the Pitt Justifie one in thy presence bring one to the riches of Inheritance or to answer thy exact demands or requires but we all confesse the truth of him as it is written of him and not of us Psalm 40.7 8. Then said I loe I come in the volume of thy booke it is written of me I delight to doe thy will O God yea thy law is within my heart Fourthly It hath beene expedient that the Law of life should be placed in the Lord of Life as the old Covenant or the law of Death was placed in the Loines of Adam It was not convenient that the Law of Faith should be in the Children of Incredulitie that the Law of love and mercy should be in the Children of Wrath and Furie that the Testament of life and Reconciliation should be in the Sonnes of Death and Condemnation had this Covenant beene made with us as the old Covenant was made with Adam we had broken this Covenant as well as Adam Therefore such hath beene the eternall wisedome of the Father to establish the Covenant in Christ sith he was the sonne of Mercy the sonne of Love the sonne of Grace and Bountie He was he that was able to make us at once with the Father to naile our sinnes to the Crosse to burie them in his grave to cast our sinnes into the Sea of Oblivion he was he that was able being the mind of the Father to reveale the mind of the father being the sonne of the bosome to make knowne what hath beene in his Fathers bosome being the treasures of wisedome to manifest hidden Knowledge and Wisedome Hence the Law of the Spirit of life is said to be in Christ and not in us according to the Text. Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sinne and death Fiftly Why freed Me not only because of manifestation to the Churches of Christ that he had interest in the Liberty and Redemption by Jesus Christ but also that he might have great consolaion in the midst of all sorrowes and tribulations as if he had said though the Law hath made Warre against me hath slaine me hath found me polluted sinfull and defiled and made me cry out who shall deliver me from the body of this death notwithstanding from that I am rescued and delivered according to the text Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the Law of sinne and death Why saith hee from the law of sinne 〈…〉 some understand this to bee law ceremoniall but I understand this to bee the law morrall that it is not proper to call the law ceremoniall the law of sinne and death I prove it thus First That which was the only cause of death to the Beasts and the figurative imposition upon them to signifie eternall life to the redeemed and reconciled that is not properly called the law of sin and death to us but the law ceremoniall was the onely cause of death to the beasts and the figurative imposition to signifie eternall life to them that are reconciled and Redeemed Ergo. Secondly That which by the Holy Ghost is not called the law of sinne and death is not the law of sinne and death but the holy Ghost hath not called the law ceremoniall the law of sinne and death therefore it is not the law of sin nor death The Holy Ghost hath attributed this to the morrall law Rom. 7.11 For sinne taking occasion by the commandement deceived me and by it slew mee Rom. 3.20 21. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh bee justified in his sight for by the law is the knowledge of sinne but not the righteousnesse of God without the law is manifest being witnessed by the law and the Prophets 1 Cor. 15.55 56. O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory the sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the law That law which figures out eternall life Redemption reconciliation that cannot bee the law of sinne and death but the law ceremoniall figured out eternall life Redemption and reconciliation therefore that cannot bee the law of sin and death the ground is this because the figure really answereth to the thing figured the end of Heave offerings signified the exaltation of our Lord upon the Crosse the peace offerings the reconciliation by Christ in the day of his Crosse the burnt offerings the satsfying of the justice of the Father to witt the appeasement of wrath in the time of his crosse If I should speake of the Cherubims they signifie nothing else but mercy in that they were covered with gold designes the riches of Christ in that they spread their wings one towards another denotes the faith of the Saints towards the throne of grace and mercy in that the mercy seate was placed above the arke of presence signifies that Christ the Lord of life and salvation is exalted above all things and that his presence extends it selfe to his poorest and meanest servants in that God answered from the mercy seat betweene the Cherubims mâ—kes knowne to the Saints Adopted that they are to receive answer of prayers from the breast of Christ to their poore soules The Law The gleanings of Ephraim was better then the vintage of Abiezer the law of life and reconciliation is better then the law of death and condemnation the one accuseth before the barre of Justice the other excuses before the thron of grace the one arraignes before the throne of Gods tribunall the other acquits before the mercy seate the one condemnes the soule and conscience of sinne iniquity and transgression the other frees the soule from sinne iniquity and transgression the one is the cause of curse and execration the other the cause of blisse and benediction the one affrights amazeth and consternateth the other comforteth refresheth and consolates one made the children of Israel flee from mount Sina the other makes us approach neare to Mount Sion Heb. 12. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24. For ye are not come to the mountaine that might be touched and that burned with fire not unto blacknesse and darkenesse and tempest which voyce they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more for they could not indure that which was commanded and if so much as a beast touch the mountaine it shal be stoned or thrust through with a dart And so terrible was the sight that Moses said I exceedingly feare and tremble But ye are come unto Mount Sion and unto the City of the living God and heavenly Ierusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the generall assembly and Church of the first borne which are written in heaven and God the judge of all and to spirits of just men made perfect and to Iesus the Mediatour of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then
