the Law as to the point of life and righteousnesse of justification and salvation which is briefly delivered by Paul who in his own person gives us one that is taught of God thereby when he saith I through the Law am dead to the Law never more looking for righteousnesse and justification of life that way that I might live unto God Gal. 2. 19. No life but through this death never thus dead but through the Law when it comes the Law comes sinne revives and we dye and this dying is the way to life even to a living unto God SECT 3. Secondly No sinner can work his own 2. A sinner cannot save himself for six reasons deliverance for 1. We are weak and without strength Rom. 5. 6. There is no strength in us to fulfill the Law no strength to satisfie the justice and so turn away the wrath of God much lesse is there strength in us to recover our lost integrity nor to keep it if we had it again restored to us no strength to help our selves to meet the Lord in the wayes of his saving grace or to choose and walk in the way that is call'd holy no strength for any service unto God 2. We are flesh and in the flesh that is wholly corrupted with sin under the power and reign of sin the poyson of the Old Serpent hath run like water into our bowels and like oyle into our bones from the spirit of our mindes to all our outward members we are leprous all unclean and soaked in iniquity conceived in sinne and shapen in wickednesse we Rom. 5. 6 8. are sinners and ungodly when God in Christ by his death comes in love and â—ity to redeem us we lie in our blooâ— untill he saith to us Live we are dead in sin and trespasses till he qâ—icken us and how can such please God they cannot do Rom. 8. 8. it 3. We are enemies unto God our Rom. 5. 10. 8. 7. Col. 1. 21. 2 Cor. 10 3 4 5. wisdome our savour and smatch is enmity unto God We are enemies in our mindes because they are on evil works our principles our thoughts our reasonings our imaginations are high things lifted up in rebellion against the knowledg of God and the obedience of Christ and as strong holds fortified and kept in a desperate Warre against the Spirit of the Lord which in the Ministry even of the Gospel comes forth to bring us into a blessed captivity and subdue us and our very hearts the worst part of man unto himself and to his obedience the carnal minde of man is not subject to the Law of God neither can be there is no good to be done with it put it off Rom. 8. 7. mortifie it crucifie it crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof for that is all the good that can be done with it good it will never be but we must be in the Spirit and the Spirit of Christ dwell in us to enable us to such work or else we have no will no heart to it Rom. 8. 13. Oh then how farre are all men from any ability to work their own deliverance 4. We see not our sinfulnesse nor our misery nor can nor will be brought to see it by any other means than by the Scripture the written Law of God which is the only glasse in which we can truly see our selves James 1. 23. Rom. 7. 7. 5. Though the Law hath not lost it's rectitude yet our weaknesse to keep it maketh the Law by accident to be the more against us And 6. Notwithstanding all this that hath been spoken we yet are full of high thoughts of our selves we are proud and secure sinners and are naturally bent to seek to establish our own righteousnesse For the use of this The consideration The use of this hereof should take us wholly off our own legs and bring us to self-denial It should cause us to deliver up our selves to the Law that we might be throughly convinced of these things and that the Spirit might be in and through the Law a Spirit of bondage in us and we might be glad at heart of a Saviour that can deliver us SECT 4. Thirdly No meer creature can possibly 3. No meer creature can save a sinner for six reasons Matth. 16. 26. 1 Pet. 1. 18 deliver us for 1. No creature is above the Law If the Law of God cannot give life it is not in the power of the creature to do it The Creator alone is above the Law 2. No creature nor the whole Creation hath in it a worth to be a price of value for a soul All the treasures of both the Indies all things in this world because corruptible things are not so excellent as a soul and the price of the Redemption thereof at the hands of God is too high for men and Angels it ceaseth for ever in respect of the creature Psal 49 6 8. 3. Whatever any creature can do he owes it for himself and does but his duty 4. Grant yet that some creature could give help could there be any salvation for then for this very cause we should be servants unto the creature and this were to bring us into bondage and not into liberty they are not their own who are bought with a price if the creature did lay down the price we were the creatures servants which to be is absolute slavery 5. Our evils are greater than can be removed by creatures yet removed they must be if any of us be saved and our good that we may be happy is greater than can be by them communicated The evil is the infinite wrath of God the guilt and damning nature of sinne standing in force and confirmed by the strength of an eternal perfect Law the Empire of sin and death the power of the Divel that strong armed man of whom we read Luk. 11. 21 22. The good we stand in need of is a righteousnesse above the righteousnesse of the Law a Resurrection as well spiritual as corporal the communication of the divine nature eternal life and a blessednesse excelling the blessednesse of Adam in Paradise and a Kingdom which cannot be shaken All and every of these are beyond any created power to give or take away 6. No creature could ever think of the way manner or means whereby we might be delivered The world in the wisdome of God upheld for some thousands of years in its wisdome and abilities by its wisdome knew not God much lesse could finde out the way of peace and â—reconciliation for sinners with the God that made them 1 Cor. 1. 21. Markinde was continued and their rational power sustained and the work of the Law written in their hearts was apparent in them and yet with all the glory of God in his works of Creation and general providence preaching to them they perished in their vain imaginations and professing themselves wise in searching to finde out
God they became fools corrupted Gods glory and turned his truth into a lye unto themselves Rom. 1. 21. 2. 14. And as for the holy Angels they could not finde out the way of mans reconciliation for they come to know it by the Church Ephes 3. 10. SECT 5. And fourthly as for any other means what can enter into mans heart but the 4. Nor any other means offering of Sacrifices even to thousands of Rams or ten thousands of Rivers of oyle a thing impossible to be had or the giving of the sonnes of our bodies for the sinnes of our souls a bloody and as fond as desperate a course or the building of Temples to God but all these with such like God rejects Micah 6. 6 7. Isa 66. 1 2 3. Now these are the uses unto which we should put this Doctrine The use of this First to shew our lost estate by nature to put us all among the lost All men are helplesse and hopelesse in respect of themselves or any other creature Secondly To strip us of all fig-leaves lay us naked and to shut us up to Christ Thirdly To endear Jesus Christ unto us that we may say Give me Christ or else I dye And fourthly to form us to a readiness to be any thing that God would have us to be that Christ may be ours CHAP. III. Containing the second great Truth which is the fulnesse of the salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ proved and set forth by many choice truths which the Apostle in this Text taketh for granted SECT 1. THe second Doctrine is this There is absolute fulnesse of salvation for sinners in Jesus Christ In Doct. 2 There is fulnesse of salvation in Christ for sinners Proved 1 Cor 1. 30. him there is a redemption plenteous Psa 130. 7. and eternal Heb. 9. 12. salvation to the utmost Heb. 7. 25. in him an everlasting righteousnesse Dan. 9. 24. in him righteousnesse and strength he is made to us of God wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption what can a sinner need and yet his needs are unspeakable but they are all exceeding abundantly in glory to be supplyed in Christ A sinner a most imperfect nothing yet if believing he is compleat in Christ in him it pleased the Father Col. 2. 