willing in the day of his power Psal. 110. So he taketh away the enmitie that is in us Col. 2 20 21. and reconcileth us to God and to His wayes that our hearts do sweetly comply with them and we become most willing and glade to walk in them yea to run the way of his commandements through his enlarging of our hearts Psal. 119 32. 5. He likewise taketh away that desire and willingnesse which we have to lie still in our naturall condition by convinceing us of the dreadfull hazard thereof through the Spirit of conviction whereby he convinceth the world of in Iohn 16 8. and circumciseth their care to hear maketh them willing to hearken to the counsel of God 6. As for the power Dominion of Satan he breaketh that by leading captivity captive Ephes. 4 8. Psal. 68 18. and spoiling the strong Mans house for he is come to destroy the works of the devil 1 Iohn 3 8. and He spoileth principalities powers Col. 2 15. Thus as captaine of salvation he leadeth them out as a conquerour having payed the price he delivereth also by power and authoritie from the hand of this Jailour And thus we see how he answereth our case and necessitie and is a fit way for us and though this be not questioned yet little is it beleeved and considered and lesse put in practise And as for the Third particular That He alone is this way and answereth our case herein it needeth not be much spoken to since it is clear and manifest confirmed by the experience of all generations and the disappointments of fools who have been seeking other wayes Angels in heaven cannot do our businesse They cannot satisfy justice for 〈◊〉 nor have they any power over our heart to turne it as they will nay they are not acquanted with our secret thoughts that cabinet is keept closse from them and reserved as the peculiar privilege of God alone The blood of bulls and goats can not do it for the Apostle tells us that it is impossible that that should take away sin Heb. 10 4. That blood shed according to the law did cleanse ceremonially but it is only the blood of Iesus typified by that which cleanseth really so that we are sanctified through the offerring of the body of Jesâ—… Christ once for all Heb. 10 10. No paines or labour of ours can avail here The Lord will not be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousands of rivers of oil He will not take our first borne for our transgression nor the Son of our body for the sin of our soul Micah 6 7. Ordinances and meanes will not do it nor any invention of our owne No man can by any meanes redeem his brother or give to God a ransome for him for the redemption of the soul is precious ceaseth for ever Psal. 49 7. 8. He alone hath laid downe the price all our sufferings prayers teares labours pennances and the like signifie nothing here they cannot satisfie justice for one sin As to the fourth particular viz the singularity of this way Those things make it manifest and apparent 1. This is such a way as can discover it self and make it self known unto the erring traveller Christ Iesus is such a way as can say to the wandering soul This is the way walk in it Esa. 30 25. No way can do this This is comfortable 2. This way can not only discover it self to the wandering traveller but also it can bring folk into it Christ can bring souls unto himself when they are runnig on in their wandering condition He can move their heart to turne in to the right way put grace in their soul for this end beginne resolutions in them and sow the seed of faith and so stay their course which they were violently pursueing and make them look about and consider what they are doing as the former was good newes to poor blinde and witlesse creatures that were wandering and knew not whither they were going so this is good newes to poor souls that finde their heart inclineing to wander and loving to goe astray 3. This way can cause us walk in it If we be rebellious and obstinate He can command with authoritie for he is given for a leader and a commander Esa. 55 4. How sweet should this be to the soul that is weighted with a stubborn untractable and unperswadable heart that He as a King Governour Commander can with authoritie draw or drive and cause us follow and run 4. This way is Truth as well as the Way So that the soul that once entereth in here is saife for ever no wandering here The wayfareing men though fooles shall not erre in this way Esa. 35 8. He will bring the blinde by a way that they knew not and lead them in paths that they have not knowne he will make darknesse light before them and crooked things streight those things will he do unto them and not forsake them Esai 42 16. 5. This way is also Life and so can revive the fainting and weary travailer He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he Increaseth strength Yea he renowes their strength and makes them mount up with wings as eagles and run and not be weary and walk and not faint Esa. 40 29 31. and so he giveth legs to the traveller yea he carryeth the lambs in his bosome Esa. 40 11. O! who would not walk in this way what can discourage the man that walketh here what can he feare no way can quicken or refresh the weary man This way can do it yea it can quicken one that is as dead and cause him march on with fresh alacrity and vigour 6 From all these it followeth that this way is a most pleasant hartsome desireable and comfortable way The man is saife here and he may sing in the wayes of the Lord Psal. 138 5 for wisdomes wayes are wayes of pleasantnesse and all her paths are peace Prov. 3 17. He is a Way that is Food Physick cordials and all that the poor traveller standeth in need of till he come home From all which â—…re we come to particulars we shall in generall shortly point out those dutyes which natively result thence by way of use 1. O! what cause is there here for all of us to fall on wondering both that God should ever have condescended to have appointed a way how sinners and rebells that had wickedly departed from him and deserved to be cast out of his presence and favour for ever might come back againe and enjoy happinesse and felicity in the friendshipe and favour of that God that could have gote the glory of his justice in our destruction and stood in no need of us or of any thing we could do as also that he appointed such a way That Iesus Christ his only Son should to speak so lie as a bridge betwixt God and sinfull rebells and as a high-way that they might
that therefore there is no pardon had or that this is not the way to pardon for as we shall shew afterward pardon is one thing and intimation of pardon is another thing we may be pardoned and yet suppose that we are not pardoned challenges will abide till the conscience be sprinkled and till the Prince of peace command peace to the conscience and put the accuser to silence who when he can do no more will marre the peace of a beleever as long as he can and stoppe the current of his comforts which made David pray that God would restore to him the joy of his salvation Psal. 51. 4. Nor would we think that upon our taking of this course for the pardon of our sins we shall never thereafter meet with a challenge upon the account of these sins It is true when sins are pardoned they are fully pardoned in God's court and that obligation to condemnation is taken away and the pardoned person is looked upon as no sinner that is as no person liable to condemnation because of these sins for being pardoned he becometh just before God yet we darre not say but conscience afterward being alarmed with new transgressions may mistake as people suddenly put into a fright are ready to do nor dar we say that God will not permit Satan to upbraid us with those sins which have been blotted out long ago as he suffered Shimâ—…i who was but an instrument of Satan to cast up to David his blood guiltinesse which had been pardoned long before The Lord may think good to suffer this that his people may be keeped humble and made more tender and watchfull in all their wayes 5. Beleevers would not mis improve or abuse this great condescendency of free grace take the greater liberty to sin because there is such a sure saifâ—… and pleasant way of getting those sins blotted out and forgiven Shall we sin because we are not under grace but under the law That be far from us sayeth 〈◊〉 Apostle Rom. 6 15. This were indeed to turne the grace of God into lasciviousnesse And it may be a question if such as have really repented gotten their sins pardoned will be so ready to make this use of it sure sense of pardon will work some other effect as we see Ezech. 16 62 63. 6. The beleever in going about this work of nailing his sins to the crosse of Christ and of improving Christ's Death Resurrection and constant intercession for the obtaining of pardon would not think of going alone or of doing this in his own strength for of himself he can do nothing He must look to Christ for grace to help in this time of need and must got about this duty with dependence on Him waiting for the influences of Light Counsell Strength and Grace from Him to repent and beleeve for He is a Prince exalted to give repentance first and last and He is the author and finisher of faith so that without Him we can do nothing 7. Let the beleever beware of concluding that he hath got no pardon because he hath met with no sensible intimation thereof by the flowing in of peace and joy in his soul. Pardon is one mercy and intimation of it to the soul is another distinct mercy and separable from it shall we therefore say we have not gotten the first because we have not gotten both The Lord for wise reasons can pardon poor sinners and not give any intimation thereof to wit that they may watch more against sin afterward and not be so bold as they have been and that they may finde more in experience what â—… bitter thing it is to sin against God and learne withall to depend on Him for lesse and more and to carry more humbly for it may be God seeth that if they saw their sins pardoned they would forget themselves and rush into new sins againe 8. The beleever must not think it strange if he finde more trouble after greater sins and a greater difficulty to lay hold on Christ for pardon of those then for pardon of others for as God hath been more dishonoured by these so is his anger more kindled upon that account and it is sureable for the glory of God's justice that our sorrow for such hainous sins be proportionably greater and this will likewise increase the difficulty and ordinarly the effects of God's fatherly displeasure