passed by thee and saw thee polluted in thine owne blood yea I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood live Had they obtained mercy before I by mercy became their God Father by covenant No Hosea 2. the last And I will sow her unto me in the earth and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy and I will say to them which were not my people thou art my people and they shall say thou art my God Were they my people before I said they shall be my people No. Rom. 9.25 26 As he saith also in Osea I will call them my people which were not my people and her beloved which was not beloved it shall come to passe that in the place where it was said unto them ye were not my people there they shall be called the Children of the living God Or were they espoused to me for ever before I espoused them to me for ever Hos 2.19 And I will betroth thee unto mee in righeousnesse and judgement and in loving kindnesse and in mercy Let mine behold the freenesse of my love in the pardon of sinne through the Covenant of grace and mercy If I had not pardoned their sinnes had I not cast them out of my presence as I cast Adam out of Paradise Had I not cast them out from the communion of my glory of blessednes as I cast out my Angells from the fruition of my glory and happinesse Had I not caused hell to swallow them as the earth did Corah Dathan and Abiram when all the fountaines were shut I opened to them a pretious fountaine in the sides of my dearest Sonne I gave the blood of the most pure spotlesse and undefiled without spot wrinckle and unstained incomparable inestimable and unutterable though I judge the worth of his bloud above the worth of a Thousand worlds above the price of ten thousand jewells above the riches of all the celestiall wights yet I gave that for mine that they by that might bee clensed and I might see sinne no more that they by that might be reâ—onciled and I might remember sinne no more hence have I blotted out their sins iniquities as the thickest cloud Isay 44.22 I have blotted as a thick cloud thy transgressions and as a cloud thy sins returne unto me for I have redeemed thee Hence I deleted their transgressions for my names sake Isay 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for my owne sake and I will not remember thy sinnes Hence I cast all their sins into the bottom of the sea Micah 7.18.19 Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and pâ—sseth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mâ—rcy he will turne againe he will have compassion upon us hee will subdue our iniquities and thou wilt cast all their sinnes into the dâ—â—th of the Sea In my Covenant of free grace I have given Christ to be mediatour what is more pretious theÌ„ gold or what is more excellent then light or what is of greater value then his intercession in the behalfe of my redeemed Is it a small matter for the son of a King to mediate in the behalfe of trayterous and rebellious subjects or it is a small matter that hee that is King of Kings should become mediator in the behalfe of poore distressed sinres As I have commended my highest love that hee should shed his blood for sinfull wretches Rom. 5.8 But God commendeth his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us So I have commended my dearest love that hee should be mediatour for wofull transgressions 1 Tim. 2.5 For there is one God and one Mediatour betweene God and man the man Christ Jesus Whilst neither Angells Cherubins nor celestiall wights were able to present my people one how er spotlesse in my sight pure presence he is able to the dayes of eternity to present all the prisoners of my hope intire before the light of my countenance for he hath washed them in his blood most pure undefiled He hath set them before mee in the heavenly places they are in his brest without spot presented I can behold none but the son of my love being the God father of love I can behold none but the Lord of Righteousnesse sith I am the God and Father of Righteousnes when I looke upon him who was my delight before the world was how can I chuse but delight in them who were sons of wrath and children of the devill When I cast mine eye upon him that was the Complacencie of my breast bosome I cannot chuse but have effection towards them who have beene distant from my bosom Whilst I fixe mine eye upon the mediatour of the Covenant I will not hearken to the clamours of the world the roarings of the devill the accusations of the Law the terrors and complaints of the conscience nor to any evills whatsoever I will alone hearken to his plea and Mediation he saith my death is sufficient to redeeme and ransome mine from eternall death my bloud incomparable to remove all iniquities my passion able to remove thy terrible indignation had I not made a full and intire reconciliation had I not obtained the throne of grace and mercy had I left either sinne spot wrinckle staine blemish or defilement unremoved had not the value of my blood beene above all bloods the worth of my death above all deaths and price of Atonement above all Atonements then thy wrath thy furie and indignation might have broken out against my chosen as the inundation of the mighty waters but now I know thou lovest mine whom I have purchased and delightest in mine whom I have ransomed My mediation surpasseth the mediation of Aaron that was the sonne of man this by me the sonne of God hence I sit at the right hand of God to make intercession for mine Rom. 8.34 Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen againe who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Aaron entred into the holy of holiest below but I enter into the holy of holiest into the heavenly places Heb. 9.24 But Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true but into heaven it selfe now to appeare in the presence of God for us Aaron was annoynted with oyle made with the confection of the Apothicary but I was annoynted with the oyle of gladnesse above my fellowes Heb. 1.9 Thou hast loved righteousnesse and hated iniquity therefore God even thy God hath annointed thee with the oyle of gladnesse above thy fellowes Aaron he only killed beasts for burnt offerings for peace offerings and heave offerings but I was slaine for the peace of my people that I might bring mine to injoy everlasting fruition and communion of my Fathers