9 10. Col. 1. 19. Joh. 1. 16. that all fulnesse should dwell that out of his fulnesse poor needy sinners might receive even grace for grace grace answerable to that which is in Christ the head of his body the Church grace upon grace more and more still he it is who came by water and blood all sorts of taking away sinne is in him the whole of legal ablutions 1 Joh. 5. 6. Joh. 3. 34. Rom. 5. 21. and cleansings and he hath the Spirit not by measure Grace reignes over sinne and death through righteousnesse unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. To open this that this fulnesse of salvation Opened may appear I shall follow our Apostle in this Text. Two wayes it may be set forth First In the most excellent truths intimated pre-supposed and taken for granted as bottome substrate and foundation or ground truths upon which his frame of declared Doctrine of the Gospel here delivered is built Secondly In the six special heads expressed which before were pointed out SECT 2. The Truths taken for granted and intimated are these First That even the Elect of God and 1. By five truths taken for granted here in the Apostles words the Redeemed by Christ are by nature in the same condemnation with all others of the children of Adam for they are flesh weak sinful flesh they are unable to keep the Law undeâ— sinne and under the curse for whom God sent his Sonne the Law being unable to help them and their deliverance being that thing which was impossible for the Law to do Although all men are not Reprobates yet all by reason of sinne are reprobable Man in himself hath no cause of glorying and as to God no cause of complaining To the Elect man is there undeserved grace and to the Reprobate is there deserved punishment The Elect and Redeemed remain till their effectual calling in themselves miserable carnal alienated from Ephes 2. 1 2 3. the life of God dead in sinne and trespasses the children of wrath even as othets In them are no propensions inclinations or fore-going dispositions to receive grace not one of them was ever able to raise up himself to meet God in the wayes of his grace God never gave Christ to any because he was better than others nor sent the Gospel to any because they would give it better entertainment This only may be said of him which is true of any other man that being a reasonable creature and not a stock or a brute beast he is a subject upon which the glory of God and his Image may be reestamped but for any goodnesse or lesse guilt God findes them all in their blood and wallowing in their filth none righteous no not one all altogether unprofitable and abominable Secondly That condemnation death and hell have their power from sinne and sinnes strength to condemn lyeth in the Law and in the righteousnesse thereof for mark here God to deliver from condemnation condemns sinne and sinne being the swerving from the righteousnesse of the Law for which the Law sentenceth the Transgressor thereof with the curse sin is then utterly gone when the righteousnesse of the Law is every way fulfilled God therefore purposing to deliver fetcheth out the very heart of sinne and taketh it quite away by providing that the Laws righteousnesse be fulfilled Hence it is manifest that this is an undoubted and first truth that the Laws righteousnesse is the strength of sinne The sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the Law 1 Cor. 15. 56. Full salvation can no other way be wrought but by unstinging death and by fulfilling the Law which is the only way to pluck out deaths sting let this be done and the deliverance from sinne and death is full and compleat Thirdly That mercy in God cannot make him like of sinne or blinde him that he should not see it and the sinfulnesse of it or cause him to dislike the righteousnesse of the Law and of the just sentence thereof because God cannot forgo his holinesse justice and omniscience God condemned sinne that the righteousnesse of the Law might be fulfilled he condemns sinne he provides that the Law be fulfilled and so he saves the sinner Fourthly That the benefit of Gods saving love and of the Redemption by Christ and of the Gospel is never to any man actually till it be in him and if never in him never was it to him intentionally God and Christ never intended life and righteousnesse to those in whom he never fulfills it This is taught in the words in us SECT 3. And fifthly As the ground of the whole work here declared and as the
who speaketh is true John 3. 33. He that believeth not maketh God a liar 1 Joh. 5. 10. Because he receiveth not his testimony or witnesse he that receiveth Christ Jesus receiveth God that sent him he that rejecteth Christ rejecteth God All respect or neglect in this great businesse runs up so high as to God himself SECT 3. The use of this point is to call upon us to entertain these thoughts digest this The use hereof truth and it will work warme it and rub it in by meditation and it will enter into thy soul First believe this truth in the general that GOD doth thus tender the everlasting salvation of poor sinners great sinners and then bring it home unto thy self that GOD offers life to thee a sinner Dwell awhile on these if we lay away the principles of sound doctrine and care not to know them if we stick in an overlie knowledge and do not believe them with the heart receiving them as the saving truths revealed by the Spirit of God and testified to the children of men as Gods own Record and Testimony there is no talking of the application of faith upon them to our own souls Quest But some may say how may one know that he hath apprehended aright this truth that it is GOD that hath provided the way of salvation Answ In general thus if rightly apprehended then every word of this salvation will come to the soul as the Word of God not as the word of a man though never so worthy credit not as the word of a King yet power goes with the word of a King not as the word of an Angel it is more than so when it comes to thy heart as the Word of God It 1 Thes 2. 13. will come to thee in the power of God in divine life and strength it will work effectually in thee Gods Word-runneth very swiftly he commandeth and the thing is done Again it will come to thy soul as the good Word of God the Word and Message in which thy good thy everlasting good doth lie to such a r Thes 1. heart the Gospel comes in much assurance and in the joy of the Holy Ghost the Gospel now stands to thee as an undoubted unmovable truth now it is the best news that ever came into the world the glad tydings of great joy the onely light and life of thy heart In special attend that God the Lord is the first and principal Agent or Worker here 1. It layes down in the heart of a sinner a possibility of his salvation That which to the Law to man whiles he stands to the Law is impossible that GOD will yet do it it becomes very possible with God all things are possible say to thy self before the Lord it is possible that such a sinner as I am or as thou art mayest be saved for GOD sends a Saviour for sinners you this layes down a possibility above all difficulties the difficulties are great our innumerable sinnes the bortomlesse depth of the deceitfulnesse and the desperatenesse of the wickednesse of our hearts the impenitency of an hard heart that cannot repent the death in sâ—n and trespasses the alienations withdrawings and gain-sayings of an heart that cannot believe the cursed barrennesse in the heart and life of all grace and good fruit the defilement and contagion of sinne as a leprofie and as the plague of pestilence the guilt and condemning power of sinne the distance and separation yea the enmity between God and man which sinne hath made the great enemies such are the Law the Curse Mortality Death the Grave Hell Satan Tentations Persecutions the world with all its lusts and errours the body of sinne called the body of this death Rom. 7. 