make deeper wounds in the soul after such sins and these are not so easily healed all which will call for 〈◊〉 and proportionably greater godly sorrow and repentance and acts of faith because faith will meet with more opposition and discouragment there and therefore must be the more strong to go thorow these impediments and to lay hold on his crosse Yet though this should make all watchfull and to guaird against grosse and crying sins it should not drive any to dispaire nor to say with that dispairing wretch their sin is greater than it can be forgiven the ocean of mercy can drown and swallow up great as well as lesser sinnes Christ is an alsufficient Mediator for the greatest sins as well as for the least O for thy names sake pardon mine iniquitie for it is great will come in season to a soul ready to sink with the weight of this milstone â—…ied about its neck 9. as the greater sins should not make us dispaire of taking this course for remission so nor should the smalnâ—…sse of sin make us to neglect this way for the least sin cannot be pardoned but through Jesus Christ for the law of God is violated thereby justice provoked Gods authority vilipended c. and therefore cannot be now pardoned by reason of the threatnings annexed to the transgression of the law without a ransome death is the wages of all sin lesser and greater and the curse is due to all sinners greater and smaller Therefore the beleever would not suffer one sin seen and discovered to lie unpardoned but on the first discovery thereof take it away to Christ and nail it to his crosse 10. The beleever would not conclude that his sins are not pardoned because possibly temporal strokes inflicted because of them are not removed for though Davids sin was pardoned yet because of that sin of his a temporall stroke attended him and his family to his dying day for not only did God cut off the childe 2 Sam. 15 14. but told him that the sword should never depairt from his house and that He would raise up evil against him â—…ut of his own house and give his wives to one that should lie with them in the sight of the sun vers 10 11. So we read that the Lord took vengeance on their inventions whose sins he had pardoned Psal. 99 8. God may see this fit and expedient for his own glory and for humbling of them and causing them feare the more to sin against him Yea not only may temporal calamities be inflicted because of sin pardoned or continued after sin
5 6. that as many of us as are Baptized into Iesus Christ were Baptized into his death and that therefore we are buryed with Him by baptisme into death and are planted together in the likenesse of his death yea and that our old man is crueified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed that hence forth we should not serve sin whence beleevers are warranded commanded vers 11. to reckon themselvs to be dead indeed unto sin and therefore sin should not reigne in their mortall bodyes to fulfill the lusts thereof vers 12. This is a sure ground of hope comfort for beleevers that Christ dyed thus as a publick person and that by vertue thereof being now united to Christ by faith they are dead unto sin by law and sin cannot challenge a dominion over them as before their conversion it might have done and did for the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth but no longer wherefore beleeving brethren becomeing dead to the law by the body of Christ are marryed to another even to Him who is raised from the dead that they should bring forth fruit unto God Rom. 7 1 4. 3. Hence It followeth that our old man is crucified with Christ that the body of sin might be destroyed Rom. 6 6. So that this old tyrant that oppresseth the people of God hath got his deaths wounds in the crucifixion of Christ shall never recover his former vigour activity to oppresse beare down the people of God as he did He is now virtually through the death of Iesus killed crucified being in Christ nailed to the crosse 4. His resurrection is a paune pledge of this sanctification for as He died as a publick person so He rose againe as a publick person we are buryed with Him by baptisme that likeas Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newnesse of life Rom. 6 4. and beleevers are said to be planted together with him in the likenesse of his resurrection vers 5. and they shall live with Him vers 8. and therefore they are to reckon themselvs alive unto God through Iesus Christ our Lord verse 11. we are raised up together Ephes. 2 6. 5. This sanctification is an article of the covenant of redemption betwixt the Father the Son Esa. 52 15. so shall he sprinkle many nations Cap. 53 10. He shall see his seed and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand Christ then having this promised to Him must see to the accomplishment thereof and will have it granted to him seing He hath fulfilled all that was engadged to by Him having made his soul an offering for sin 6. This sanctification is promised in the covenant of grace Ier. 33. 8. I will cleanse them from all their iniquity Ezech 37 23. and I will cleanse them So Chap. 36 25. Then will I sprinkle cleane water upon you yee shall be cleane from all your filthinesse from all your idols will I cleanse you Now all the promises of the covenant of grace are confirmed to us in the Mediator for in Him all the promises are yea amen 2. Cor. 1 20. 7. He hath also purchased made sure to his owne the new nature and the heart of flesh which is also promised Ezech. 36 26. 11. 19. Ier. 32. 39. This is the new lively principle of grace the spring of sanctification which cannot be idle in the soul but must be emitting vitall acts natively Yea through Him are beleevers made partakers of the divine nature which is a growing thing young glory in the soul. 2. Pet. 2 3 4. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertaine unto life godlinesse through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory virtue whereby are given unto us exceeding great precious promises that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature c. 8. The Spirit is promised to cause us walk in his statutes Ezech. 36 27. Now all these promises are made good to us in Christ who is the cautioner of the covenant yea He hath gotten now the dispensing and giving out of the rich promises of the covenant committed unto Him so as He is the great Lord treasurer and administrator of the great glorious purchased blessings 9. There are new waterings breathings gailes of the Spirit given in Christ. Esai 27 3. He must water his garden or vinyaird every moment This is the north winde the south winde that bloweth upon the garden Cant. 4 16. He must be as the dew unto Israel Hos. 14 5. 10. Through Christ is the beleever brought into such a covenant state as giveth great ground of hope of certane victory He is not now under the law but under grace and hence inferreth the Apostle Rom. 6 14. That sin shall not have dominion over them Being now under that dispensation of grace whereby all their stock is in the Mediators hand at his disposall and not in their own hand power as under the covenant of works there is a sure ground laid down for constant supply furniture in all necessities 11. Christ hath prayed for this Iohn 17. 17. Sanctifie them through thy truth where the Lord is praying that his disciples might be more more sanctified and so fitted qualified for the work of the ministrie they were to be imployed in And what He prayed for them was not for them alone but also for all the elect proportionably who are opposed to the world for which He did not pray v. 9. 12. He standeth in relation to beleevers of a Vine or a Root in which they grow as branches so that by abiding in Him living by faith in Him and drawing sap from him they bring forth fruit in Him Iohn 15 1 2 4 5. Their stock of grace is in Him the root and He communicateâ—…h sap and life unto his branches whereby they grow floorish and bring forth fruit to the glory of God 13. Christ hath taken on Him the office of a Prophet and Teacher to instruct us in the way wherein we ought to goe for He is that great Prophet whom the Lord promised to raise up and who was to be heard and obeyed in all things Deut. â—…8 15. Act. â—… 2â—… and 7 37. He is given for a witnesse a leader Esai 55 4. and we are commanded to hear Him Mat. 17 5. Mark 10 7. 14. He hath also taken on Him the office of a King Psal. 2 6. Mat. 21 5. Esai 9 6 7. Phil. 2 8. 9 10 11. and thereby standeth engadged to lubdue all their spirituall enemies Satan corruption Psal. 110. He is given for a leader and commander Esai 55 4 and so can cause his people walk in his wayes 15. When we defile ourselves with new transgressions failings He hath provided a fountaine for us
and death And beside this slight and cunning it hath strength and power to draw by lusts into destruction and perdition 1 Tim. 4 9. and to carry the soul headlong So that it makes the mans case miserable Rom. 7 24. All which would say that the beleever should call in other help than his owne and remember that through the Spirit he must mortifie the deeds of the body Rom. 8 13. 