as I have loved you Nothing is so pretious as Christs blood nothing so victorious as his death nothing is so pure as his righteousnesse so nothing is so tender as the love of our dearest Lord that bought us who hath left the highest throne of glory for the bondslaves of miseries but the prince of glory who hath stood betweene light and darkenesse betwixt heaven and hell betwixt eternall justice and the children of unrighteousnesse but the Lord our righteousnesse 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sinne the just for the uniust that hee might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickned by the spirit Who hath beene surety for mine in respect of the acquirie of Redemption to make up the breach of union to answer the righteousnesse for justification to atchieve glorious communion beatification bediction felicitie and the fruition of my presence but he that shall stand for ever mediatour and intercessour in my presence or who hath indured that mocking that buffeting that scorning that arraigning that condemning but he in whom there is no condemnation but eternall life and salvation Act. 4.12 Neither is there Salvation in any other for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved He hath laid downe his life for them that were deprived of the hope of life hee spilt his dearest blood for them that were involved in their blood hee hath ventured his death for the lives of them that were the children of death had a child of wrath died for a child of wrath that should not have been excellent had a child of death dyed for a son of death that should not have beene superexcellent but for the beloved of the father to die for miserable catives and captives that is transcendent The death of mee the Lord of life is more then a thousand Lords the death of mee the prince of peace is more then the death of tenne thousand princes the death of mee who am King of Kings is more then the death of all the Kings and Monarches under heaven I looked and behold the Angels hid their faces all creatures hid their heads Sith none could make up the breach of union a glorious presentation in my fathers presence conquer death through death overcome the devill through power blot out impurity through righteousnesse remove sinne through blood make peace through atonement and by grace and glory bring the poore soule to eternall glory Isay 59.16 And he saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessour therefore his arme brought salvation unto him and his righteousnesse it sustained him 2 Cor. 3. last But wee all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Out of my love I give rare gifts and graces to my Saints and servants Who hath opened the treasures of wisedome and knowledge if not I who hath broken open the treasure-house of heaven opened the throne of grace unlocked the mercy seate if not I who hath placed the heavenly minds in the heavenly places blessed the people delivered from the curse with spirituall blessings and made them that have tasted my love attaine to the height of my love but I. I powre my water upon the thirsty I give my bread to the hungry my cloath of righteousnesse to the naked and my dearest mercy and love to the lovelesse I power out my spirit upon my servants shew my visions to the young and give my dreames to the old Acts 2.17 And it shall come to passe in those dayes saith the Lord I will power out my spirit upon all flesh and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophesie and your yong men shall see visions and your ould men shall dreame dreames My gifts are not of gold but of that which is more pretious then the gold of Ophir my gifts are not jewels gemmes and pretious stones But that which is more rich then jewels gemmes and pretious stones My gifts are not earthly treasures morrall righteousnesse worldly wealth and things terren and sublunarie but heavenly treasures and heavenly righteousnesse celestiall wealth and things sublime and heavenly Hence mine receive abundance from me the the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelt in me bodily Collosians 2.6 verse For in him dwelleth all the fullnesse of the Godhead bodily Hence mine receive grace and truth from the fulnesse of grace and truth as I have spoken and mine confesse John 1.16 And of his fulnesse have wee all receiued and grace for grace Out of my love I will not forsake mine in the midst of all their tribulation and temptations though the heaven should frowne and the earth should lowre the conscience should terrifie justice should amaze death should trouble sinne should burden the Devill should roare the flesh should assault all evills should environ notwithstanding I will not forsake my peculiar though principalities though powers though death though famine though perill though sword though hell though law though sinne though the grave and all evills should beset mine yet will I not leave them I love them in wants as if they had abundance in tribulation as if they were free from tribulation in temptation as if they were free from temptation And in sheep skins and goats skins as if they had cloath of gold beset with the rarest jewels What if they are stoned for my name sake what if they be banished for my testimony what if they should be wracked for the witnesse of the word of my truth what if they had not a hole with the fox nor a nest with the birds yet I will not shut them out of my presence Have I not given a testimony concerning them Heb. 11.36 37 38 39. And others had triall of cruell mockings and scourgings yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment They were stoned they were sawne asunder were tempted were slaine with the sword they wandered about in sheep skins and goats skins being destitute afflictet tormented of whom the world was not worthy They wandered in the desarts and in mountains and denns and caves of the earth And all these have obtained a good report through faith receiued not the promise When Paul and Silas my servants were in prison did I not make them sing songs of my dearest love When Peter was in prison was not the Angel of my presence by him when my servant Steeven was stoned did I not make his face to shine as an Angel and when my servants were in the fire furnace have I not delivered them from the furnace of fiety afflictions I am the rock when there is no rocke I am the refuge when there is no refuge I am their hope and horne of salvation when there is neither hope nor horne of salvation Hence mine may conclude with my servant Psal 18.18 They prevented me in the day of my calamitie but the