24. the Back-slidings and Apostasies which we are subject unto Satans strong holds within in false principles high thoughts and devised devotions depths carnal reasonings foolish and snarling objections besides the wisdome of a conceited the pride of a presuming and the dejections of a despairing heart If these Armies of difficulties and of impossibilities to created means should beset thee yet that GOD should reveale himself in a saving way stayes the heart and renders all of them Conquerable 2. It awakens it shakes the carelesse soul and fills with trembling It saith with Jacob God is here in this Word of the Gospel and I was not aware little thought I of such a presence in this contemned Word 3. It layeth a basis a foundation unmovable thus we have him to believe on who supports Heaven and Earth who is the Rock of Ages 4. It sets another face on God and on all things God is in Christ reconciling the world God at peace and all things become full of peace Behold all 's new there is now a new face of 2 Cor. 5. 18. things In this light we see light and have life there is a blessing in all through Gods blessing the worst and most deadly are not onely harmlesse but medicinal and helpful the heart begins to live at this presence a heavenly calme passeth bespreadeth and dwelleth upon the soul Tranqâ—illus Deus tranquillat omnia 5. It heals the heart of hard thoughts of God and of alienations from God then I perceive saith the soul the holy God will yet look after me 6. It sets the heart on God is there hope yet for such a one as I am surely it is good for me to draw near to God 7. It prevents and allayes the over-much grief for sinne or for afflictions and miseries our own or the Churches overmuch in both is hurtful to our soules dishonourable to God scandalous to men this delivers I even I am he that comforteth you saith the Lord Isa 49. 14 15. I blot out your transgessions Isa 43. 25. 8. It makes to cry to God out of the depth of our hellish filth and guilt Psalme 130. 1. It boiles up the spirit to fervency in Prayer 9. It puts an Awful Reverential Uniting feare into the soul Psalme 130. 3. There is forgivenesse with thee that thou mayest be feared 10. It enclines the soul to believe hope wait and love Psalme 130. 4 5. 11. It comforteth with comforrs rational and real from grounds in God from the presence of God 2 Cor. 6. 17. I will dwell in them I will walke in them I will be their GOD and they shall be my People 12. It devotes it assures it raiseth to Triumph What shall we say to these things If GOD be for Rom. 8. 31. Eph. 1. 3. 1 Pet. 1. 3. us who can be against us What shall separate us from the love of GOD it fills with praise and with gloryings and humble boastings in God This GOD is our GOD GOD is become my salvation Thus of the person who is the first mover in the great work of a sinners salvation CHAP. V. Treateth of the fulnesse of the salvation of a sinner in the person who undertakes to work it out even Gods
waiting for Christ So Ambr. l. 3. de spir sancto c. 15 The same Father urgeth also that place in 1 Thes 3. 12 13. patrem dixit filium dixit quem ergo cumpatre filio praeter Spiritum junxit Mark 3. 29. Heb. 10. 29. Here are three distinct persons God to be beloved Christ to be waited for with patience and the Lord to whom the prayer is made that he would direct the hearts of believers into that love and patient waiting Now this Lord is the Lord the Spirit who directs the hearts of those whom he sanctifieth and enableth to believe Against the holy Ghost sinne may be committed and to great height and men may commit such sin against him as may become unpardonable because they wilfully and maliciously oppose and despight him in the manifestations of his presence and gracious workings in the Gospel for the Application of this salvation therefore he is very God he is the Spirit of grace 2. He is the Spirit of the Father and of the Son the Spirit of God and the Spirit Rom. 8. 9. Isa 61. 1. 1 Pet. 1. 11. Gal. 4. 6. of Christ He proceedeth * Joh. 15. 26. from the Father and the Sonne and according to this his existing about the work of saving application of Redemption he is sent forth of the Father as he is the Spirit of his Sonne into the hearts * Gal. 4. 6. of those that are priviledged with the Adoption of children God the Father sendeth him as he is the Comforter and the Son Jesus Christ sendeth him and therefore he is Joh. 15. 26 Alius non aliud Joh. 14. 16 another a distinct person not another thing he is another Comforter the Lord Jesus the Bridegroome he is one Comforter the holy Spirit in the Bridegroome and the Bride one and the same he is another Comforter he is the Spirit who knoweth the whole heart and the most hid councels and secrets of the Father and the Son these Gospel Mysteries the 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. secrets of this bosome-love into which no Angels of light could dive no more than a man can know what is in another man unlesse he reveale it This is he who works in us to bring home this salvation therefore it is done most effectually and most comfortably SECT 3. 2. What is his saving work In the Elect of God the Father and in The saving work of the Spirit made up of 14. works the Redeemed of Jesus Christ his Son the Redeemer The holy Ghost hath his saving work and it is made up of these several works following 1. Renovation or regeneration In which the holy Ghost by the word of Christ as water as a laver of water washing a sinner as floods of waters poured out upon the dry and barren heart doth clense and wash and in the washing change and make a new the sinner The word of the Gospel is as pure water and water fructifying The Lord Jesus Christ is a fountain opened for sin and uncleanenesse who came both by blood and water all sorts of clensings and washings are found in him and the holy Ghost in the work of his grace by the Record by making the sinner to know his own foulnesse and uncleanenesse by sin and the fulnesse of clensing away sin by a bathe of that water and by a Sacrifice in that blood which is in Jesus Christ the only Sonne of God crucified and by taking the basin of the Word which sets forth Christ into his own hands to sprinkle and rinse the sinner so enlightened and by taking hold also of such a sinner to put him into this laver and under this sprinkling he makes the heart to feel Christs love and the flinty rockinesse of it to melt and flow down before the Lord God and all the abilities of his soul to flow together and rise up towards the Lord Jesus with strong and fixed desires and then the holy Spirit is as water water that catrieth with it and in it the virtue of Christs blood set Joh. 3. 5 6 8. forth in the Gospel all to the washing and renewing and begetting again in such wise that this sinner is born from above Tit. 3. 5 6. born of the Spirit born of God and Christ is formed in him The party came into this laver a sinful man all leprous a dead man but he comes out of it a new man a living changed man quite another man than he was before Behold the laver of regeneration the renewing of the holy Ghost shed on a poor humbled sinner abundantly and richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour this work is of absolute necessity for old and young for learned and unlearned for Jew and Gentile And as that which is born of the flesh is carnal corrupt earthly low and weak so that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit spiritual pure heavenly high and powerful and discerning the holy Mysteries of the Gospel of the high and holy God 2. Sanctification the Apostle Peter describeth a true member of the Church a subject of grace and peace by the work of the three persons in the undivided Godhead about his salvation so that the Spirits work is that which singleth out the individual person from among all other the children of men and seateth the Fathers love and the Sonnes grace of Redemption upon him particularly This is the Description He is one Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ Sanctification is we see the saving work of the Spirit Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth 1 Thes 2. 13 14. is the way through which God calling sinners thereunto by the Gospel ministred by the ministry of the New Testament doth bring those whom he hath chosen from the beginning to salvation unto the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ as this Apostle Paul teacheth in another place Now the sanctifying work of the Spirit is this 1. He illightens and this illumination is accompanied 1. With wisdome that knows things as they are and values them as they are worth that knows the worth of the things of God in Christ discovered according to their excelling nature and difference and prefers them above all other things and it is 2. With Râ—velation also bringing Ephes 1. 17 18. the things of Christ unto the mind in Gods own light in a light above the light of mans reason And it is thirdly with rectifying or rather making anew the Organe the eyes of our understandings which were covered with blindnesse and Mat. 16. 17 that blindnesse was in and from our birth so that we were born blind they are opened that we may know All this is beyond the illumination which is of common grace and which may be found in the best of hypocrites 2. He quickens he causeth the dead in sins and trespasses to
