in the New Testament 1 Rom. 30. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is Translated despiteful and denotes thus much When his power could not reach the Persons of Professours nor the worldly concerns of Professours yet he did his utmost to blast their names and blemish their reputation he was a reviler he forbore nothing that was injurious to them but what was beyond his power to inflict These were his sins 2. What mercy he did obtain notwithstanding such sins and that in three instances 1. Sparing mercy God had born with him Notwithstanding he was often guilty of those sins which might have brought wrath and destruction more quickly upon him he wondered at Gods patience towards him this is mentioned in this verse That he might shew forth all long suffering When he once came to understand what he had been and what he had done he stands amazed at the holy God that had so much patience with him God had it is true struck him to the ground he admired that God had not struck him as low as hell We are apt to think beholding the gross abominations that are more open and visible in our days what infinite patience there is in God that he doth not immediately break out upon such as are guilty but S. Paul like a poor humble sinner busies himself at home and spends his wondering chiefly on Gods patience towards himself who had been a blasphemer and persecutour and injurious and yet alive and on this side hell yet a pattern of the patience and long-suffering of God 2. He obtained pardoning and renewing mercy in respect of that double change that was wrought upon him there was an outward change in respect of his State and Condition and there was an inward change in respect of the frame and disposition of his heart These were the high and choice mercies which he obtained Mercy in respect of his state and condition Of a childe of wrath he became a childe of mercy and favour from a state of death he was brought into a state of life from a state of condemnation he was brought into a state of absolution and pardon as he himself speaks 2 Ephes 5. Even when we were deed in sins he hath quickned us together with Christ We were dead guilty of death under a state of condemnation but now 5. Rom. 1. being justified by faith we have peace with God Now justification is not only an act of mercy and consists not barely in the remission of sin but it is an act of justice also in regard of the account upon which sin is forgiven this is a Doctrine whereof many in these times speak very lightly therefore to give a right notion of Justification consider it doth not only consist in the bare remission of sin but this remission of sin is upon a valueable consideration Divine Justice having received a valueable satisfaction by the blood of Christ For nothing could expiate our sins but his blood Now S. Paul was sensible of the great mercy of God to him and by this mercy he means pardoning mercy Again he did partake of purging mercy in regard of the inward frame and disposition of his heart This he frequently mentions Thirdly That is not all but he obtained Commissionating grace grace to be employed to be made use of in the highest degree of service to God and his Church From the lowest degree of infamy he was raised to the highest place of trust 12. vers of this Chapter And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who hath enabled me for that be counted me faithful putting me into the Ministry Though the Ministry be never so much despised he accounted it a high honour to be put into it he that was a blasphemer a persecutour injurious that Christ should put this honour upon him here is mercy indeed for such an offender to be spared to be pardoned to be sanctified to be made use of as such a glorious chosen instrument of God among the Gentiles this was mercy indeed 3. What encouragement is there in this and such like famous instances which God hath left upon record as monuments of his mercy for broken hearted sinners who are ready to sink under the weight and burden of their own sins First These examples and standing monuments of Gods mercy to others are incouragements to humble broken hearted sinners because the same Fountain of mercy still stands open to us that was open to them and by these standing monuments God hath enabled his people to answer those puzzling objections that do stick most with them The bowels and compassion of a gracious God are open now which were open to Saint Paul This is the original of all kind of mercies and unless this be open every door of mercy is 〈◊〉 59. Isa 1. The Lords hand is not shortned that it cannot save He hath the same bowels now which he had he is the fame yesterday and to day and for ever his mercy is from one generation to another The mercy of the Lord endures for ever It is no less then twenty times mentioned in the 136. Psalm We have the same fountain opened to us that is the Bowelâ— of God Secondly There is the fame meritorioussâ—â—â— in the bloud of Christ now as was He is the Laâ—â— slain from the foundation of the world There is an everlasting efficacy in his blood The Papists speak of their Treasury of Indulgences that sinners may live upon if they will give a handsome rate for them this is a gross delusion and multitudes have been deceived with it But this is true and real in Christ there is a treasury of all kinde of blessings laid up by his purchase by his once offering up himself be hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Thirdly There is the same efficaciousness in the Spirit of Grace We have the same operations of the Spâ—â—â— of grace to convince and to convert to sanctifie and renew us to prevent us from siâ—â—ing and to regenerate us to holiness to assist us and to enable us to every good way and work Fourthly If you regard the instrumental cause there is the same vertue in ordinances now which ever was because the strength and vertue of ordinances depend upon Gods presence and concurrence with them Now God hath promised his presence and concurrence to the end of the world 28. Matth. last Lo I am with you to the end of the world Not only with your Persons while your live but with your successours by whom the same ordinances are dispenced when you are dead and gone Again if you regard the final cause salvation and happiness God hath the same love for the salvation of lost and undone creatures now which he had of Old therefore says S. Paul 15. Rom. 8 9. Now I say that Jesus Christ was a Minister of the circumcision for the truth of God to confirm the promises made unto your Fathers and that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his mercy There