in thy presence condemned by their injudiciall sentence to free them from condemnation I stood in the place of Manasseth that Idolater in the roome of Paul that Blasphemer in the stead of Peter that denier when mine could not beare the heate of thy burning wrath and indignation I stood and beare their iniquities when they could not tread the winepresse of thy fury I trode the winepresse for them thou laydst the sins of mine upon my shoulders thou didst cast thy darts through my sides I was wounded I was chastised I was broken to peeces for them being made sinne for them who being thy sonne knew no sinne that they might bee made the righteousnesse of God in mee Now there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 I have made death temporall a bed of downe a place of rest and a sweete passage to my glory did Israel passe through the red sea and the waters did not overwhelme them did Judah and Rheuben passe through the waters of Jordan those did not offend them and shall not mine passe through the gates of death and shall that destroy them no I have taken away the death of death spiritual I live in mine by hope I have made them to cast Ankor in the throne of my grace and dearest mercy in whom wee have an Ankor of the soule safe and firme entring into that which is within the vaile Heb. 6.19 Which hope we have as an Ankor of the soule both sure and steadfast and which entreth into that within the vaile I live in them by love I have made them live in Me by my love So that there love to me is above treasures riches and honours above Father Mother wife and children above bonds chaines and fetters above temptations anguish or tribulation above the malice of the Divell the terrours of the law the horrours of hell the darts of the world and the warres of the flesh I have made them to leave all thinges terrene and earthly and to pitch on those things which are high and heavenly My love to them in their value and estimation is above Rubies Saphires pretious gemmes carbuncles and pretious Iewels ten thousand mountaines of gold in their sight are undervalued I am the chiefest of ten thousand the loves of men and women are disaccounted sith my love to them is above the loves of Jonathan and David The freenesse of my love hath made them love me intirely and freely and the eternity of my love hath made them love Me eternally hence have I spoken of them John 17.28 And I have made knowne to them thy name and will make it knowne that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them and I in them I have made them live the life of faith though their faith overcoms the world and this is the victory that overcommeth the wold even your faith 1 Joh. 5.4 though their faith repulseth the fiery darts of Satan above all taking the shield of faith whereby ye shall bee able to quench the fiery darts of Satan Ephes 6.16 Though their faith is more pretious then gold that is tryed in the fire That the tryall of your faith being much more pretious then of gold that perisheth though it bee tryed with fire might bee found unto praise and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.8 Notwithstanding it is mine I make them to beleeve in my Father and in my selfe whom hee hath sent I made them my beloved injoyers of eternall life glorie and beatitude I made them to abide in me by faith whilst I abode in them by love the truth thereof is witnessed by my Apostle I am crucified with Christ neverthelesse I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the sonne of God who loved me and gave himselfe for me I also have taken away death eternall for I have reconciled mine to the Father by an everlasting reconciliation I have brought with mee the everlasting robes of righteousnesse I have taken away all their sinnes iniquities and transgressions by my blood most pretious I have made them one by union that they might enjoy a being in Me and in my Father Hence the second death shall have no power of them I my selfe have spoken it Apoc. 20.6 Blessed and holy is hee that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power but they shall be Priests to God and of Christs and shall raigne with him a thousand yeares What hath the world to say to my people true it is they have beene drunkards persecuters blasphemes they have beene alienated from my glory estranged from my love and without my presence in the world but I have washed them in the purest fountaine I have made their scarlet die whiter then the snow their bloody crimson whiter then the wooll are they defiled like the Menstruous cloath no are they leprous as was Naaman the Assirian no they are purer then the purest Nazarene What hath the flesh to pleade against mine true it is before I came to live in them their minds were clouded with Egyptian darkenesse there wils resisted my words of reconciliation their affections were involved in things terrene and sublunarie their hearts harder then the rockes or milstone and their consciences were the habitation of the blacke fiends of darkenesse but since I tooke up my rest in them I appeared the glorious light of the Gospel of life and redemption I have removed their darkenesse I have made them conformable to my sacred and holy wil I have set their affections aloft in the heavenly places I have softened their obstinate and obdurate hearts and have clensed their consciences from sin by my blood most pretious Now old things are past away and all things are become new now they are my workmanship created in Me to good workes that they should walke in them Now my peace my joy my love my grace and my liberty dwells in them Am I not King and Lord commander in the soule Am I not prince and Lord defender of the conscience Am I not Master and governour of the affections yea though sinne is in their flesh yet my grace is in their spirits for I am in them both grace and glory therefore there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit What can the world say against those that are my redeemed and reconciled They will take away their good name I suffer the Angels of light to bespot their garments I permit the legalists to defame to blemish their conversations but the servant is not greater then his Master nor the Disciple then his Lord. If they take away their name I have given them a name which is written in the booke of life charectered it upon my breast for