the lusts thereof this the words import not after the flesh but after the Spirit is the spiritual mans walk Thirdly and whereas the flesh would impose upon the most spiritual he glorifies the Spirit and condemns the flesh the flesh is rejected but the Spirit is chosen for guide and leader this refusing and choosing is his daily work daily and continually in his wayes and walks he is refusing to walk after the flesh and choosing to walk after the Spirit the language of his walks and conversation is this not the flesh but the Spirit not the walk after the flesh but the walk after the Spirit 2. Therefore for the second use here is 2. Of comfort singular comfort to all whose wayes are holy who have the Spirit of Christ the orderer of their lives God will account of thee by the course of thy life the wicked while their lives are vain earthly carnal and they like not the way of the holy and choose not the Word and Spirit for their rule and guide they plead Ps 50. 16. and please themselves in the goodnesse of their hearts God knows them for wicked and so will judge them thou complainest of thy heart and mournest over thy vain thoughts thy weaknesses but holdest fast the way which is called holy thy walk is directed heaven-ward Remember now God reckons thee to be as the way is which thou hast chosen whose walks are spiritual they are spiritual they Rom. 8. 1. are in Christ Jesus and not in Adam flesh may lust in them but they fulfill not those lusts for look upon their conversation they walk in the Spirit they walk after the Spirit and that from the power of the Spirit in them as the spring of life as the quickning commanding renewing inward life The Holy Ghost hath his Throne in the heart of those whose walks he frames whose walks are after his minde these holy walkers are in the Spirit in the Sonne and in the Father as their walk doth evidence undoubtedly That this comfort may flow forth clear and strong it will be needful to give here somewhat of Consideration and somewhat of Caution SECT 9. For Consideration Consider seriously Where four relieving considerations 1. What of the flesh may be where the Spirit rules cast under seven heads Jam. 1. 14 15. these four things following First What of the flesh may be where the Spirit reigns there may be 1. The lustings of the flesh contrary to the Spirit In sinne there is first the evil suggestion or first motion the first rising and peering out of sinne This is in the most gracious and spiritual but with great difference for to the unregenerate and wicked it is the babe of his bosome but to the godly it is the brat of Babylon happy would he be esteemed of him that could take and dash them against the stones Secondly delight ensnaring and bird-liming the soul this may be in the godly but it is stollen and of treachery from the inmate the flesh for his chosen delight is in the Law of God his delight is to do Gods will that is within his bowels but as for the wicked his Psal 1. 2. 40. 8. inward parts are very wickednesse he looks and welcomes and with the whole heart closes with the ensnarings of sinnes motions he would not willingly have it to have check in any case no not so much as from his conscience within Thirdly Consent of will this in the godly is but partial but in the unregenerate it is a full consent Fourthly the Act or Commission in a formed thought in word or in deed This in the godly is seldome and then that which he would not but in the wicked it is common and usual and yet not so oft as he would Fifthly persisting in it and making the actings of sinne their way in which they choose to stand and walk taking pleasure therein this in the regenerate is never much lesse doth the godly man continue in sinne obstinately pleading for it and scorning reproof much lesse doth he take a pride in it and boast of accomplishing his sinful desires blessing the wicked whom the Lord abhorreth and hating the godly that fear to sinne in whom the Lord taketh pleasure 2. Sinnes motions may be lively in Ro. 7. 23. the members of the truly godly but not so as to be able to bring forth fruit unto death as the phrase is in ver 5. of Rom. 7. for as lively as they be the godly watch them the more that they shall not be fruitful Death is not their Lord nor hath them under its power now as it was while they stood married to the Law the Covenant of Works but God is their Lord unto whom they bring forth fruit as married to Christ risen from the dead Therefore sinne may stirre lively but not be fruit-bearing in them but in the ungodly the motions thrive as the birth in the belly which they seek carefully to midwife and suckle hugge in the bosome and dandle on their knees because there is no life of God in them they being altogether in death and abiding in death as the Apostle Johns expression is in 1 John 3. 14. 3. Evil may be present when they Rom. 7. 21 would do good To will that which is good is present with the godly but through the flesh that is by reason of the corruption of their natures in which no good dwelleth there is evil adjacent to that willing and easily beletteth them 4. Grievous untowardnesse awkernesse Rom. 7. 14 19 20. Heb. 12. 1 indisposednesse and aversenesse sometimes And this is the more burdening and pressing down begirting and encompassing the more they presse unto the spiritualnesse of any duty neverthelesse unto spiritualnesse in duty they presse on they stirre up themselves thereto and their backwardnesse dulnesse and deadnesse with all formality they mourn over and judge 5. The Law of the members or corruption of nature which no sooner stirs Ro. 7. 23. but it is presently in the members of the body and there is working as a Law this Law of the members making Warre and rebelling against the Law of their minds yet their inner man and such a man they have in them and others have not that is the Master they own his Law is their Law the other they own not but take for a Rebel and his Law for tyranny 6. Yea there may be a Captivity Rom. 7. 23 24 25. under the Law of the members but it is a captivity in their esteem under which they cry out of their wretched condition cry for deliverance and rest not untill they can upon experience blesse God for Christ their deliverer 7. Sometimes they may have a 2 Cor. 12. 7 thorne in the flesh Some special sinne troubling some great temptation or sore affliction or some Satanical molestation with which they may be buffered sorely that they might be kept more humble under choice