7. And therefore the beleever must lay aside all his carnall weapons in dealing with this adversary and look out for divine help assistance even for the promised Spirit through which alone he can be instructed inabled for this great work for of himself he can do nothing not so much as think a good thought as of himself 2 Cor. 3 5. faâ—… lesse will he be able to oppose such a mightie adversary that hath so great many advantages and therefore all his carnall meanes purposes vowes fightings in himself will but render himself weaker a readyer prey unto this adversary which gaineth ground while he is so opposed It is Christ alone and his Spirit that can destroy the works of the devil and kill or crucify this enmity 8. So that the beleever must have his recourse for help and succour here unto Iesus the Captaine of salvation and must follow Him and fight under his bâ—…nner make use of his weapons which are spirituâ—…ll fight according to his counsell and conduct taking Him as a leader commander lying open for his orders instructions waiting for the motions of his Spirit following them and thâ—…s oppose fight against this deadly enemie with an eye alwayes on Christ by â—…aith depending on Him for light to the minde resolution to the will and grace to the whole soul to stand in the battel and to withstand all assaults and never engadge in a disput with this enemie or any lust or member of this body without Christ the Principall that is the soul would dispaire in it self and be strong in Him and in the power of his might by faith gripping to Him as Head Captaine and Commander in chiefe resolving to fight in his strength and to oppose through the helpe of his Spirit 9. And for this cause the beleever would eye the covenant of Redemption the basis of all our hope and consolation wherein finall and full victory is promised to Christ as head of the elect viz that He shall bruise the serpents head and so that in Him all his followers and members of his mysticall body shall lift up the head and get full victory at length over both sin and death Now it is God thâ—…t giveth us the victory through our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Cor. 15 57. The bâ—…leever would also eye by faith the covenant of Grace where in particularly this same victory is promiâ—…ed to the beleever in and through Jesus Rom. 16 20 the God of peace shall brâ—…ise Satan under your feet shortly and Sin shall not have dominion over you for yee are not under the law but under grace Rom. 6 14. The beleever I say would look out by faith unto and lay hold on these and the like promises and thereby get strength conveyed to him self whereby he may strive lawfully and fight valiently and oppose with courage and resolution 10. Further the beleever would eye Christ as a fountaine of Furniture as a full and compleat magazine standing open ready for every one of his honest souldiers to run to for new supply of what they want so that whatever they finde wanting in their Christian armour they must run away to the open magazine Christs fulnesse that standeth ready for them and by faith take put on what they want stand in need of in their warfare If their girdle of truth be slacked loosed or weakened and they be meeting with temptations anent their hypocrisie and Satan objecting to them their double dealing of purpose to discourage them and to make them fainte give over the fight they must away to Him who is the Truth that He may binde on that girdle better and make their hearts more upright before God in all they do And if their breast plate of righteousnesse be weakened Satan there seem to get advantage by casting up to them their unrighteous dealings towards God or Men they must flee to Him who only can help here and beg pardon through his blood for 〈◊〉 failings and set to againe a fresh to the battel If their resolution which is understood by the preparation of the gospell of peace grow weak it must be renewed in Christs armory and the feet of new be shode therewith If their shield of faith beginne to fail theâ—… away must they get to Him who is the Author finisher of faith Heb 12 2. And if their helmet of hope beginne to fail them In this armory alone can that be supplied And if their sword be blunted in their hand or they unable to weild it aright the Spirit of Jesus can only teach their hands to fight and instruct them how to mannage that usefull weapon with advantage Thus must the beleever be strong in Him and in the power of his might Ephes. 6 10. He is their God that girdeth them with strength and maketh their way perfect He maketh their feet like hindes feet setteth them upon their high places He teacheth their hands to war so that a bow of steal is brocken by their armes He giveth them the shield of Salvation His right hand upholdeth them He girdeth with strength unto the battell c. Psal. 18 vers 32 33 34 35 39. c. 11. For the further strengthening of their Hope Faith Confidence beleevers would eye Christ as hanging on the crosse and overcomeing by death Death and him that had the power of death the Devill so as meritoriously purchaseing this redemtion from the slavery of sin and Satan and particulary from the slavery of that body of death and of the law of sin death for the Apostle tells us Rom. 8 2 that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Iesus doth make us free from the law of sin and death and that because as he sayeth further vers 3 4. what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his owne son in the likenesse of sinfull flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh That the rigâ—… teousnesse of the law might be fulfilled in us So that the beleever may now look upon that enemy how fearfull so ever it appear as condemned and killed in the death of Christ. He having laid downe the price of Redemption hath bought this freedom from the chaines fetters with which he was held in captivity faith then on the death of Jesus satifying justice for the poor captive may should support and strengthen the hope confidence of the beleever that he shall obtaine victory at length 12. And it will
which He purposed in himself 7. Beside Christ's Death and Resurrection which give ground of hope of pardon of dayly out-breakings there is likewise his Intercession usefull for this end for sayeth the Apostle Iohn 1 Epist. 2 1. 2. If any man sin we have an advocat with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous and He is the propitiation for our sins This intercession of his 〈◊〉 a special part of his Priesthood who was the great Highpriest Heb. 4 14 16. and a compleating Part Heb. 8 4 9 8. and upon this account 〈◊〉 that He is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God through Him because He liveth for ever to make intercession for them Heb. 7 25. for by his intercession is the work of redemption carryed on the Purchased benefites applyed and particularly new grants of remission are through his intercession issued forth He pleading and interceeding in a way suteable to his glorified condition upon his death and propitiation made while he was upon the crosse accepted of the Father and declared to be accepted by his resurrection asoâ—…sion and sitting at the Fathers right hand And thus as beleevers are reconciled to God by Christs death they are saved by his life Rom. 5 10. So that Christ's living for to be an intercessour makes the beleevers salvation sure and so layeth down a ground for taking away of dayly outbreakings which if not taken away would hinder and obstruct the beleevers salvation 8. And as for the condition requisite to renewed pardon viz faith and Repentance Christ is the worker of both for He is a Prince exalted to give Repentance first and last Act. 4 30. and as He is the author of faith so He is the finisher of it Heb. 12 2. As to the second particular namely what beleevers should do for getting the guilt of their dayly failings and outbreakings taken away by Christ or how they should make use of Christ for this end I shall for clearing of it propose those things to consideration 1. We would beware to think that all our after actuall transgressions are actually pardoned either when Christ dyed or when we first beleeved in Christ as some suppose for sin cannot properly be said to be pardoned before it be committed David was put to sue out for pardon after his actuall transgression was committed and not for the mere sense and feeling of the pardon or the intimation of it to his Spirit when he cryed out Psal 51 2 blot out my transgressions wash me c. vers 9 hide thy face from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities and vers 14. deliver me from blood guiltinesse Sure when he spoke thus he sought some other thing than intimation of pardon to his sense and conscience for that he desired also but in far more clear expressions vers 8. make me to hear joy and gladnesse c. and vers 12. restore unto me the joy of thy salvation c. Scripture phrases to expresse remission import this viz Covering of sin Pardoning of debts Blotting out of sins Hideing of God's face from sins not Remembering of them Casting of them behinde his back Casting of them into the sea Removing of sins Psal. 103 12. a lifting off of sin or Taking it away a Non-imputation of sin Psal. 33 1 2. These and the like phrases though many of them be metaphoricall yet do all of them clearly evince that sin must first have a being before it can be pardoned The same is clearly imported by the gospel conditions requisite before Pardon such as acknowledgment of sin 1 Ioh. 1 9. which we see was practised by the worthies of old David Psal. 32. 51. Nehemiah Cap. 9. Ezra Cap 9 Daniel Chap. 9. Confessing and Forsaking of it Prov. 28 13. Sorrowing for it Repenting of it and laying hold on Christ by faith c. The reason why I propose this is not only to guaird against this antinomian error but also to guaird the soul from security to which this doctrine hath a naturall tendency for if a person once think that all his sins were pardoned upon his first beleeving so that many of them were pardoned before they were committed he shall never be affected for his after transgressions nor complean of a body of death nor account himself miserable upon that account as Paul did Rom. 7 24. nor shall he ever pray for remission though Christ hath taught all to do so in that patern of prayer nor shall he act faith upon the promises of pardon made in the covenant of grace for after transgressions or for transgressions actually committed Ier. 31 34. 3â—… 8. Heb. 8 12. and so there shall be no use made of Christ for new pardons or remissions of new sins 2. The beleever would remember that among other things antecedently requisite to remission of posterior actuall transgressions gospel Repentence is especially required Luk. 13 3. Mat. 3 2. Ezeck 18 28 30 32. Luk. 15 17 18 Hoâ—… 2 6 7. Ezech. 14 6. whereby a Sinner through the helpe of the Spirit being convinced not only of his hazard by reason of sin but also of the filthinesse and hatefulnesse of sin and having a sight of the mercy of God in Christ Jesus to sinners turning from their sin doth turne from those sins unto God with a full purpose of heart in his strength to follow Him and obey his lawes and hereby the soul is brought to loath its self and sin and is made willing to desire seek for accept of and prize remission of sins This makes them more warry in time coming and carefull for behold sayes the Apostle 2 Cor. 7 11. This self same thing that yee sorowed after a godly sort what carefulnesse it wrought in you yea what clearing of yourselves what indignation yea what feare yea what vehement desire yea what Zeal yea what revenge c. Thus is God glorified in his justice Psal. 51 4. and his mercy is acknowledged in not entering with us into judgement nor casting us into hell as He might have done in justice 3. Yet it would be remembered that though it hath seemed good in the Lord's eyes to chuse this method and appoint this way of obtaining pardon of sins dayly committed for the glory of his grace and mercy and likewise for our good we must not ascribe too much unto Repentance in the matter of pardon we must not make it a cause of our remission either efficient or meritorious we must not think that it hath any hand in appeaseing the wrath of God or in satisfying of justice pardon must alwayes be an act of God's free grace unmerited at our hands procured alone through the merites of Christ we must not put repentance in Christ's room and place nor ascribe any imperfection unto his merites as if they needed any supply from any act of ours we must beware of leaning to our Repentance and godly Sorrow even so far as to think to