ever If they take away their liberty yet have they alwaies liberty to the throne of my hevenly grace and highest mercy if they take away their goods yet are they enriched by my heavenly grace and treasure of wisdome if they take away their vestments yet stand they cloathed with my garments of everlasting righteousnesse And if they take away their lives yet their lives are hid in me in my Father Therefore there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 There is a threefold ground why there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus The first ground is this sith the Eternall justice of the Father is satisfied I argue thus if the eternall justice of the Father in and by Christ is satisfied then there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ But the Eternall justice of the Father is satisfied in by Christ therefore there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ That the justice of the Father is satisfied in and by Christ is evident first upon denomination Christ is called the Sonne of the Father in whom the Father is well pleased so the holy Ghost hath related in the Evangelist Mat. 3. the last This is my beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleased As if the Father should speake thus to his people Let all my people know that I know of justice no more of wrath no more of indignation and vindication no more true it is my pleasure to hide my face my joy my peace my rest my glory and the rarenesse of my communion from mine notwithstanding such hath beene my divine and rarest pleasure that my delight alone is in the Sonne of my bosome my glory in the prince of grace and glory and my rest is in him whom I have constituted and appointed to bee Mediator of the Covenant of grace and bounty amongst the Saints triumphant none are accepted to dwell in my presence but in and through my beloved amongst my Saints and warriours Militant none are welpleasing in my sight but in and through the Son of my bosome hee is the sweet smelling sacrifice most gratious acceptable before Me I my selfe have spoken it Eph. 5.2 And walke in love as Christ hath loved us and given himselfe an offering a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour The Mirhe the Aloes and the Cassia are not sweet in my presence the sweetest gumes the frankinsence and pleasant oyntments are not pleasant in my nostrills nothing is pleasant before me but the first begotten frō the dead and prince of the Kings of the earth I have undervalued al my Angels respecting none but the Angels of the everlasting covenant though my pleasure was to give them a song of praise for ever counting them worthy of the light of my countenance dignifying them with the honour of messengers protectors notwithstanding they could not answer my purity nor satisfie my justice I have disesteemed the sonnes of men though I made them Lords over my creatures the noblest of my worekmanship and gave to them both purity and innocency notwithstanding they cannot answer my demands nor appease my wrath nor furie I have disaccounted of the bodies of bulls of beasts of goats and I have prepared a body by and for my selfe I my selfe have spoken it Wherefore when he commeth into the World he saith sacrifices and burnt offerings thou wouldest not but a body hast thou prepared Heb. 10.5 Hence I have accepted of the body of the Lord of life for my people of the blood of the prince of glory for the children of death and misery of the death of him that is the Mediatour of of the Covenant of life and promises for the curse and death of my peculiar Now then there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 The second ground why there is no Condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus Because the law is satisfied the law is satisfied actively and passively my beloved was to present my people compleat pure and holy without spot or wrinkle unblameable unreproveable and righteous to make of unrighteous righteous of unholy holy of impure and defiled pure and undefiled which in and by him was performed when hee fulfilled all righteousnesse when he answered every jot and title of my law required when hee was made sinne for mine that they might bee made the righteousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5. the last He answered my law passively for he was wounded bruised and broken to peeces who but your Lord was led as a Lambe to the slaughter and as a sheep before the shearer as dumbe who but your Lord cried out upon the Cross my God my God why hast thou forsaken me who but your Lord sweat water and blood in the day of his passion beloved thou cammest short of the glory of God yet thy deare Lord bought thee the prince of glory sought thee the shepheard of the covenant came and performed all for thee hence he is the end of the law for righteousnesse sake Rom. 10.4 Christ is the end of the law for righteousnesse sake to every one that beleeves therefore there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walke not aftert the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 The third Ground why there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Because they are united to the Sonne of my love had they not beene united to the vine of rarest vertue the Lord of richest wisedome the bridegroome of sweetest love then might they have bin condemned but because of their union they injoy communion in him and with him by their union they injoy a threefold voice The first is the voice of Reconciliation The second the voice of Adoption The third the voice of Justification and Redemption Of the first to wit concerning the voyce of Atonement or reconciliation the day hath been that the wall of seperation hath beene betwixt thee and the Father the hand writing of ordinances against the conscience the blacknesse of darkenesse had overclouded the soule thy sinnes iniquities and transgressions had separated between me and thee and the whole heavens were overcast with the mists of dimnesse till I speake of rarest love in the Sonne of my love till I speake of peace in the reconciler of my Redeemed till I spake of Rest to all your restlesse soules under heaven because my Sonne hath reconciled mine through his pure and pretious blood hence I have nothing against them that are washed in his blood because I have made an attonement in and through him who hath beene my choise and beloved servant therefore I have no charge against them who have beene children of wrath and enemies against my Majesty As my love my grace my peace my glory rests in him so my peace abides in him