use and application of this point 1. What folly is it then to judge of them that are sincerely gracious by what is present Alass if you judge of things or persons by what is present as to outward things this is a falliable rule In the 73. Psal the Psalmist eying this rule so much was in great danger of mistaking but be at last recollects himself and says If I should speak thus I should offend against the generation of the righteous So 37. Psal 37. Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace His beginning may be trouble his continuance may be with oppositions but his end shall be peace 2. In the next place Is it so Then let us make no misconstructions of Gods dealings with us If we can but answer this great question that we are in the number of them that have a right to this future inheritance we have reason to entertain good thoughts of God what ever he is pleased to do with us as to other things If God hath been gracious to us in the choicest mercies we should not entertain hard thoughts of him if he with hold or remove smaller mercies If he hath been gracious to us in distinguishing blessings we should not be so apt to challenge God concerning these outward blessings 3. If this is so Then let this engage us quietly and patiently to bear what ever afflictions God may be pleased to exercise us with But you will say It is a hard matter to be patient under present afflictions when we are in doubts concerning our future estate and condition to be under troubles now and not to know when an end of these troubles shall be this must needs be uncomfortable and therefore let this engage us 1. To labour to resolve this great question whether we are in the number of them to whom this Inheritance belongs You see it is the portion of all the Children of God every one that is born again that is born of God is born to this inheritance but I shall speak more to this when I shall speak of that part of the text of being made meet and thus we may know it by examining the work of grace in our own hearts but because I shall insist on that afterwards I shall wave it now Now those that have once resolved this querie it becomes them to be patient in bearing what God doth exercise them with Consider how patient God hath been towards us shall we be impatient towards him and let us consider our future comforts and they will more then sufficiently recompence all our present sufferings I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed 8. Rom. 18. Nay how helpful and how conduceable is this quietness of Spirit to fit us for this Inheritance But you will say What is it to be quiet and patient under the hand of God Ans It is not every kind of stilness of spirit there may be a stupidness and blockishness of Spirit therefore in one word to be patient under afflictions doth not exclude a sense of afflictions but a dejection of spirit under afflictions You find 5. Jer. 3. that God complains of his ancient people though he had smitten them yet they would not receive correction O Lord are not thy eyes upon the truth thou hast stricken them but they have not grieved thou hast consumed them but they have refused to receive correction they have made their faces harder then a rock they have refused to return God had spoken to them by the voice of mercy that was a still voice they turned a deaf ear to that Language God spake to them in a louder Language by the voice of Judgement Now God takes it ill that this would not awaken them We should be sensible of afflictions but not cast down by affliction it is the middle between these extreams insensibleness and dejection 2. Though it does exclude dejection under afflictions yet it doth not exclude humiliation for sin The People of God that have the most experience of their sincerity being sensible of the hand of God upon them must be careful to humble themselves Humble your selves under the mighty hand of God 3. It doth not exclude a desire to have afflictions removed but rather increases a desire to have them sanctified Some are all for ease but a gracious Person would have the sore cured before the plaister be taken off he would not be excluded from a course of Phisick till he finds Spiritual health afflictions are Gods Spiritual Medicines 4. Again to be patient under Gods afflicting hand does not silence prayer but silenceth peremptoriness in prayer it makes us submissive in our prayers to God Father if it be possible let this cup pass yet nevertheless not my will but thine be done If God sees it good if it may make for his glory God will intrust us with these mercies he at present deprives us of 5. Farther it doth not cause us to neglect means but it restrains us from the use of unwarrantable means how many in times of danger if they can but shift off danger though they run their souls into danger by it they care not but patience keeps the soul in an even frame between these two extreams it neither doth neglect those means that God hath appointed nor dare it break Gods fence