commend ourselves to God thereby that we may obtaine pardon 4. The beleever would consider seriously the dreadfulnesse of their condition who are lying under the lash of the law for sin The law sayeth cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the law and every sin is a transgression of the law so that acording to law and justice they are in hazard for evry sin in it self exposeth the sinner to eternal wrath sin being an offence against God who is a righteous judge and a breach of his law A right sight and apprehension of this would serve to humble the sinner before God and make him more earnest in seeking out for pardon that this obligation to punishment might be removed 5. The beleever would not only consider the sin it self but also take notice of all its Aggravations There are peculiar aggravations of some sins taken from the time manner and other circumstances which rightly considered will helpe forward the work of humiliation And the sins of beleevers have this aggravation above the sins of others that they are committed against more love and speciall Love and against more opposition and contradiction of the grace of God within the soul against more light and conviction c. and therefore their humiliation upon this account ought to be singular and serious So was it with David when he took notice of the speciall aggravations of his sin Psal. 51 4 6 14. and Ezra cap. 9. Nehemiah Cap. 9. and Daniel Cap 9. This considering of sin with its due aggravations would helpe to prize mercy at an high rate and cause the soul more willingly waite for and more seriously seek after Remission knowing that God is more angry for great sins than for sins of infirmity and may therefore pursue the same with sorer judgments as He broke David's bones withdrew his comforts c. 6. The beleever would be convinced of an impossibility of doing any thing in himself which can procure pardon at the hands of God should he weep cry afflict himself pray never so all will do nothing by way of merite for the taking away of the least sin that ever he commited and the conviction of this would drive him to despaire in himself and be a meane to bring him cleanly off himself and to look out for mere mercy in Christ Jesus So long as through the deceitfulnesse of Satan the false heart inclineth to the old byas and hath its eye upon any thing in it self from whence it draweth its hops and expectation of pardon and acceptance it will not purely act faith on Christ for this end and so he will lose all his labour and in end be disappointed Therefore the beleever would guard against this and that so much the more that the false deceitful heart is so much inclined thereto and that this deceit can sometime work so cuningly that it can hardly be discerned being fairded over with many false glosses and pretexts and that it is so dishonourable to Jesus and hurtful and prejudicial to the soul. 7. The beleever would act faith on the promises of pardon in the new covenant as having a right to them through Jesus Christ and challenge with humble boldnesse the fulfilling of the same according to that 1. Ioh. 1 9 If we confesse our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins So that the beleever may not only take hold of mercy and grace in God as an incouragement and invitation to go to God for pardon but even of the justice and righteousnesse of God because of his faithful promises and the beleever would have here a speciall eye to Christ in whom all the promises are yea and amen and look for the accomplishment of them through Him and for his sake alone 8. Faith would eye Christ as hanging upon the crosse and offering up himself through the eternall Spirit a sacrifice to satisfie divine justice for all the sins of his own chosen ones we cannot think that Christ bare but some of their sins or only their sins committed before conversion and if he bare all as the Father laid all upon Him the beleever is to lay hold on Him by faith as hanging on the crosse as well for taking away of the guilt of sins committed after conversion as before His sacrifice was a sacrifice for all and He bare our sins without distinction or exception in his owne body on the tree 1. Pet. 2 24. David had his eye on this when he cryed out Psal. 51 7. purge me with hysope hysope being sometimes used in the legall purifications which typified that purification which Christ really wrought when He gave himself a sacrifice for sin Levit. 14 6. Num. 19 18. 9. The beleever looking on Christ dying as a Mediator to pacifie the wrath of God and to make satisfaction to the justice of God for the sins of his people would renew his consent unto that gracious and wise contriveance of heaven of pardoning sins through a crucified Mediator that mercy and Justice might kisse each other and be glorified together and declare againe his full satisfaction with Christ's satisfying of justice for him and taking away the guilt of his sins by that blood that was shed upon the crosse by taking those sins whereof now he standeth guilty and for which he is desireous of pardon and by faith nailing them to the crosse of Christ and rolling them on his shoulders that the guilt of them as well as of the rest might be taken away through the merites of his death and satisfaction Thus the beleever consenteth to that noble act of free grace whereby the Lord made all our sins to meet together on Christ when he taketh those particular sins wherewith now he is troubled and casteth them in into the heape that Christ as the true scape-goat may carry all away This is to lay our hands on the head of our sacrifice 10. The beleever hath another ground of comfort to grippe to in this case and that is Christ's eternall Priesthood whereby he makes intercession for the transgressions of his people and as their advocate and atturnay with the father pleadeth their cause whereby he is able to save them to the last and uttermost step of their jurnay and so to save them from the guilt of all casuall and emergent sins that might hinder their salvation So that the beleever is to put those sins that now he would have pardoned into the hands of Christ the everlasting intercessour and alsufficient advocat that He by vertue of his death would obtaine a new pardon of these their failings and transgressions and deliverance from the guilt thereof and their acceptance with the Father notwithstanding of these transgressions 11. Thus beleevers eyeing Christ as Dying Riseing againe Ascending and as Sitting at the Fathers right hand there to be a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck and to interceed for his owne and to see to the application of
what benefites pardons favours and other things they need from all which they have strong ground of comfort and of hope yea and assurance of pardon would acquiesce in this way and having laid those particular sins under the burden whereof they now groan on Christ the mediator dying on the crosse to make satisfaction and ariseing to make application of what was purchased and having put them in his hand who is a faithfull High priest and a noble Intercessour would remember that Christ is a Prince exalted to give Repentance and Remission of sins and so exspect the sentence even from Him as a Prince now exalted and as having obtained that of the Father even a power to forgive sins justice being now sufficiently satisfied through his death yea as having all power in heaven and in earth as being Lord both of the dead and of the living Sure a right thought of this would much quiet the soul in hope of obtaining pardon through Him seing now the pardon is in his owne hand to give out who loved them so dearly that he gave himself to the death for them and shed his heart blood to satisfie justice for their transgressions Since he who hath procured their pardon at so dear a rate and is their atturnay to agent their businesse at the throne of grace hath now obtained the prayed-for looked-for pardon and hath it in his ownehand they will not question but He will give it and so absolve them from their guilt 12. The beleever having taken this course with his dayly provocations and laid them all on Him would acquiâ—…sce in this way and not seek after another that he may obtaine pardon Here he would rest committing the matter by faith in prayer to Christ leaving his guilt and sins on Him expect the pardon yea conclude that they are already pardoned and that for these sins he shall never be brought unto condemnation whatever Satan and a misbeleeving heart may say or suggest afterward Thus should a beleever make use of Christ for the taking away of the Guilt of his dayly transgressions and for further clearing of it I shall adde a few cautions Cautions 1. However the beleever is to be much moved at affâ—…cted with his sins and provocations which he committeth after God hath visited his soul with salvation and brought him into a covenant with himself yet he must not suppose that his sins after justification do marre his state as if thereby he were brought into a Non-justified state or to a Non reconciled state It is true such sins especially if grosse whether in themselves or by reason of circumstances will darken a mans state and put him to search and try his condition over againe But yet we dar not say that they make any alteration in the state of a beleever for once in a justified state alwayes in a justified state It is true likewise that as to those sins which now he hath committed he cannot be said to be acquited or justified till this pardon be got out by faith and repentance as is said yet his State remaineth fixed and unchanged so that though God should seem to deal with such in his dispensations as with enemies yet really his affections change not he never accounteth them real enemies