admiration of the times because of his wisedome and discretion Christ the wonder and admiration of his Churches because of his speeches and declaration My soule he that is thy peace thy rest thy love thy mercy he shall be thy cōmander he that is thy prince of glory thy Lord of life he is thy gratious protector hee that is thy vine thy head c thy bridegroome he shall be thy leader rule for grace and peace came by him when the Law came by Moses Ioh. 1.17 Redemptiō Justification and Reconciliation came by him when Condemnation adjudication came by Moses Consolations comforts joyes and springs of solace came by him when terrors horrors feares and servitude came by Moses Therefore thou shalt glory and expresse the praise of glory concerning the words of freedome and liberty Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the law of sinne and death 2. The Law of the Spirit of life It hath beene said of Paradise that it was the rarest place in the habitable world in respect of Altitude in respect of Amaenetie in respect of Profunditude and in respect of Jucunditie the same may be spoken concerning the Spirit of life and glory it is extolled in respect of Altitude sith it is in Christ who was placed in the high and heavenly places of Amaenetie sith it is the delight of the beloved Saints and peculiar of Profunditude sith it soundeth the lowest and deepest misery of Jucunditie sith it makes the drooping soule most joyous and chearefull Therefore the same that was the joy and glory of the blessed Apostle is the joy and glory of the drooping soule joying and glorying in the words of the Apostle Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sinne and death The Law of the Spirit of life Pretious are the gifts and graces which come from the Father of everlasting light rare are the treasures which come from the Lord of life and peace rare and pretious is the Law of life which is from and of the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus What is so jucundious what is so amaenious or what is so joyous as the spirit of Adoption which sealeth the soule up to the day of eternall Redemption or what can be so pleasant so delightsome or joyfull as the spirit that consolates the soule in the midst of all distresses or what can be so rare so wonderfull and admirable as the law of of the spirit of life that frees us from the law of sinne and death the seale of the spirit doth rejoyce thee in the day of thy Adoption the disconsolated are consolated in the day of Consolation the wanting vacuous are filled with joys in the day of impletion and the soule is filled with all fulnesse and sweetnesse in the day of liberation hence comes in our joyfullnesse and fullnesse that as we receive our peace from the Prince of peace our righteousnesse from the Lord of righteousnesse so we receive the law of life from the spirit of life in Christ Jesus If thou hast the revelation of the mistery of the Kingdome it is by the spirit Mat. 16.11 He answered and said unto them because it is given unto you to know the misteries of the Kingdome of Heaven but to them it is not given If to thee is given to know the deep and profound things of God it is by the spirit 1 Cor. 2.10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit for the spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God If to thee is given to know the mind of God before the world was it is by the spirit Ephes 4.7 But to every one of us is given grace according to the gifts of Christ Ephes 3.5 That to other Generations hath not been known to the sonnes of men is now revealed to the Apostles and prophets by the spirit So if there is a revelation of the mistery of glory to Babes and Sucklings and denied to the learned Doctors and Rabbies of the world it is by the spirit Mat. 11. 25.26.27 At that time Jesus answered and said I thanke thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hide these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to Babes even so Father for so seemed good to thy sight All things are delivered unto me of my Father and no man knoweth the sonne but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father but the sonne and he to whom soever the sonne will reveale him None can write the law of God in the hearts of the Saints but the spirit of Christ as none can seale to the Conscience the everlasting love of God the Father and the precious treasures of Jesus Christ but the spirit of glory as none can give the spirit of oration to them that cannot pray the spirit of consolation to them that sit in mourning weeds but the spirit of Comfort so none can write the mind of God in the conscience or the will of Christ in the spirit of the Saints but the spirit of assurance or obsignation Hence it is recorded by the Apostle 2 Cor. 3.3 Yee are our Epistles written in our hearts which is known and read of all men manifest to be the epistle of Christ c. The same spirit that reveales unto the Saints the unsearchable riches of Christ that engraves the heavenly and gracious mind of the Father in the consciences of the Redeemed the same quickens the soule by the mighty power of life and vivification when we lay dead in sinnes and trespasses when wee were troden in our bloods by the Horsmen of Hell and Death when we were involved in the depth of the gulfe of miseries then by the same spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead we were quickned therefore not without cause is he called the spirit of life First In the respect of Christ Secondly In respect of the life that the Saints receive through uniō by the spirit Thirdly In respect of that life the Saints receive through Faith Love and hope by the spirit in the act of communion When our Lord was in the grave neither hell nor death nor law nor justice nor all the force of the creature could retaine him for he shewed himselfe the Lord of life by rising from the dead Apoc. 1.18 I am he that liveth and was dead I am alive forever more Amen and have the keyes of Hell and death Lord over sin by the blood of his crosse Col. 2.14.15 Blotting out the hand writing of ordinances which was against us which was contrary to us and tooke it out of the way nailing it to his crosse and having spoiled principalities and powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them all Conquerer over the Divill by the power of his death Heb. 2.24 For as much then as the children are partakers of