nor trample down his hedge to escape danger that is the word by which the New Testament describes sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 transgression a breaking of Gods fence 6. Lastly It doth not hinder the soul from duty but it quickens it unto duty and does inliven it in duty such a frame of spirit does very much become them who are able in any measure to clear up their title to this Inheritance I have spoken now only in the general What ever the condition of Gods people may be for the present yet this is their advantage they have an Inheritance for the future The second Doctrine is this 2. Doct. That this inheritance of the Saints is no mean slight nor contemptible matter but it is an excellent and glorious inheritance It is called an inheritance in light and for the persons to whom it belongs it is peculiar to the Saints Observe the manner of S. Pauls speaking of it he cannot so much as mention it without a holy kind of admiration Giving thanks to God which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Now all these expressions do demonstrate 〈◊〉 high esteem that S. Paul had of this inheritance it is in his esteem a mercy more then ordinary and the partaking of it a mercy beyond all other mercies and if the speaking of this inheritance be a thing so admirable what will the full possession of it be I shall a little in general before I come to particulars set before you something of the excellency of this
Christians that have outdone all other kind of men besides in observing the Rules of the Gospel have been to this Doctrine of God our Saviour O what Heroick Spirits were the Primitive Christians who could rejoyce in tribulations and suffer the spoyling of their goods with joy and that could with chearfulness undergo any misery when the case was clear indeed when the case was doubtful the case was different then how they counted Godliness great gain though it was loaded with reproaches and losses and all worldly inconveniencies yet they accounted it the most profitable eourse that could be taken and when they were destitute of all Creature-comforts yet they could be content with this and triumph in this the testimony of their own Consciences When the world was enraged and the spirits of men were imbittereâ— when earth and hell was against them yet then to be albe to approve their hearts to God this was enough to bear up their spirits 2 Cor. 1.12 This is our rejoycing the testimony of Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity we have had our conversations in the world And so much for the first Use 2. Vse Is by way of Exhortation to perswade all to make this their full work and business our constant designe and aim And oh what blessings might we be to after-ages in setting upon this work to purpose Rev. 13.14 Write henceforth blessed are the dead that die in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their works do follow them it is said the sins of wicked men do follow them and the good works of the righteous do follow them the good they have done to others shall be spread before others in after generations so that their good works may be augmenting and increasing many years after they are in their Graves And thus I find a Learned Writer interpreting both those places concerning wicked mens sins following after them when all the sins that they in their own persons are guilty of are accounted for they shall have other mens sins as an after-reckoning For every man does many mischiess in the world for by bad exaple he may infuse those corrupt Principles into others which may out live his Person and flourish when his body is rotting in the grave Be perswaded therefore to make it your great designe to adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour there is no man so mean but he is in a capacity in his place to do it and the Apostle propounds it here in the Text to the meanest rank of persons to Servants that they may do it I shall only mention some few weighty Arguments to engage you in this work 1. Consider your Principles are higher than others What are the Principles of a Christian I answer Faith and Love Faith that lifts us up above the things of sense above what is present what is visible to an eye of sense The Just are said to live by Faith Heb. 10.28 Faith lifts us up above our â—usts above our selves above the World it is said of Jehoshaphat that his heart was lifted up in the ways of God it is Faith lifts up the Soul above all rubs and impediments now every Christian professeth himself to be a Believer where is your faith then as our Saviour upbraided his Disciples that you are so nonplust with every difficulty and stagger at every danger and are interrupted in the ways of God upon every discouragement Where is your Faith The other Principle of a Christian is that of love Keep your selves in the love of God saith the Apostle Love sweetens every thing we are content to go through hardships and to pass through difficulties to hazard our felves in dangerous encounters if it be for the sake of them we love or if it be in the pursuit of what we love Now these that are acted from a Principle of Faith in God and love to Christ that feel the constraints of his love lying upon their hearts what manner of persons ought they to be that make such a high profession as this 2. As your Principles are higher so your pattern is better than others they have not any of those Rules that you heard mentioned in the large explication of the Doctrine but those Rules have been exemplified in the pattern of our Lord Jesus in that blessed example that he hath given us He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk as he walked 1 Joh. 2.6 to make him his pattern and to follow him in all things that are imitable true some things Christ did as God in those things he