5. â—1 4. 9. of the salvation of Gods people for 1. In this Son is our eternal life placed This is the Record the summe of Gods Testimony witnessed in the Bible that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Sonne God sent his only begotten Sonne into the world that we might live through him In this Sonne the beloved Pro. 8. 30. Mat. 3. 17. the Sonne of his bosome his eternal delights God the Father doth rest well-pleased for ever 2. This assure the absolute sufficiency of Christ Jesus for his Office he is the Mediatour who is the Son of God The Son is the Prophet he declares the Father Joh. 1. 18. Joh. 3. 32. 6. 68 96 Joh. 5. 25 28. Heb. 1. 8. Joh. 1. 49. 10 30. he testifies what he hath seen and heard he hath the words of eternal life his voice raiseth the dead the dead spiritually out of their sinnes the dead Corporally out of their graves The Sonne is the King greater than all who hath all Soveraignty authority and power The Sonne is the Priest who is consecrâ—â—ed Heb. 4. 14. 7. 28. for ever more who hath the heart and eare of the Father alwayes 3. This puts a value and worth of infinite price upon all that he hath done or 1 Joh. 1. 7. doth for us now in heaven into his sufferings and into his intercession The blood of Gods Sonne clerâ—seth us from all sinne the Sonne is consecrated for evermore 4. He can do all that we stand in need Joh. 1. 51. 3. 13. of because he is the Sonne of God He can create the heart anew and give the Holy Ghost He baptizeth with the Holy Ghost and with fire He opens heaven and brings in the Angels-service that they may minister unto us He seeth the truth of grace in our hearts He knoweth the workings beatings and breathings of our Joh. 1. 47 48. 10. 28 29 30. Joh. 5. 26 28. Heb. 12. 16 23. Psa 89. 27. Jer. 31. 8. Exod. 4. 22 Psa 89. 19. spirits and all our secret duties the guilelesse spirited Nathanaels their most retired meditations and prayers under the fig-tree He gives the power or priviledge to be Sonnes of God he makes free indeed he gives life to whom he will he preserveth the life spiritual given and gives eternal life he fetcheth out of the graves he makes us a Congregation of Gods first-born God hath laid help for us upon one that is mighty 5. There is no danger to adventure Jer. 17. 7. Joh. 3. 16. 36. Joh. 14. 9. here No feare of that curse Cursed be the man that trusteth in man for Jesus Christ is the Lord Jehovah It is no fault to believe on him to worship to serve to call upon to obey him There is no perishing to a believer There is nothing but wrath to him that believeth not on him Here is the only way to see the Father SECT 4. For the Application and Use Improve it The Use thus 1. By this Doctrine Inform thy self 1. Of Information First of the excellency of the word of Scripture which revealeth this truth and especially of the glory of the New Testament which is the Gospel of the Sonne of God Secondly of the honour conferred on sinful men called to the faith of Jesus Christ they are called to fellowship with the Sonne of God Thirdly 1 Cor. 1. 9. of the faithfulnesse of God in the wayes of his free and saving grace he failed not to send his own Sonne into the world according to his promise We may trust him to make good all that he hath spoken the heaven of heavens and blessed life and immortality there is not too much nor too good for believers It is not so good as his own Son 2. Be perswaded to dwell upon these 2. Of Exhortation Ephes 4. 13. Gal. 2. 20. meditations untill thy heart be winned and perswaded first to believe in the Sonne of God secondly to seek growth in the knowledge of the Sonne of God and then thirdly to live by faith of the Sonne of God and fourthly to digest this truth in the power of it that thou mayest triumph over all Brethren beloved look above all to this faith that Joh. 20. 31 1 Joh. 5. 12. you may receive and have the Sonne in you and that you may know you have him Let there be the hearing of faith the Confession of faith the emptyings of faith to reject all for him to forget all for him the application of faith that makes us apply our selves to him to draw near to the saving of the soul and not to Mark this distination of the applying act of faith draw back that applies him to our selves in desires of the hungry and thirsty and in high prizings of the poor in spirit and in the repoâ—e of the weary and laden and in the breathings and aspirings of the lowly and in the waitings of those that know no other door of mercy till we come to the applications of comfortable perswasions the obedience of faith the betrothed Mat. 22. 12 love which faith worketh and the wedding garment of all Gospel-dresse that may become the Espousals of such a Bridegroom 3. And why should we not delight our 3. Of Consolation Isa 8. 9 10 9 5 6. Psa 2. 1 2 5 6. 1 Joh. 5. 5. souls in this glorious principle of Christian Religion which leads us unto the holy One the mighty One of Israel for here we see and from hence we meditate and threaten terrour to the associations of all enemies We carry victories over the world's lusts and lyes errours and terrours vanities and violence We know the advancing and amplitude of the Kingdome of Jesus Christ We are confirmed Psa 2. 6 8. Ro. 8. 32. Heb. 2. 2 3 12. 25 26. 10. 29. Joh. â—7 26 1 Joh. 4. 9. Rom. 8. 31. 32 39. in the stability of all the promises and in the greatnesse of the sin and misery of all the disobedient and contemners of the Gospel We have the love of God manifested the love wherewith he loves his own Sonne reaching and clasping us A love that cannot but freely give us all things a love that assures God is for us a love from which nothing can separate us CHAP. VII Treateth of the fulnesse of salvation manifested in the way God taketh to save sinners by his Son SECT 1. 3. THe third truth demonstrating the 3. The way God took to condemn sin in the flesh of his Son and so to take it away provs the salvation full perfect fulnesse of salvation by Jesus Christ cometh now under consideration which is from the way and course God in his good pleasure took and held in saving sinners by his Sonne This is held out in these words Sending his own Sonne in the likenesse of sinful flesh and for sinne condemned sinne in the flesh which
awake arise and live he is the Spirit of life the righteousnesse of Christ declared and set forth by God in the Gospel and brought home to the soul of an humbled sinner by the word attended with the Spirit and the Spirit is life because of this righteousnesse life from the death of condemnation which sin deserved life from the death of sin life true and joyful 3. He circumcises the heart with a circumcision made without Rom. 2. 29 Col. 2. 11. hands In this work the word is the circumcising knife this knife is taken into the hand of the Spirit the heart is the part that is to suffer and not the flesh or body of the sinner the fore-skin is the superfluity of maliciousnesse and wickednesse Jam. 1. 21. Deut. 30. 6. the skin upon the heart the skin of other loves which oppose the love of God as self-love the love of the world the love which is called lust and the love of superstitious vanities and mens inventions in Religion and worship and the cutting off this fore-skinnesse is when the word in the hand of the Spirit and by it skilfully used getting between our hearts and them it makes the heart to see them to be such as the word sayes of them and to judge it self for them and to cast them away as unprofitable and destructive even because of Christ circumcised and made under the Law for us and for our deliverance from the same Law Untill this work be done no love of God can be wrought in us strange loves have the heart and when this work is done it reacheth to the circumcision of the ears and of the lips and of the whole man Insomuch that the body of the sinnes of the flesh the whole frame of sinful flesh suffers and is destroyed 4. He gives us spiritual senses and a sagacity and quicknesse of sente whereby he makes us savour spiritual things and to smell out and delight to pursue spiritual wayes this work is so eminent that the Rom. 8. 5. Isa 11. 2 3 newborn babe can taste distinguishingly the sincere milk of the Word fit to feed batten and make to grow from all adulterate stuffe and can see and discern judiciously the things of the Spirit of God from all other things and make up a right judgement concerning them and can in hearing try the words of doctrine delivered and try the spirits in the teachers the Spirit of Christ and the spirit of Antichrist the Spirit of God and the spirit which is of the world the spirit of truth and the spirit of errour In ordering his Conversation he can sente and smell the wayes of holinesse from those of profanenesse so that he is of quick understanding in the feare of the Lord and is sensible and hath his feeling of spiritual mercies and plagues of sin that annoyes spiritual life and of the power and spiritualnesse of Ordinances and Administrations from ordinances of men in will-worship and formal out-sidednesse and shews and florishes in administrations All this the new born babe is able to do by a naturalnesse like an instinct though for want of Art or of strength of the reasoning ability or not yet having the wits the senses exercised in the word of righteousnesse he cannot shew to his own or others satisfaction where the fault lyeth much lesse is able to dispute it and by arguing convince the evil doers the opposer and the pleader for the evil the quicknesse of spiritual senses doth grow as age in Christ cometh on the Spirit in this work rested upon Jesus Christ as he was man in all fulnesse as became our head and it is on every living member of his mystical body according to his place of membership as becomes such a Member 5. He writes his law in our hearts The Law 2 Cor. 3. 