nay love lieth at the bottom of all his sharp st dispenâ—…ations If they for sake his law and walk not in his judgements if they break his statutes and keep not his commandements he will visite their transgression with the rod and their iniquitâ—… with stripes neverthelesse his loving kindnesse will he not utterly take from them nor suffer his faithfulnesse to â—…ail his covenant will he not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of his lips Psal. 89 30 31 32 33 34. And againe though after-transgressions may waken challenges for former sins which have been pardoned and blotted out and give occasion to Satan to raise a storme in the soul and put all in confusion yet really sins once pardoned cannot become againe unpardoned sins The Lord doth not revoke his sentence nor alter the thing that is gone out of his mouth It is true likewise that a beleever by committing of grosse sins may come to misse the effects of God's favour and good will and the intimations of his love and kindnesse and so be made to cry with David Psal. 51 8. make me to heare joy and gladnesse and vers 12. restore unto me the joy of thy salvation c. Yet that really holdeth true that whom he loveth he loveth to the end and He is a God that changeth not and his gifts are without repentance Yea though grieving of the Spirit may bring souls under sharp throwes and pangs of the Spirit of bondage and the terrors of God and His sharpe arrowes the poyson where of may drink up their spirits and so be far from the actuall witnessings of the Spirit of Adoption yet the Spirte will never be againe really a Spirit of bondage unto fear nor deny his his owne work in the soul or the souls real right to or possession of that fundamentall privilege of Adoption or say that the soul is no more a Son noâ—… within the covenant 2. The course before mentioned is to be taken with all sins though 1. They be never so haiâ—…ous and grosse 2. Though they be accompanyed with never such aggravating and crying aggravations 3. Though they be sins frequently fallen into and. 4. Though they be sins many and heaped together Davids transgression was a hainous sin and had hainous aggravations yea there was an heap and a complication of sins together in that one yet he followed this course We finde none of those kinde of sins excepted in the new covenant and where the law doth not distinguish we ought not to distinguish where God's law doth not expressely exclude us we should not exclude our selves Christs death is able enough to take away all sin If through it a beleeveâ—… be justified from all his transgressions committed before conversion why may not also a beleever be through vertue of it justified from his grosse and multiplied sins committed after conversion The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sinâ—… Christ hath taught his followers to pray forgive us our sins as we forgive them that sinne against us and he hath told us also that we must forgive our brother seventy times seven times Mat. 18 22. We would not be discouraged then from taking this course because our sins are such and such nay rather we would look on this as an argument to presse us more unto this way because the greater our sins be the greater need have we of pardon and to say with David Ps. 25 11. Pardon mine iniquity for it is great 3. We would not think that upon our taking of this course we shall be instantly freed from challenges because of those sins for pardoning whereof we take this course nor should we think that because challenges remaine
further confirme the hope and faith of the beleever to look to Christ hinging on the crosse and there vanquishing and evercomeing this 〈◊〉 as a publick person representing the elect who died in him and virtually and legally did in him overcome that Jailour and break his fetters and the soul now beleeving may yea should reckon it self in Christ dying as it were upon the crosse and there overcomeing all those spirituall enemies likewise sayeth the Apostle Rom. 6 11. Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin From hence even while fighting the beleever may account himself a conquerour yea more then a conquerour through Him that loved him Rom. 8 37. Now faith acting thus on Christ as a publick person dying and overcomeing death and sin the beleever may not only inferte the certainty of victory knowing that our old man is crucified with Christ Rom 6 6. but also from the crosse of Christ draw strength to stand fight against the struglings of this vanquished and killed enemy They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections lusts Gal. 5 24. But how even by the crosse of Christ for thereby is the world crucified unto me sayeth the Apostle Gal. 6 14. I unto the world your old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed Rom. 6 6. 13. The beleever being dead indeed unto sin through the crosse of Christ is to look upon himself as legally freed from that yock of bondage under sin death The law hath dominion over a man so long as he liveth Rom. 7 1. but by the body of Christ beleevers are become dead to the law vers â—… That law of sin death which hath dominion over a man that liveth still in nature and is not yet by faiâ—…h planted in the likenesse of Christs death noâ—… buryed with him by baptisme into death Rom. 6 4 5. hath not that dominion over beleevers it had once for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made them free from the law of sin death Rom. 8 2. So that now the beleever is free from that tyranny and that tyrant can exerce no lawfull jurisdiction or authority over him and therefore he may with the greater courage repell the insolencies of that tyrant that contrare to all right and equity seeketh to Lord it over him still They are no lawfull subjects to that cruell and rageing Prince or to that spirituall wickednesse 14. So that the beleever renunceing that jurisdiction under which he was formerly and being under a new husband and under a new law even the law of the Spirit of liâ—…e in Christ Iesus is to look upon all the motions of sin as illegall and as treasonable acts of a tyrant The old man being crucified with Christ that the body of sin might be destroyed the beleever is not any more to serve sin Rom. 6 6. And being now dead they are freed from sin vers 7. and are married to another even to Him who is raised from the dead so they should not serve sin but bring forth fruit unto God Rom. 7 4. therefore look upon all motions of the flesh and all the inclinations and stirrings of the old law of sin as acts of treachery and rebellion against the right and jurisdiction of the beleevers new Lord Husband and are therefore obliged to lay hold on this old man this body of death and all the members of it as traitours to the rightfull King Husband and to take them prisoners to the King that He may give out sentence and execute the same against them as enemies to his kingdome and interest in the soul They being now no more servants of sin but of righteousnesse Rom. 6 18. they ought no more to yeeld their members servants to uncleannesse iniquity unâ—…o iniquity vers 19. and being debters no more to the flesh to live after the flesh Rom. 8 12. they are to mortifie the deeds of the body through the Spirit vers 13. and to crucify the flesh with the affections lusts Gal. 5 24. that is by bringing them to the crosse of Christ where first they were condemned and crucified in their full body and power that a new sentence as it were may goe out against them as parts of that condemned Tyrant and as belonging to that crucified body 15. So that the beleever that would carry faithfully in this matter and fight lawfully in this warfare and hope to obtaine the victory through Jesus Christ must bring these Traitours that appeare in their sinfull motions and lusts in the soul working rebellion against the lust authority and equitable lawes of the lawfull Prince Iesus before the tribunal of Him who hath now gote all power and authority in heaven and earth Mat. 28 18. and hath all judgment committed to Him Ioh. 5 22. And to this end both died and rose revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and living Rom. 14 9. that He may execute justice upon the Tâ—…aitor head and members that He may trâ—…mple these devils under and bruise the head of these serpents within us The beleever then is by faith in prayer to carry these open enemies to Christ and declare and witnesse against them as Traitours by what mischief they have done in the soul by their hindering the righteous lawes of the king to be obeyed and constraining forceing what by arguments or allurements and what by forceable inclinations and pousings to disobedience and a counteracting of Christ and he should urge and plead upon the fundamentall lawes of the land viz the articles of agreement betwixt the Father and the Son and the faithfull promises of the Covenant of grace and upon Christs office as King and Governour and his undertaking as Mediator upon the merites of his death and sufferings upon his dying as a common person upon the constitution of the gospell whereby they are in law repute as dying in him and so free from the law of sin and death and upon their relation to Him as their new Lord Head Husband King Commander c. Upon these arguments I say to plead for justice against the rebell that is now brought to the barre and so by faith leave the prisoner in His hand that He may in his own time and way give a second blow unto the neck of this implacable and rageing enemy that he may noâ—… rise up to disturbe the peace of the soul as before or to trouble impede and molest the soul in paying the homage and obedience due to his lawfull Master and Soveraigne King Jesus Cautions Directions For furder clearing of the premises I would propose a few particulars for caution direction as 1. This work of laying the burthen of this businesse on Christ by faith would be gone about with much singlenesse of heart aimeing at the glory of God and the carying on of his work in the soul and not for