is not imitable and some things he did as God-man as Mediator in those things he can have no followers none to imitate him But some things he did as he was a holy person now what his life was such should ours be what the life of Christ was I shall only hint some few things 1. The life of Christ was the most self-denying life that ever was we read of the self-denial of Abraham and we have two notable instances of it He obeyed the Call of God and left his own Country and friends and kindred and acquaintance he went he knew not whether nor to whom yet God calls and he obeys God again calls to Abraham to offer up his Son Isaac a Child of so many prayers and a Son of so many Promises and he in whom all the Inhabitants of the earth were to be blessed yet God requiring him to offer no that Son he dares not with-hold him So we read of Moses his self-denial He refused to be called the Son of Pharaohs daughter Now the self-denial of Christ was such as the best of men were ever capable of If you consider the matters wherein he denied himself he denied himself of that glory of which no Creature was in a possibility of enjoying what was his Glory he thought it no robbery to be equal with God yet he suffered all this Glory to be obscured and clouded and was contented with it in order to the accomplishment of his Fathers designe of mercy to poor sinners the glory he left was such as no Cretature was capable of and the misery he underwen was such as no Creature eould subsist under Again the life of Christ was a pure and spotless life there was no guile found in his mouth he was sair without spot the Lamb of God without spot he was a man not only free from sinful practices but in whom there was nothing of a sinful Principle and therefore nothing could disturb him all the temptations of Satan all the allurements of the world could not prevail with him Satan when he assaulted him found nothing in him to fasten his temptations upon under the sorest of his asslictions there was found nothing in him of impatience but still he was as a sheep before the shearers that was dumb and opened not his mouth but when his Name was reproached and his person contemned and his Soul afflicted when he was
between God and Believers through Christ the Covenant of Redemption is made between God and Christ that if Christ will condescend to become man and undertake for the sin of all his and make satisfaction for those sins the Lord was well pleased with these Conditions it pleased the Lord to bruise him he made his Soul an offering for sin now all the recompence and compensation that Christ expects looks and did agree for is to see of the travel of his Soul and then he should be satisfied Oh how tender hath Christ been of your good you would be happy if you were as tender of your selves he was willing to leave all and to undergo all upon no other account but this not that he should be a gainer by you when he had finished his course in John 17.5 I have glorified thee on Earth c. One would think it was some greater glory that Christ expected but all that he begs is this with the glory I had with thee before the World was he desired no more nor could have any more because that was so great it could be no greater now that Christ should thus far ingage on the behalf of poor Creatures this is a great ingagement to us and in respect of the Covenant of Redemption was a great ingagement upon the Father and this was that which past between them now that God that can do all things who cannot lye nor do any thing unbecoming his own Excellency is a sure evidence of the stability of his love to Believers this being his condition with Christ in the Covenant of Redemption 4. Because of the fulness of Christs satisfaction the meritoriousness of what he hath done and suffered There is not onely a suffiency in the undertakings of Christ to satisfie for all our Debts to cancel all Scores and acquit his People from all their guilt as Heb. 10.14 By once offering he hath perfected for ever them that be be sanctified By once offering the legal Sacrifices were often repeated time after time yes their most solemn Sacrifices had their Repetitions these could not make the concerns thereunto perfect but Christ by once offering himself hath paid all our Debts and discharged us from the penalty our guilt exposed us to Again as there is a sufficiency in point of satisfaction so there is a Redundancy in point of purchase not onely a sufficiency to acquit them from all their guilt but a Redundancy to intitle them to all the glory and happiness that they are capable of Fithly Because of the constancy of Christs Intercession he did not onely purchase all blessings when he was upon Earth but by his Intercession he is pleading that purchase by spreading that Blood that he hath shed before his Father and thereby procuring all the blessed effects of it to the benefit of his People Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them He ever lives and he ever lives to make intercession This was an ordinary salutation as Justin Martyr observes amongst the Primitive Christi-when they met one another The Lord is risen â—he is not dead who is the life of our hopes he yet lives to make Intercession Rom. 8.34 Who shall condemn it is Christ that died That alone answers all kind of Objections we have sinned and offended but Christ hath died to make satisfaction for our sins Yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God he is risen that speaks his personal advancement who ever lives to make Intercession that speaks the comfortable Fruit and benefit of it to us The Intercession of Christ must needs be of great force with God our Saviour tells Peter after he had told him his failings Nevertheless I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not and if I pray for thee thou