 42 18 19 21. Joh. 6. 40. The Resurrection of Christ then being the Resurrection of him who was delivered for our offences must needs be in an answerable sence for our justification 1. Such it is as in which he for us or in our stead is justifyed and acquit of all the sins imputed to him And so the whole nature all mankind are in him justified freely by the grace of God through the redemption that is in Jesus from all sins after the first consideration in which they have already sinned and with which they are polluted as considered without and before the gift and grace by it as aforesaid Rom. 3. 23 24. So as the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son Joh. 5. 22. As the offence of one was unto all to condemnation So the righteousnesse of one perfected in his Resurrection from the dead is unto all to justification of life that they might live to him that dyed for them and rose again Rom. 5. 18. 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law Under which otherwise we must all have been banished from God for ever Gall. 3. 13. with 2 Sam. 14. 14. So that though we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God And sin be in us and death upon us as a naturall heritage while in these bodies and the ordinance of God remaines still firm concerning the whole kind That we must all needs once dye yet no man shall perish for ever in that death nor according to that rule or judgment for as in Adam all dye so in Christ shall all be made alive and appear before his judgment Seat where this shall be the only condemning sin that when light came they loved darknesse refused to be healed He having suffered the judgment of this World and being lift up from the Earth will draw all men to him yea so is the guilt of this naturall uncleannesse removed from before God that no man is thereby or therefore necessarily kept out from God The wrath thereby procured being suffered by him is taken away in his Resurrection An effectuall dore of repentance opened and the grace of God by him bringing salvation and leading to repentance in due time He having by himselfe purged namely the Heavens themselves and so taken away from before the Father the guilt off our sins even all the sins and trespasses of the World in which we were dead and heyres of wrath by nature and which were imputed to him without the purging of which from before the Throne of God he could not have been accepted and set down there for us having by himselfe purged them away he is now set down on the right hand of God That repentance and remission of sins might be preached in his name that the goodnesse of God by him might lead men to repentance And all comers by him might be made accepted in him Hebr. 1. 3. with ch 9. 23. Luk. 24. 46 47. All our sins after that first consideration are covered and his wrath so procured taken away that we shall not perish in it nor be kept out from God by it as also is hinted tipically Psal 85. 2 3. 2. His resurrection is for our justification from the sins of the second or following consideration so as that by and through him while it s yet to day we might be justified saved and washed from them in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God He is therein and thereby impowred in the name of the Father to justifie the ungodly And hath received gifts in the man not only for men as sinners in Adam and from him and for their helpfullnesse as so considered but for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell amongst them His resurrection and exaltation in our nature and in that body in which he was so delivered for our offences as aforesaid is so for our justification from those sinnes that are yet imputed to us and retained in Heaven against us or any of us while we continue in them even from such as deserve and bring us under the sentence of the wrath to come That repentance and remission of sins is still preached in his name to such as yet treasured up in him for them And forbearance granted during the time of his preaching who in all this is a testimony in due time to them having given himselfe a ransome for them And being in the vertue thereof the Mediator between God and them And is so giving repentance and remission of sins to them even to them that yet receive it not that they might receive it in the opportunity of it and in the light and power of his givings And so his resurrection in all this fruit of it is for their justification that yet while it is to day their eyes might be opened and they turned from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan to God that they might receive forgivenesse of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in Christ which also in his resurrection and exaltation he is impowred and appointed in the name of the Father so to give unto them that through his grace believe as to make them partakers of it through the same name Act. 10. 40 43. See this branch of the Doctrine of Christ and of his Resurrection being for our justification from such sins and in such wise as is mentioned in this last consideration which evidently includes and takes for granted the truth of the former See I say this branch distinctly and expresly spoken too and delivered as the sum of the word of faith for the encouragement and admonition of such rebellious sinners yet to repent and look to him and hope in his mercy Act. 5. 30 31. God having raised up Jesus whom they flew had exalted him with his right hand for to give repentance to Israell to rebellious Israell that had seen and hated and against much light and many convincements and warnings had crucified the Lord of Glory yet to give repentance to Israell And the forgivenesse of sins as also ch 2. 22 39. 3. 14 19. 26. Likewise ch 13. 37-39 40. Because God had raised him from the dead and he saw no corruption Be it known unto you therefore saith the holy Ghost That through this man is preached unto you even you his crucifiers the forgivenesse of sins And by him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses even from such sins as that Law provided no tipicall Justification from whence he admonisheth to beware of despiseing such abundant grace least their condemnation be aggravated thereby like that Psal 68. 18-21 So other Scriptures set him forth to be Jesus Christ the righteous And as