grace and holinesse and salvation to the beleever And whatever we be They will be true to each other our unbeleef will not make the faith of God of none effect 2. The consideration of the noble and faithfull promises contained in the covenant of Grace which shall be all made good in due time 3. If we be humbled under the sence of ouâ—… failings and shortcomings and made to mourne before the Lord and stirred up to more diligence and seriousnesse that may yeeld comfort to our soul. If we be growing in Humility godly Sorrow Repentance Diligence and be gripping faster by faith to the Root we want not ground of joy and support for if that be we cannot want fruit 4. It should be matter of joy and thanksgiving that the beleever is keeped from turning his back on the way of God aud keeped with his face still Zion-ward though he make but little progresse yet he is still looking forward and creeping as he may waiting at God's door begging and asking studying labouring and endeavouring for strength to go faster 5. It is no small matter of peace and comfort if we be keeped from fretting grudging and repineing at the Lords dispensations with us and be taught to sit silent in the dust adoreing His Soveraignity and ascribeing no iniquity to our maker CHAP. VIII How to make use of Christ for taking the guilt of our dayly out-breakings away THe next part of our sanctification is in reference to our dayly failings and transgressions committed partly through the violence of temptations as we see in David and Peter and other eminent men of God partly through dayly infirmities because of our weaknesse and imperfections for in many things we offend all Iam. 3 2. and if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us 1 Iohn 1 8. A righteous man falleth seven times Prov. 24 16. There is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not Eccles. 7 20. and Solomon further sayeth 1 King 8 46. that there is no man that sinneth not This being so the question is how Christ is to be made use of for taking of these away For satisfaction to this it would be considered that in those dayly outbreakings there are two things to be noticed first there is the Guilt which is commonly called Reatus poenâ—… whereby the transgressour is liable to the sentence of the law or to the penalty annexed to the breach thereof which is no lesse then God's curse for cursed is every 〈◊〉 that abideth not in all things which are 〈◊〉 the law to do them Gal. 3 10. Next there is the â—…taine or blote which is called Reatus culpâ—… whereby the soul is defiled and made in so far incapable of glory for nothing entreth in there which defileth and of communion and fellowshipe with God who is of purer eyes then He can behold iniquity So that it is manifest how necessary it is that both these be taken away that they may not stand in ouâ—… way to the Father And as to both we must make use of Christ who is the only way to the Father And this we shall now cleare and first speak of the taking away of the Guilt that is contracted by every sin and for this cause we shall briefly speak to two things first Shew what Christ hath done as Mediator for this end that the guilt contracted by our dayly failings and outbreakings might be taken away Secondly shew what the beleever should do for the getting of guilt taken away in Christ or how he should make use of Christ for reconciliation with God after transgressions or for the taking away of the guilt that he lyeth under because of his violation of the law As to the first We say Christ for taking away of Guilt contracted dayly hath done these things 1. Christ laid downe his life a ransome for all the sinns of the Elect both such as were past before they beleeved and such as were to be committed after His blood was shed for the remission of sinâ—… indefinitly and without distinction Mat. 26 28 â—… And this was done according to the tenour of the covenant of Redemption wherein the Fatheâ—… caused all our sins to meet together on Him Esai â—…3 6. and made Him sin or a sacrifice for sin indefinitely 2 Cor. 5 21. and so did not except the sins committed after conversion 3. Having satisfiedjustice and being risen from the dead as a Conquerour He is now exalted to be a Prince to give Repentance and Remission of sins Act. 5 31. Now repentance and remission of sins his people have need of after conversion as well as before conversion 4. There are promises of pardon and remission of sins in the new covenant of Grace all which are sealed and confirmed in the blood of Jesus Ier. 31 34. for I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more and Chap. 33 8. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me and I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have sinned against me and whereby they have transgressed against me Esai 43 25. I even I am he that bloteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy sins 5. Though there be no actuall pardon of sins till they be committed and repented of according to the tenor of the gospell Matth. 3 2. Luke 13 3. Act. 2 38. 8 22. yet while Christ beare all the sins of his people upon the crosse they were all then virtually and meritoriously taken away of which Christ's resurrection was a certane pledge and evidence for then gote He his acquittance from all that either law or justice could charge Him with in behalfe of them for whom He laid downe his life a ransome Rom. 8 33 34. who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect It is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died or rather that is risen againe c. 6. So that by vertue of Christ's death there is a way laid down in the covenant of grace how the sinns of the elect shall be actually pardoned viz. That at their conversion and first laying hold on Christ by faith all the sins whereof they then stand guilty shall be actually pardoned and forgiven in their justification and all their after sins shall also be actually pardoned upon their griping to Christ of new by faith and turning to God by repentance And this way is agreed to by Father and Son and revealed in the gospel for the instruction and encouragement of beleevers and all to the glory of his free grace In whom we have redemption sayeth the Apostle Ephes. 1 7 8 9. through his blood the forgivenesse of sins according to the riches of his grace wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence having made known unto us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure
as that thereby it may be as a distracted person as we see it was with Heman Psal. 88 15. who said while I suffer thy terrours I am distracted The wrath of God lay hard upon Him and he said that he was afflicted with all God's waves vers 7. hence he cryed out vers 16 17. Thy fierce wrath goeth over me thy terrours have cutt me off they came round about me dayly or all the day like water they compassed me about together And yet for all this the first word of his complaint was faith vers 1. Many such complaints hear we our of Iob's mouth to whom God notwithstanding was that gracious that he never came to question his state before God or to conclude his hypocrisic or his being still in the state of nature But it is not so with every one that is so exercised 4. Yea further with those inward strokes upon the soul they may have sin and guilt charged home upon their consciences and this will make their life yet more bitter put a sharper edge upon the rods Thus was Iob made to possesse the sinnes of his youth Iob 13 26. and made to say My transgression is sealed up in a bag and thou sowest up mine iniquity Iob. 14 17. 5. Moreover they may be in such a condition a long time and all the while have no light of comfort as we see in Iob and Heman They may even walk in darknesse and have no light of comforâ—… Esai 50 10. 6. Yea and also be without the hope of a delivery or outgate Hence cryeth Heman Psal. 88 4 5. I am counted with them that go downe into the pit free among the deed like the slaine that lye in the grave whom thou rememberest no more and they are cut off from thine hand Yea they may be driven to the very border of despaire and conclude that there is no hope as the Church did Ezek. 37 11. Our bones are dryed and our hope is lost and we are cut off for our pairts and as Iob Chap. 7 6. My dayes are swifter then a weavers shuttle and are spent without hope and Chap. 19 10. He hath destroyed me on every side and I am gone mine hope hath he removed like a tree Now though sometimes as we see in Iob and in Heman too a soul may be under such a sad and sharpe dispensation and yet not brought to question their state or to conclude themselves children of wrath lyeing still in blacke nature yet it is not so with all who are so exercised but many under such a dispensation may at least be in the dark as to their state before God and if they do not positively assert their state to be bad yet they do much question if they be in the state of grace and would be comforted under all their pressures and afflictions if they could win to the least well grounded apprehension of their interest in Christ. In such a case as this is there is ground fot a poor soul to make use of Christ for outgate and an outgate may be had in God's time and as He seeth sit by a right use-making of and going out to Him who is the Truth So then the soul that would have its state and condition cleared up and a discovery of its being reconciled to God through Jesus and in a state of grace and would make use of Christ as the Truth for this end would 1. Look out to Christ as a feeling Highpriest faithful and mercyful who being like us in all things except sin doth sympathize with and succure such as are tempted Heb. 2 17 18. And as a Priest that is touched with the feeling of our infirmities Heb. 4 15. Albeit Christ in the deepest of his darknesse was never made to question his soneshipe but avouched God to be his God even when he was forsaken Psal. 22 1 Mat. 27 46. Mark 15 34. Yet He knew what it was to be tempted to question his sonshipe when the devil said unto Him Mat. 4. if thou be the Son of God and He knowes what such a distresse as He himself was into wreastling with an angry God hideing himself and forsaking will worke in a poor sinner and being a mercyful and sympathizeing Highpriest he cannot but pity such as are under such a distemper and as a gracious Head sympathize with them Now the beleever would look out to Him as such an one and upon this ground go to Him with confidence and boldnesse and lay out their case before Him that He may helpe and send reliefe 2. They would also eye Christ as able to save out of that condition and to command light to shine out of darknesse and so as one able to save to the uttermost all that come to God through Him Heb. 7 25. 3. And not only so but eye Him also as given sent and commissioned of the Father to be a light to such as sit in darknesse even to the Gentiles Esa. 42 6. 49 6. Luk. 2 32. Act. 13 47. 