needest not question but to find the benefit of my Prayers that God that hears the cries of his poor weak People hath promised that his Ear shall be open to the Prayers of the destitute and therefore he will hear their cries Cau any imagine but that this God who hears the cries of the Ravens must needs have a high regard to the Prayers of his Son this is the great advantage of all that are sincere Believers that they an Advocate continually praying and interceding for them at the Throne of grace Sixthly Because Christ by his intercession is continually making up those fresh breaches that our sins are a new occasioning between God and us there is nothing in all the World can separate us from God but onely sin Isaiah 59.2 Your Iniquities have separated between you and your God c. Therefore all these instances that the Apostle gives here of death and Principalities and Powers c. can onely hurt us so far as they may be occasions of sin for nothing but this can do it and there is none of the most eminent Believers but they have their various sinful failings which occasion new breaches But the love of God in Christ answerâ— all this too if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ If we are offending he is satisfying If we are making God our Enemy he is reconciling and making God our Friend 1. Use by way Information First It may inform us what cause we have to bless God for Jesus Christ you see all depends upon his undertaking all our comforts here and all safety hereafter nay all our happiness for ever all depends upon Christ Oh what cause have we then to bless God for him he is the gift of God that is the summe of all gifts and the Fountain of all gifts for what ever of kindness God hath for us it is upon his account now if God hath given us his Son how shall he not with him give us all things Secondly This may inform us of the dismal estate of all those persons that are out of Christ if God hath nothing of love to poor Creatures but what he hath in and through him then certainly he must have nothing but hatred and indignation against those persons that are out of him John 3.36 He that believes on his Son hath everlasting life Everlasting Life is begun in his Soul he hath the first Fruits of it But he that believer not is condemned already c. That is the wrath of God is upon him before and while he continues in his unbelief and it is like to abide on him still O what a wretched Estate is every Unbeliever in that place that was mentioned before Eph. 2.12 Without Christ without Hope If we are without Christ we are without every thing of comfort Labour to see what you are in your selves where you are while Prayers and endeavours may do you good and while the Door of Mercy is open Consider what you are in your selves and what you may be in him There is love and mercy and all kinds of blessings to be had for you if God accept of you in and through Christ but you can have nothing of love from God but onely in his beloved Son Thirdly It informs us what cause we have to be thankful to God that yet we have means and helps for the getting of an interest in Christ Though our interest in Christ be doubtful and it is good to doubt that we may labour to be more sure yet what cause have we to be thankful that yet we enjoy the means of getting an interest in him this is an incomparable mercy all your hopes depend upon him though it is not clear to you that you can call him yours yet it is Mercy that you enjoy those means by which he may become yours Oh seriously improve these means you know not how soon they may be taken from you or you from them be careful therefore to do the work of the day while the day lasts before the the night comes wherein no man can work 2. Use Is by way of caution take heed of slighting Christ either in his Messengers or Ordinances or Members or in his truth or wayes you see if ever you do obtain any thing of favour from God it must be only upon the account of Christ and will you slight or despise him which you do if you despise his Messengers He that despiseth you despiseth me and he that dispiseth me despiseth him that sent me or if you despise his Ordinances and will not make use of them you despise Christ Make use of them you will say you do make use of them But you may despise them in the slight use of them when every thing of the ordinance is over as well as when the ordinance it self is over when you mind only the bare duty and regard not the consequence and Fruit of the duty 3. Use of Exhort never rest satisfied till you can clear up your interest in Christ there was a strange kind of diligence in David and a high kind of Zeal he expressed for God when he would not recieve comfort nor go up into his Bed until he had provided a place for the Lord. Let the same Zeal appear in you in the getting and obtaining an interest in Christ Oh never give your selves rest until you have some comfortable hope through grace that it is well with you and when you have obtained this interest Labour to walk worthy of Christ Oh be not you a reproach to that blessed name which you profess 2 Tim. 2.19 Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from Iniquity Oh! have nothing to do with sin for these can be coupled together to profess Christ and yet to go on in a course of sin is a contradiction 4. Use Lastly This may be matter of unspeakeable comfort to the People of God that are clear in this great Priviledge that they have a right and title to it it is so sure and certain because it is in and through Christ that God loves them though they may have failings and weaknesses yet still God loves them in Christ as they are offending so he is making up of breaches therefore build all your hopes and expectations upon Christ and labour to walk worthy of that encouragement which he vouchsafes 〈◊〉 you FINIS