unto thee c. O my soule if I glory I will not glory in that which is written in tables of stone but in that which is written in the fleshly tables of thy heart not in that which is the ministry of death but in that which is the ministry of life not in the ministry of condemnation but in that which is the ministry of salvation not in that which gendreth to bondage but in that which tendeth to libertie not in that which hath a vaile and darkenesse but in that which hath light and glory not in that which disconsolates and discomforts the drooping conscience but in that which consolates comforts the drooping spirit Thou gloriest in the pretiousnesse of his riches in the rarenesse of his promises in the beauty of his righteousnesse and shalt thou not glory in the pretiousnesse rarenesse riches of the law of life in Christ did David desire the waters of Bethlehem above all waters did Abraham desire a sonne above the Land of Canaan and shalt thou not desire this law of life above all lawes if others pitch their tents by Sinai thou shalt pitch thy tent by Sion if others follow Moses thou shalt follow Christ if others delight in that which drives them from God thou shalt delight in that which drawes thee neere to God The law of sinne and death hath not freed thee from the law of sinne and death the law of curse or execration hath not freed thee from the law of death and condemnation the law of terrours and horrors hath not freed thee from the law of terror horrour but the law of life by which thou art dead to the law that thou mayest live unto God Gal. 2.19 For I through the Law am dead to the Law that I might live unto God Hence thou therefore shalt hearken to the Commission of the Father Mat. 17.5 While he yet spake behold a bright cloud overshadowed them and behold a voyce out of the cloud which said this is my beloved sonne in whom I am well pleased heare ye him Who hath the words of eternall life but he John 6.68 Then Simon Peter answered him Lord to whom shall we goe thou hast the words of eternall life Into whose lips hath grace been infused but into his Psalme 45.2 Thou art fairer then the children of men grace is powred into thy lyps therefore God hath blessed thee forever Or who hath the words of peace and reconciliation but he Ephes 2.17 And came and preached peace to you which were affarre off and to them which were nigh Hence will I glory in the glorying expression of the Apostle Paul Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed them from the law of sinne and death Hath freed me Israel had ten portions in the King when Judah Benjamen had but two but it cannot be spoken according to that tenour of the saints beloved for they have a like inheritance in God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent sith they are chosen by one Lord redeemed by one Christ sealed by one spirit of life injoying the law of life being freed from the law of sinne and death Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed me from the law of sinne and death Christ is then operative in the soule when by faith he is particularly applied The transcient passage of the beauty or splendor of an object is through the eye unto the mind the passing consolable delectation which is in Christ is through a Christians application to the soule in Christ are treasures passing the treasures hid in the sands the emenency and superemency of all heavenly and divine compassions passing the compassions of humaine generation the excelency yea the superexcellency of worth merit and value passing all the valuable things which are wrapt up in the breast of things terrestiall But what are those treasures passing treasures the eminency the superemency of those heavenly and divine compassions the excellency the superexcellency of that his merit worth and value without a speciall or particular applyment The comfort of the eye is in seeing of the eare in hearing of man in moving the comfort of the soule is in applying What joy is there to a Rebell to thinke there is a Kingdome and yet out of that he shall be banished what comfort is there to a man to know there are rich treasures wrapt in our mother earth and he of those shall be deprived or what joy or comfort can come to the soule or conscience though there are all excellencies wrapt within Christs bosome if they of him shall not be injoyed other creatures were before man was created light overspread the earth before light in the sun was placed but comfort to the faithfull doth not arise before that Christ by faith is applied Our sad houres our dolefull dayes our gloomsome times are then removed when the vertuall efficacy of Christ through faiths application is received our comfort till we come to heavens City our joy till we come to heavens felicity and our solid refreshment till we come to heavens glory is through faiths applying Christ ours all in all Though the waves of iniquitie doe roare the floods of transgression fall the wind of bitter affliction blow heard upon us yet if once by applying we cast anchor into Christ solid joy doth inviron the heart and conscience as light doth incompasse the body of a rationall then the terrible the dreadfull the iâ—efull God against sinne and transgression appeares most bounteous most benignous most clementious through his marvilous compassion then the covenant of eternall grace and mercy puts to repulse the law of death and miserie then the worth and merit of Christ pleads redemption from the foule black jawes of the Devill reconciliation between the God of infinite purity and man who through sinne hath procured an infinite miserie and justification in the sight of our heavenly and compassionate father Anchor being cast in Christ all becomes a Christians his wisedome his death his blood his power his spirit and his Kingdome If the Bridgroome be the Brides by combination then his lands his livings his jewels his gold his silver is hers If Christ be ours then his heavenly benedictions his spirituall blessings his superabundant and heavenly treasure are become ours also All are yours and yee are Christs and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3.22 O my soule apply whole Christ particularly that thou mayest injoy him fully Was he deprived of all before Pilate accused of the Souldiers buffited of the high Priests disdained and not for thee he indured that which thou shouldest have sustained he suffered for that which hadst deserved Oh what did he sustaine Oh what hath he not sustained Oh what did he suffer Oh what hath he not suffered did he not undergoe the burthen of thy sinne which was insufferable by a strength and power invincible at what time the vaile of the temple rented