c. And saith in Christ will have its works in a man and bring forth its fruites by him and be further perfected therein if suffered And if not suffered but stifled and hindered or resisted in its works it will dye faith is dead being alone whence the Apostle John saiâ—h If any man see his Bâ—other stand in need and shut up the bowels of his compassion how dwels the love of God in him signifying plainly that if the love of Christ were suffered to dwell in us as it would and should be suffered it would not only strengthen to will but also carry forth to and in the acts of mercy and good fruites on sight of the Brothers need it moves the bowels of compassion and strengthens to shew them forth And if not suffered to work out it will not lodge or abide where so discourteously entertained If any man love the World the love of the Father is not in him If we walk in the light as he is in the light then have we fellowship one with another And the bloud of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all unrighteousnesse dayly giveth us the victory pardon peace and healing is met with through this faith of the opperation of God If therefore any say he have fellowship with the light and yet he walks in darknesse and confusion without peace joy and hope in the Lord and under the bondage of Satan holding under guilt and pollution of sin he lyes and doth not the truth That which they say they believe and have fellowship with may be true the true light the true grace of God in Christ and that which if believed and fellowship had with it would work But then their profession of hearty believing retaining and having fellowship with it is false He that committeth sin is of the Devill He that doth evill hath not seen God nor known him he hath not kept his word in his heart or retained in his veiw the sight and knowledge of God as manifested in Christ And in this the children of God are manifest and the children of the Devill He that doth not righteousnesse is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother The righteousnesse of God in this fruit of it even to the working the works of God in and by them is attained through faith in Christ Jesus 2. We come next to consider When is the time or opportunity for the doing good here mentioned The Text speakes of it in the time past as with relation to the time of the resurrection and judgment It s before that and then finished They that have done good that is in the former time or hour in which the dead was made to hear the voyce of the Son of God in the Gospell shall then come forth in the first resurrection to the resurrection of life The opportunity then for doing good is to every man in the time of the preaching of peace by Jesus Christ unto them even while he is by his spirit preaching to their spirits in any meanes whatever while his grace is bringing salvation to them 1 Tim 2 6. Tit. 2. 11. 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. 1 Pet. 3. 19. which time expires to every man at death at furthest it may sooner But while God is by any meanes calling and waiting to be gracious it is not so Whence the Apostle exhorts not to receive the grace of God in vain And presseth it with this motive in the place forecited For he saith in a time accepted I have heard thee in a day of salvation I have helped thee which is the saying of the Father unto Christ Isa 49. 8. So that while Christ is making intercession for mâ—n for the Father heareth him alwayes And so as the fruit of that he stand in the name and strength of his Fatheâ— a testimony to them by his Servants sent or other meanes of calling used It is yet due time an accepted 〈◊〉 a day of salvation for and to those persons even to such as have hitherto received it in vain or after they have tasted that the Lord is gracious and proved the saving efficacy of his word have turâ—ed back in their hearts from him to embrace this present World and so destroyed themseles yet while it is to day there is help in him Isa 50. Hose 13 9. Yea plenteous redemption even the forgivenesse of their sins that he may yet be feared and hoped in by them Psal 13â— 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. To him that is joyned to all the living there is hope And whosoever acknowledging their backslidings and transgressions as discovered and reproved in the light of his testimony looks to him again in Christ in the light and power of those gracious recallings wherewith he follows backsliders while it is to day He will graciously accept without upbraiding and love them freely and pardon and heal them through his name Hose 14. 1. 4 5 c. Mich. 7. 18 19. 1 Joh. 1. 9. Rom. 11. 23. Jer. 3. 1-12 But when once any man is blotted out of the number or Book of the living which is in the naturall death at farthest to them that till then have persisted or then are found out of Christ in willfull ignorance disobedience and rejection of him and Gods grace in him Then all opportunity is past for ever being written with the righteous Psal 69. 28. Wherefore the holy Ghost saith To day if ye will hear his voyce harden not your hearts c. 3. The last thing propounded to be considered in this point is When in a Scripture sence any are said to have done good And that we shall not finde to be till they have finished their course dyed in the faith Then they rest from their labours even these their labours in the Lord which were not in vain And their works follow them so the like phrase Hebr. 10. 36. Is used in the same sence with this in the text the having done the will of God for their having finished it in all that service and suffering here appointed them Yee have need of patience namely in all your doing the will of God in the remaining time of your waiting and warfare That after you have done the wil of God fought the good fight kept the faith and finished your course in it ye may receive the promises In a like sence is that 2 Cor. 5. 10. Every one shall receive the things done or finished in his body According to that he hath done whether it be good or bad They that are found in Christ abideing in him as they have received him are said to be doing good running the race set before them and truly called doers of good doers of the truth while yet in the race or warfare Joh. 3. 11. Jam. 1. 12 25. Joh 3. 21. But not said to have done it in a full and proper sence till they have finished their course and doe rest from their labours And from that time their particular persons are absolutely sealed