2 3 Rom. 8. 2 that is the summe of revealed truth both of the Law strictly so called the Law of the ten Commandments and of the Gospel this is that which is written the writing is such an engraving of the truth with love of the truth upon our hearts made soft tender and fleshy as that it cannot be blotted out The soul may be torn from the body but the truth cannot be torn out of the heart And this impression of the truth is such that now it is the Law of the mind which Laws the man It is the Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus as the Head and in them as the members this is an heavenly edition of the Bible so imprinted upon the soul that the man becomes a living walking Bible which print comes off so fair in the life of the regenerate and sanctified that they are the Epistles of Christ to be seen and read of all men 6. He gives liberty he sets us free from the law of sinne and death the title the dominion of sin is taken away that we may 2 Cor. 3. 17. Rom. 8. 2. Joh. 7. 37 38. 4. 14 become servants of righteousnesse 7. He is a spring and rivers of lâ—ving waters in our bellies flowing up within us unto eternal life Our hearts by nature are as a dry and barren howling Wildernesse not fit for habitation nor bearing any good plants untilled and horrid to the sight It is the Spirits work to be in us whom the Lord will save changing the very will breaking open springs and causing Rivers of sweet wholesome and healing waters of the blessings of the Gospel of all gifts and graces and grounds of comfort to flow within us even in the very heart and conscience in the belly of the man and there these waters to be not as standing lakes and ditch-water but ever streaming out and fed from the hid well-head of the holy Spirit When this work is in us then of Wildernesses we become fruitful Fields then we have within us Isa 44. 3. 49. 10. Joel 3. 18. Zach. 14. 8 that which will satisfie and will allay and quench our thirsts our souls will be as a well-watered garden whose waters never fail 8. He causeth all the fruits of graces fructifying to be in us and to abound in us all his fruits he maketh to break Ephes 5. 9 Gal. 5. 22 23. 2 Cor. 3. 18. 2 Cor. 4. 13. forth all goodnesse righteousnesse and truth love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance against which and such like there is no Law 9. He transforms us into the image of God from glory to glory 10. He enableth us to believe and Eph. 2. 18. Jude 20. Gal. 4. 6. to speak by confession to pray to the Father through Christ with gracious and fervent desires crying Abba Father to mortifie the deeds of the body our members that are on the earth and to be crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts Rom. 8. 13 Gal. 5. 24. thereof that old bel-dame original sin the sinfulnesse of our natures in which we
upon the Elect but it is common the world thus far feels the mighty power of Tit. 3. 4 5 6. Joh. 16. 13 14 15. the working of the Spirit in the Gospel but the work of the Spirit on the Church of the saved ones is conversion or regeneration as was said before in this work the light is the light of life the knowledge in renewing In this renewing there are two works of the Spirit the taking out of the sinner the heart of stone and the giving to them an heart of flesh the Spirit so applieth the love of God in Christ that it melts the flinty heart down to godly sorrow for sinne as against such a God so gracious it turns it quite about to God and centers it on God and Christ it cures the soul of three evils otherwise incurable alienations of minde and heart from Timor cultus culpa the life of God offence-taking at his Works and Word and Impenitency it puts into it the holy fear of reverence and to offend it raiseth high estimation of God in Christ as of our chief good with hungrings and thirstings out of poverty of spirit a meekned soul and contrite heart it raiseth appetite to the means sanctified of God and having the promise of the Spirit as after the Word the Sabbath the Ordinancâ—s of Ministery and Worship the Ordinances for fellowship and for the exercise of the power of the Keyes as to means of communion with God and Christ this making anew is with union and unction union to Christ and Christians by union with Christ they have union with the Father and this union is to Adoption and marriage-union and from this union cometh continual influences and for ever unction is to be Kings and Priests to God the Father of our Lord Jesus this first work of grace is wholly above the work of conviction and the Spirit worketh that and all the rest as an Agent within thus you have the seven things proposed for explication It is also profitable before we come to application of this Doctrine that we briefly shew thee why the grounds and reasons SECT 9. The Holy Ghost is the applier of salvation The reasons why the work of the Spirit is to apply 1. Because salvation is the work of God who is three in persons it is the work of the three persons in the manifestation of their distinct glory which is ad intra within the God-head mark that I say the manifestation of the distinct glory of each wherein each person being distinct and the works of each distinct the Father begets the Sonne the Sonne is begotten of the Father the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Sonne the glory of each distinctly is manifested as far as it can be communicable in this work of salvation the Father loves with the love wherewith he loves the Son and is Father to them in his Sonne this is the love of the Father the Sonne is the Mediator to bring them to the Father by redeeming them giving himself a ransome to his Fathers justice bringing in an everlasting righteousnesse to cloath them withall purchasing for them the Spirit and all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places wherewith his Father may blesse them this is the grace of the Sonne the Holy Ghost he communicates the love of the Father and the grace of the Sonne and is the Spirit of Regeneration the Spirit of Adoption the Spirit of sanctification the Spirit of union and unction abiding in them for ever to their preservation in Christ Jesus and in the Father so that they are and continue in the Father and in the Sonne this is the communion of the Holy Ghost 2. Because this is the order of the working of the three persons in the God-head God the Father beginneth the work God the Son is the person through whom as his eternal wisdome he doth the work God the Holy Ghost is the person by whom as by the eternal power of the most High both the Father and the Sonne do compleat the work therefore in the work of salvation God willing and determining to imprint upon the saved ones the name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost in their distinct glory to Mat. 28. 