26 23. Iohn 8 12. and this will encourage the poor Souls to go out to him with their darknesse when they see that He is sent as a Light and as the Truth to clear up poor souls that walk in darknesse and have no light when they see that it is his place and office to helpe them and consider that He is true to his trust and true and faithful in all that was committed to Him it not only will embolden them to come forward to Him but it will strengthen their hope and encourage them to waite on 4. They would stay themselves on Him as an alsufficient helper renunceing all other crying out that they will have no light but His light and that they will seek no where else for light but waite at His door till He who is the Sun of righteousnesse arise in their soul and come with hailing light in his wings 5. They would by faith roll and cast their darkened souls their confused case their over whelmed hearts on Him and leave them there for He is the only physitian and the blinde soul must be put in his hand who can take away the filme and cause the scales fall off and make light break in to the soul and discover to it its condition 6. It would be useful and very steadable in such a time of darknesse for the beleever to be frequent in acting direct acts of faith on Christ that is be frequent in going to Him as an alsufficient Mediator as the only refuge and shadow for a poâ—…r weary scoarched soul Esai 4. last 32 2. And a man shall be as an hideing place from the winde and a covert from the tempest as rivers of water in a drye place as the shadow of a great rock in a â—…eary land as one who is a strength to the needy in his distresse a refuge from the storme a shadow from the heat c. Esa. 25 4. When the soul is thus overwhelmed
69 6. Esai 30 18. CHAP. XXII How Christ is to be made use of for life in case of heartlesnesse and fainting through discouragements THere is another evil and distemper which beleevers are subject to and that is a case of fainting through manifold discouragements which make them so heartless that they can do nothing yea and to sit up as if they were dead The question then is How such a soul shall make use of Christ to the end it may be freed from that fit of fainting and win over those discouragments for satisfaction to which we shall 1. Name some of those discouragements which occasione this 2. Show what Christ hath done to remove all those discouragements 3. Show how the soul should make use of Christ for life in this case and 4. Adde a few words of caution As to the first There are several things which may give occasion to this distemper we shall name those few 1. The sense of a strong active lively and continually stirring body of death and that not withstanding of meanes used to beare it down and to kill it This is very discourageing for it made Paul cry out woes me miserable man who shall deliver me from this body of death Rom. 7 24. It is a most discouraging thing to be still fighting and yet getting no ease let be victory to have to do with an enemie that abides alwayes alike strong fight and oppose as we will yea not only is not weakned far lesse overcome but that groweth in power and prevaileth And this many times affecteth the heart of God's children and causeth them to faint 2. It may be the case of some that they are assaulted with strange temptations of Satan his buffettings that are not usual This made Paul cry out thrice 2 Cor. 12. and if the Lord had not told him that His grace was sufficient for him what would he have done Hence some of his cry out in their complaint was there ever any so tempted so assaulted with the devil as I am Sure this dispensation cannot but be much afflicting sadning and discourageing 3. The sense of the real weakness of grace under lively meanes and notwithstanding of their serious and earnest desires and endeavours after grouth in grace cannot but disquiet and discourage them for they may readily conclude that all their paines and labour shall be in vaine for any thing they can observe 4. The want of sensible incomes of joy and comfort is another fainting and discourageing dispensation as the feeling of these is a heart-strengthening and most encourageing thing which made David so earnestly cry for it Psal. 51 8 12. when a poor soul that hath the testimony of its own conscience that it hath been in some measure of singleness of heart and honesty seeking the face of God for a good many yeers and yet cannot say that ever it knew what those incomes of joy and comfort meane which some have tasted largely of it cannot choose but be discouraged and much cast down as not knowing what to say of it self or how to judge of its owne case 5. The want of access in their addresses to God is another heart-discouraging thing They go about the duty of prayer with that measure of earnestness and uprightness of heart that they can win at at least this is their aime and endeavour and yet they meet with a fast-closed door when they cry shout he shooteth out their prayer as the Church complaineth Lament 3 8. This sure will affect them deeply and cause their hearts sometimes to fainte 6. The want of freedom and liberty in their addreses to God is another thing which causeth sorrow and fainting They go to pray but their tongue cleaveth to the roof of their mouth they are straitned and cannot get their hearts vented 7. Outward persecution that attendeth the way of godliness and afflictions that accompany such as live godly is another discourageing thing both to themselves who are under afflictions and to others who heare it and see it wherefore the Apostle desired earnestly that the Ephesians should not faint at his tribulation Cap. 3 13. 8. The Lords sharpe and sore dispensations for sin as toward David Psal. 51. or out of his Soveraignity for tryal and other ends as toward Iob is likewise a discourageing heart-breaking thing and that which will make strong gyants to roare and fainte and look upon themselves as dead men as we see in these two eminent men of God As to the second thing Christ is life to the beleever in this case in having done that which in reason may support under all these discouragements and having done so much for removing or weakening of these yea and for carrying them over them all which may be in a word cleared as to each 1. As for the body of death Let it stirre in the beleever as fast as it will or can it is already killed all that strugling is but like the strugling of a man in the pangs of death for our old man is crucified with Christ Rom. 6 6. and the beleever is dead to sin and risen legally with him Col. 2 11 12. 3 3. But of this we spoke abundance above 2. As to Satans troubling the poor beleever Through Christ also he is a vanquished enemy He hath overcome him that had the power of death even the devil Heb. 2 14. 3. As for that felt weakness of grace That is no ground of discouragement so long as he liveth who can make the lame to leep as an hart and can make waters break out in the wildernesse and streames in the desert Esai 35 6 7. and giveth power to the fainte and to them that have no might increaseth strength so that such as waite upon the Lord shall renew their strength and they shall mount up with wings as eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint Esai 40 29 31. For in Hâ—…m are all the promises yea amen 2 Cor. 1 20. So that they need not faint upon this account nor be discouraged for the work He hath begun He will finish it and He will quicken in the way Psal. 119 37. 4. As for the want of sensible incomes of joy and comfort He hath promised to send the comforter in his own good time Iohn 14 26. 15 26. as one whom his mother comforteth so will he comfort his Esai 66. 13. Joy and gladnesse is promised in the covenant Ier. 31 13. But further though He keep up those influences of joy and comfort He supporteth another way The lively hope of heaven may bear up the heart under all this want for there shall the soul have fulnesse of joy and pleasures for ever more no teares nor sorrow there Psal. 16 11. Esa. 35 10. 51 11. 5. As for the want of accesse in their prayers They may possibly blame themselvs for He hath by his merites opened the door and is become to speak so
sin This was Elihu's advice to Iob Cap. 34 vers 31 32. Surely it is meet to be said unto God I have borne chastisement I will not offend That which I see not teach thou me is I have done iniquity I will do no more 6. He would grip to Christ in the Covenant and â—…est there with joy and satisfaction he would hold that fast that he may ride out the storme in a darke night Though he make not mine house to grow said David 2 Sam. 23 vers 5. Yet this was all his salvation and all his desire that He had made with him an everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure The Spouse took this course when he could not get a sight of Him whom her soul loved Cant. 6 vers 3. and asserted her interest in Him I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine 7. He would be intertaining high and loving thoughts of God commending Him highly let His dispensations be what they will So did the Spouse Cant. 5 vers 10 16. 8. He would earnestly seek after Him The Spouse did so Cant. 5 vers 6. the discouragement she met with at the hands of the watch men did not put her off her pursuite Vers. 7. but she continued yea was sick of love Vers. 8. and here looks had a prevailing power with him as we see Cant. 6 vers 5. where the Bridgroom uttered that most astonishing word Turn away thine eyes from me for they have overcome me 9. This new manifestation which he is seeking for must be expected in and through Jesus who is the true Tabernacle and he who was represented by the Mercy seat He is the only trysting place in Him alone will the Father be seen 10 He would also look to Him for strength and support in the meane time and for grace that he may be keeped from fainting and may be helped to waite til he come who knoweth the fittest season wherein to appeare But it will be said what if after all this we get no outgate but He hideth his face still from us I answere Such would know that life is one thing and comfort is another thing Grace is one thing and warme blainks of Gods face is another The one is necessary to the very being of a Christian the other not but only necessary to his comfortable being and therefore they should be content if God give them grace though they â—…isse comfort for a time 2. They would lairne to commit that matter to Christ who knoweth how to give that which is good and what is best for them 3. They would be hanging on Him for strength for duty and in his strength seting about every commanded duty and be exercising Faith Love Patience Hope Desire c. 4. Let the well ordered covenant be all their salvation and all their desire and though they should not get a comfortable blaink of God's face so long as they were here yet holding fast this covenant they should at length be saved souls and what would they have more and when they get this what will they misse CHAP. XXVII How shall one make use of Christ as the Life when wreastling with an angry God because of sin THat we may give some satisfaction to this question we shall 1. Shew what are the ingredients in this case or what useth to concurre in this distemper 2. Shew some reasons why the Lord is pleased to dispense thus with his people 3. Shew how Christ is life to the soul in this case 4. Shew the beleevers duty for a recovery and 5. Adde a word or two of caution As to the first There may be those parts of or 〈◊〉 in this distemper 1. God presenting their sins unto their vieu so as they shall cry out our sin is ever before us Psal. 51 3. and say as it is Psal. 90 8. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee our secret sins in the light of thy countenance and so cause them see the Lord contending for sin as the Church did Esai 59 we roare all like bears and mourn sore like doves we look for judgment but there is none for salvation but it is far off from us for our transgressions are multiplied before thee and our sins testifie against us for our transgressions are with us and as for our iniquities we know them c. 2. Yea God may bring upon them the iniquities of their youth as Iob speaketh Cap. 13 26. and so bring upon them or suffer conscience to charge them with their old sins formerly repented of and pardoned And this is more terrible David is made to remember his original sin Psal. 51. 3. And as Iob speaketh Cap. 15 17. God may seem to be sealing up all their sins in a bag that none of them may be lost or fall by without being taken notice of and as it were be gathering them together in a heape 4. He may pursue sore with signes of wrath displeasure because of those sinnes as we see in David Psal. 4. 38. 51. and in several others of his people chastened of the Lord because of their trangressions whereof there are many instances in scripture 5. Yea and that for a considerable time together and cause them cry out with David Psal. 4 3. but thou O Lord how long 6. And that not only with outward but also with inward plagues And strokes as David's case cleareth in the forecited Psalmes 7. Yea and not only themselves but even their posterity as Davids childe was smiten with death and the posterity of Manasses who found mercy himself 2 Chron. 33 13. was caryed into captivity for his sin 2 Kings 23 26 27. 8. Further the Lord may deprive them of all their former joy and comfort which made David cry out Psal. 51 12. restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and grant me thy free Spirit 9. And which is yet more terrible write their sin upon their judgment as when He caused the sword and whoredom follow Davids house 10. And finally He may cause them feare utter offcasting as Psal. 51 11. cast me not away said he from thy presence And this the Lord thinketh good to do that we may speak a word to the second particular for those and the like reasons 1. To discover to them and to all the world how Just Holy and Righteous a God He is that cannot approve of or beare with sin even in his own children 2. To make all fear and tremble before this great and holy God who is terrible in his judgements even when they come from a Fathers hand that is not pursueing in pure anger and wrath but chastening in love Sure all must think that his dispensations with the wicked will be much more fearful and horrible seing they are not yet reconciled unto Him through the blood of â—…esus 3. To presse Believers more earnestly in to Christ that they may get a new extract of their pardon and their souls washen in the blood of Iesus 4.
To teach them to walk more circumspectly afterward and to guaird more watchfully against Satans temptations and to imploy Christ more as their Strength Light and Guide 5. To cause them see their great obligation to Jesus Christ for delivering them from that state of wrath wherein they were by nature as well as others and would have lyen-in to all eternity had not He redeemed them 6. To exercise their Faith Patience and Hope to see if in hope they will beleeve against hope and lay hold on the strength of the Lord that they may make peace with him Esai 27 5. 7. To give a fresh proof of his wonderful Mercy Grace Love and Compassion upholding the soul in the meane time at length pardoning them and speaking peace to their souls through the blood of Jesus But as to the third particular We may look on Christ as the Life to the soul in this case upon those accounts 1. He hath satisfied justice and so hath borne the pure wrath of God due for their sinnes He hath troden the winepresse alone Esai 63 3. He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our sins Esai 53 5 10. And therefore they drink not of this cup which would make them drunk and to stagger and fall and never rise againe 2. Yea He hath procured that mercy and love shall accompany all those sharpe dispensations and that they shall flow from mercy yea and that they shall be as a covenanted blessing promised in he covenant Psal. 89 30 31 32 33. 3. And sometimes He is pleased to let them see this clear difference betwixt the strokes they lye under and the judgments of pure wrath which attend the wicked and this supporteth the soul for then he seeth that those dispensations how sharpe so ever they be shall work together for good to him and come from the hand of a gracious and loving Father reconciled in the blood of Christ. 4. He is a Prince exalted to give repentance and remission of sins to Israel Act. 5 31. Yea He hath procured such a clause in the covenant which is wel ordered in all things and sure that upon their renewing of faith and repentance their after sin shall be pardoned and besides the promises of faith and repentance in the covenant His being â—… Prince exalted to give both giveth assurance oâ—… their receiving of both 5. He cleareth to them their interest in the Covenant and their right to the promises of the Covenant and through their closeing with Christ bâ—… faith He raiseth up their heart in hope causeâ—… them to exspect an outgate even remission of theâ—… sins and turning a way of the displeasure in due timâ—… through Him and this is a great part of their life 6. Being the author and finisher of faith 〈◊〉 â—… Prince to give repentance He by His Spirit worketh up the soul to a renewing of its grips oâ—… Himself by faith and to a â—…uning to the death and blood of Christ for pardon and washing and worketh godly sorrow in the heart whereupon followeth Pardon according to the gospel constitution though the beleever as yet perceiveth it not And sin being pardoned before God conforme to the tenor of the covenant of grace the man is a living man whatever feares of death he may be keeped under for a time 7. He helpeth also the soul to a justifying of God and to a holy submissive frame of Spirit under that dispensation so that they are willing to beare the indignation of the Lord because they have sinned against Him Micah 7 9. and to waite for an outgate in God's own time and to kisse the rod and accept of the punishment of their sin 8. When He seeth it fit for his own glory and their advantage He speaketh peace at length to the soul and sayeth Son or daughter be of good cheer thy sinnes are forgiven thee And then is the soul restored to life As to the fourth particular The soul that is wreastling with an angry God for sin and would make use of Christ as the life would do those things 1. He would look to Christ as standing under God's curse in our room and as satisfying justice for all the elect and for all their sinnes 2. He would eye the covenant wherein new pardon is promised upon the renewing of faith and repentance 3. He would eye Christ as the great Lord dispensator of both Faith and Repentance and hing on Him for both and thus beleeve that he may beleeve and repent or lay his soul open to Him that He may work in him both Repentance and Faith 4. He would flee to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than the blood of Abel that he may be washen and sprinkled with hysope as David did Psal. 51 7. 5. He would eye Christ as a prince to pardon and give remission of sins and as exalted for this end and would fix his eye upon Him as now exalted in glory for this end 6. He would close with Christ of new as his only alsufficient mediator and having done this and repented of his sins whereby God hath been provoked he would conclude through faith that a pardon is past in the court of heaven conforme to the tenor of the gospel and waite on Christ until the intimation come As for the cautions which I promised to speak to in the last place take those few 1. Do not conclude there is no pardon because there is no intimation thereof made to thy soul as yet According to the dispensation of grace condescended upon in the gospel pardon is had immediatly upon a souls beleeving and repenting But the intimation sense and feeling of pardon is a distinct thing and may for several ends be long â—…eeped-up from the soul Sure they go not alwayes together 2. Do not conclude there is no pardon because the rode that was inflicted for sin is not as yet taken off God pardoned Davids sin and did intimate the same to Him by Nathan and yet the sword did not depart from his house till he died God can forgive and yet take vengeance on their in venâ—…ions Psal. 99 8. 3. Do not upon this ground question God's Faithfulnesse or conclude that God's covenant doth not stand fast He is the same and the covenant abideth fast and firme but the change is in thee 4. Do not think that because thou hast once received Christ that therefore without any new act of faith on Him or of repentance towards God thou should immediatly be pardoned of thy sinnes as soon as they are committed for the gospel methode must be followed and it should satisfie us CHAP. XXVIII No man cometh to the Father but by me THis being added for furder confirmation of what was formerly said will pointe out unto us several necessary truthes as First That it is most necessary to be sound and cleare in this fundamental point of coming to God only in and through Christ for 1. It is the whole