at that time the heavens opened at what time the earth trembled at that time through his satisfaction he removed thy trembling estate and condition at what time the light of the sunne was obscured at that time the merit of thy Saviour shined the glory of the sunne of righteousnesse and the beauty of the sunne which is collocated in the midst of the planets at one time were darkned in which time Christ stood in thy place and for thy sake hath suffered What might I mention concerning Christ the more the mind conceiveth the more the tongue relateth the more the soule by faith apprehendeth the more the mind is elevated The Moone is below the sunne the sunne below Saturnee Saturne below the Primum Mobile the Vegitive creature is be low the sensitive the Sensitive below the Rationall and the Rationall below him that lives by faith in the Lord Jesus How divine is such a Christian in contemplation how heavenly in Mediation how rare iâ— declaration how sweet in conversation never a speech comes from such a Christian but it is inflamed with the fire of the Holy Ghost hence all his words are in extolling Christs righteousnes advancing Christs goodnesse valuing Christ blood Christ hath drawn his mind to a high pitch of conceivement hath the sunne the power of exalation the splendor of a Diamond in the drawing of the affection is ther not enough in Christ which drawes the Christian to high meditation Though thy mind did rest like the Cocke upon the dunghill of this world though thy affection was as fast inclosed in the creature as a mould in the earth yet from so low a condition a Christian is brought when once Christ by his vertue in the conscience takes possession then not honoures but Christs honour not riches but Christs riches not righteousnesse but Christs righteousnesse alone for a Christians presentation the eie is distant from the sunne the eye neverthelesse by the light thereof is drawn to behold his beauty though Christ is distant from a Christian yet by his efficacy he drawes the eye of faith to behold his glory what only to behold the glory of his victory tryumphant the glory of his mediation delectant and not the glory of his session magnificent applying faith is never below the throne of grace and glory it is never below the seate of Gods eternall mercy where there is not faiths applycation death of spirit hath domination our life by Christs treasures of wisedome by the vertue of his death and rising againe from the dead is through faiths applycation Let a Christian observe the death of spirit in the hearts of Justiciaries and inquire the reason why it is so and he shal find that it is because they apply not whole Christ to their consciences Some thing they will have of their own righteousnesse in Justification some thing of their owne performances in matter of reconciliation let us speake of Christ freely and bouldly and they stand as people agashed and amazed I deny nâ—t that they have a name to live But as sure as the sunne shines in Europe when it is come to the Meridian so sure are they dead yea as a tree twice plucked up by the rootes through the hand of the workeman He that hath the life of faith he applies all the excellencies of Christ unto himselfe what saith such a beleeving christian hath Christ redeemed others and not me reconciled others and not me justified others and not me Surely if any be redeemed if any justified if any reconciled then I am one of that number Through applying faith the soule is sicke of love at the very sight of his riches of his wisedom of his righteousnesse of his graces and consolations it cries out O my beloved my well beloved where rests where remaines where abides my welbeloved is the love of a woman so to her husband of a father to a child of a subject to his Prince comparable to that love of the soule to Christ who hath found in Christ al the kinds of sweetest consolations this applyment of Christ makes the soule desire more of Christ he who hath felt the sweetnesse of the hony combe he desires to tast of the sweetnesse of that againe he who hath seen the light of the sunne desires to see it againe he that once hath tasted of the sweetnesse in Christ through application desires to tast thereof againe Hence are the outcries of such beleevers O that I might feele the vertue of Christs blood in my conscience more efficatiously that doht purge my conscience from dead workes to serve the living God The blood of Christ which through the eternall spirit was offered without blame to God shal purge your consciences from dead workes to serve the living God Heb. 9.14 O that I might feele more effectually the power of that reconciliation which once upon the crosse he fully perfected and finished that he would give me to understand more fully that I have all my sinns pardoned and remittted Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation by faith in his blood to demonstrate his righteousnesse by the forgivenesse of sinnes which are past through his long suffering Rom. 3.25 O that I might be more assured that Christs righteousnesse is mine then should I injoy the sweetest peace of conscience sith I should be fully assured that God with me should be well pleased and that I should be found worthy to abide in the City of our God for ever there to praise and honour him for ever more They washed and made white their robes in the blood of the lambe therefore they are before the throne of God and worship him day and night Apoc. 7.14.15 O that I might be replenished with the fullnesse of his grace then should my empty pitcher bee filled with joy and my mournfull heart with consolation and yee are now in heavinesse But I will see you againe and your heart shall rejoyce and your joy shall no man take from you John 16.22 O that I might have his spirit to dwell in me then should I be able to call and cry Abba Father to make my petitions strongly to my heavenly father to know assuredly that I am one of those who are purchased with the pretious blood of Jesus Christ Ye are not in the flesh but in the spirit if the spirit of God dwell in you but if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 O that I might feele the mighty power of the death of my saviour and redeemer then should I dye to sinne and live to righteousnesse as the Phenix by the Sunne is consumed and by vertue of the beames thereof is revived so if I feele the power of the death of my Redeemer death shall be abolished and the life of righteousnesse in me by the life of Christ renewed Ye are buried by Baptisme into his death that like as Christ is raised from the dead unto the glory of his