19 the uttermost according to the distinct manner of subsisting or existing distinctly that each of them might be experimentally known believed in and worshipped of them he will save the work of application is proper to God the Holy Ghost 3. God the Holy Ghost must be the Applier the Comforter or else none could be saved none partake of the comfort of this salvation for all men are dead in sinne lie among the dead none can quicken their own souls they are from beneath under the power of sin and Satan and the Law they are in a state of enmity alienation impenitency and unbelief invincible to any created power or means there is a Christ there is a Father and let this be told us a thousand times over and we left to our best abilities to receive this declared love and grace this is all we can do we can draw back but cannot draw near to the saving of the soul we can behold with our rational abilities and wonder but then we despise and so perish we can discern it but under carnal notions and count it foolishnesse we can but receive it in vain we can but turn his grace into wantonnesse we will be establishing our own righteousnesse by all that is delivered in the Gospel and so become more stout proud formal and secure and Christ crucified who should be precious and our only glory and rejoycing will be to us a stumbling block and a Rock of offence and under the form we will be the more stiffe though perhaps the more secret sometimes and ever among men the more plausible deniers of the power of godlinesse Oh let the holy Spirit of life and power come by the Gospel and bring it home with much power and much assurance or else all perish we all perish for ever with Christ in our ears in our mouths in our best natural understandings with the Gospel preached in our streets with high and low applauding of the mercies of God 4. God the Holy Ghost must be the applier that all the love of God the Father and the grace of the Sonne set forth in the Gospel may be thorough and effectual even to one awakened to see his sinne and cursednesse and that we once brought to faith in Christ might be for ever safe An awakened sinner how will he runne from God runne into the gulf of despair or gad about to change his way or catcht at straws to save from sinking but when Christ is proposed he cannot lift up himself to draw near to meet him in the wayes of his grace No the Spirit of truth must come as the Comforter as the Arme and right hand of the Lord to bring Christ and the soul together to comfoâ—t
the senses Secondly this pollution is innate and connate it is born in us and born with us It is as old as we are It was in us in our very conception it is bred up with us It discovers it self as we discover the use of our reason and it will be in us while we are in this frame and building Thirdly because we are as tender of it as we are of our very flesh Fourthly because there is a body of it a whole consisting of many members joynted together and ministring nourishment to every part for the encrease of the whole A whole composed heap not only spreading it self through the whole man and discovering it self in every member of the body but having also all the several wickednesses which ever were committed in it in the seed and spawn of them It is not some one transgression but many as the body is not one member but many and these many are knit together in an hellish order Fifthly because this is propagated as our bodies and flesh is propagated but our souls are not God is the Father of our spirits but men the fathers of our bodies therefore it may well be called flesh Sixthly because the motions of this original pollution are in the members of our bodies By spirit is meant not the soul nor the mind or understanding faculty the highest that is in man nor conscience the Character of the reasonable creature But by spirit is meant the Spirit of Christ sanctifying the man and dwelling in him through the Word of God engraffed and the regenerate part the Divine nature or disposition wrought by the Spirit of God the holy Ghost and conformable to the Image of Jesus Christ Iâ— this work there is the seed first of all grace and that under the New Testament in a largenesse Secondly it is in the whole man in soul spirit and body Thirdly and that too in truth or sincerity Fourthly it is of God in Christ for its original And fifthly for its continuance it is of incorruptible seed and abideth for ever Sixthly for its piercing effectualnesse in operation it leavens the whole man It is deepest and chiefest in the soul It is spreading and thorow in what it works It is active according to its own sphere which is supernatural and celestial yea supercelestial and according to its rise which is from the Spirit for whatsoever is of the Spirit is Spirit After notes the rule and guide and from that rule the force which swaies and carries out the man in his actions Walking notes 1. The course taken upon choice and 2. The progresse in that course or way with 3. Pressing on still forwards and 4. With perseverance and constancy till we come to the end Not after the flesh but after the Spirit That is refusing that and choosing this for guide and removing from the wayes and walks of the flesh to go in these that are after the Spirit Walking after the flesh is mentioned to shew that Original sinne is the sinne that reigns every actual sinne hath its strength in the corruption of nature Thither we must ascend in the work of mortification if we would kill sinne dead the root Crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof The lopping of a tree destroyes not the tree he that would not serve any sinne must destroy the body of sinne and not some one or two members only and he that would destroy the body of sinne must crucifie the old man Walking after the Spirit sheweth that all grace is brought into us from without from above from the holy Ghost It is not from a seed in us which is born with us and lyeth as the seed of Corn doth awhile buried in the earth It is not from any power or spirit that is in the Creature or in this visible Globe or in the Creatures Angelical It is from the Spirit of the Father and of the Sonne Again this sheweth that all grace is yet truely in us from the holy Ghost dwelling in us through the Word engraffed or the revealed truth of the Gospel from the holy Ghost thus dwelling in us and renewing sanctifying acting and leading of us And lastly that we are born anew of the Spirit are in the Spirit do live in the Spirit and are after the Spirit and then we walk after the Spirit We must first be and live and afterwards walk Thus you have the force of the words SECT 2. The particular truths or doctrines which 2. The words taken asunderin nine doctrines are wrapped in this description are these 1. In those that are in Christ in them there is the Spirit of Christ The Spirit in renewing unites to Christ their union with Christ is spiritual not physical not moral alone not personal at all The Spirit of Christ is in them and uniteth them to Christ and Christ and they are one Spirit as Man and Wife are one flesh this truth ariseth from this description as it is referred to the words before in ver 1. of this Chapter To them that are in Christ there is no condemnation Now this is to be understood of the holy Ghost as he is the Anointing wherewith Christ is anointed even Jesus Christ not considered as he is the Sonne of God simply and absolutely but as he is the Christ God-man and wherewith from Christ that Holy One they are anointed the work is the work of the third Person but not a work that makes a personal union of them to the Holy Ghost 2. Where the Spirit of Christ is in any there is also flesh whiles they are in this life where there is grace there is corruption though it holds not on the contrary where ever there is corruption there is grace also Nay it is far otherwise untill regeneration there is nothing but corruption in any or all the men in the world no not in the elect of God but where the Spirit is there is flesh although not walked after This is gathered from the description as made up of a negative first and then of an affirmative which sheweth a nature or disposition in the described here which is declining and renouncing one principle and cleaving to and following sweetly another principle Therefore with the regenerate it is thus their works are mixed their actings of their graces are mixt and maimed All their best duties smell strong of the flesh therefore the Regenerate ought to be watchful and jealous over themselves humble to God-ward meek towards man and making use of Christ and faith in him in all doing all in his name or mediation and looking for acceptation of all in him alone 3. That flesh even in the regenerate and spiritual is so sinful that if it were followed it would destroy them therefore it is sinne in it self and in the lusts of it even in the regenerate for if it were not sinful why should it be renounced why should it not at some times and in some cases be allowed 4.
the chief good The chief good is that which when we have we are blessed but not having it we are miserable The chief good is God alone the enjoying and fruition of God is true blessednesse and true comfort This cannot be to a sinner but in Christ who is the propitiation the reconciliation and the atonement Therefore God in Christ is the sinners chief good Christ cannot be received but by his Spirit given thus then to be the Lord Christs in body and soul whether we live or die redeemed by his Precious blood from all our sinnes and from the power of Satan death and the grave and from the wrath to come and through Christ to be the Fathers own poâ—tion received into his fâ—vour and grace as his adoâ—ted childâ—en in Jesus Christ and to be under his fatheâ—ly care and providence that without his will not an hâ—iâ—e can fall fâ—om our heads and that all things are made to woâ—k together for our good and to have the Holy Ghost given to us to renew us to unite us to Christ to enable us to believe to moâ—tifie the flesh to give up our selves to obedience to make us willing and ready to live to him and walk after him and to assure of eternal life this is the onely true and sound consolation both in life and death And this is the estate of those that walk afteâ— the Sâ—iâ—it This true blessednesse cannot be in this life in perfection but onely in inâ—hoation or a begun enjoyment of the same and by faith and hope in a lively expectation of the full and perfect fruition thereof because there is death mortality sinful remaiâ—ders the wâ—ath to come wâ—ich must be utteâ—ly taken away and the soul and body placed in a state of glorious libeâ—ty befoâ—e there can be full enâ—oyment of perfect blisse because also the glory unto which we are called by the Gospel is farre greater than this world is capable of and soul and body in this earthly frame cannot receive it True blessednesse cannot be at all of this world nor of the things thereof could one man be possessed of them all which yet never was nor will be for they are mutable and passing away and if they were abiding yet they are not satisfactory nor can they fill all the capacities of the reasonable creature much lesse can blessednesse be of the things of this life to a sinner for by sin they are become accursed to the sinner and he accursed in their enjoyment They also cannot take away sinne make the sinner holy bring him into favour with God and so bring him to blessedness mistake not then Our comfort is not in this that we have attained and that we are already perfect but that we are in the begun state and that we shall assuredly attain and shall be perfect Our comfort consists not in this that we have no sinne but in forgivenesse at present and in the full blotting out expected when the Lord shall come again in glory Our holinesse or sanctification consists not in this that no sinne is at all in us but in this that our old man is crucified so that we be not servants to any sinne and that we are become servants of righteousness Our holy walking is in finding out our sinnes that they may not finde us out and in eschewing them that we may tread the wayes of God with a larger streighter firmer step and with an evener quicker pace Our progresse in holinesse is by daily mortifying the members on the earth and by bringing forth continually more fruits unto God as those that are alive from the dead Our perseverance is the maintaining of the combate Our present state is that of David under the anointing conflicting with our spiritual enemies that either are like Saul and his confedeâ—ates or like Absolom and his conspirators so that we are singing a Psalme like the third Psalme and it is not that of David upon the Throne singing the eighteenth Psalme whereof the title is A Psalme sung when the Lord had delivered him from the hand of his enemies yet it is the estate wherein we are assured to be singing it with perfect triumph one day Our comfort is begun and held out of godly sorrow we sow in tears and go carrying precious seed with us our comfort is a seed-season and the joy of a harvest-home Our comfort is in Gospel-promises blessings priviledges graces Our comfort is not in freedome from troubles temptations persecutions but in a heavenly Fathers disposing the troubles delivering from the power and poyson of the temptations and of persecutions as they are persecutions putting us into the upper form of his Saints on earth and placing us in highest honour and giving us the matter of greatest joy that can befall us in this valley of tears God hath registred and left upon file for a perpetual Record the way of the Saints comfort on this wise If when we are enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life Ro. 5. 10. If God be for us who can be against us he that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with â—â—m also freâ—ly give us all Rom. 8. 31 32. Ps 56. 13. things Thou â—â—st delâ—vered my soul from death wilt not thou dâ—lâ—ver my feet from fallâ—ng that I mâ—y walk before â—od in the light of the living God hath shewed us the way wherein he Gods way of giving grace and comfort is the sight of his grace in Christ and not the eying of our duty or deservings 2 Cor. 3. 18. 5. 19. Ro. 1. 179 giveth both at the first conversâ—on and ever after all grace and comfort It is this he sets before sinners brought to see themselves their sâ—nnes and curseâ—nâ—sse thereby in the glasse of his holy Law the glasse and mirrour of his Gospel where in the beholding of the glory of God as he is in Christ reconciling the world to himself both Jewes and Gentiles concluded all under sinne not imputing trespasses and sending them to the Word and Ministry of reconciliation this sight of glorious grace changeth and transformeth them And as thâ—s righteousnesse of God provided to cloath a sinner withall is through the Gospel-glasse revealed more and more from faith to faith from one measure of faith to another greater and growing measure of faith so will the change and transformation be from glory to glory from one degree of glorious grace and comfort to another greater and growing degree of glorious grace and comfort and the work is no lesse nor lower than the work of the Spirit of the Lord the Lord the 2 Cor. 3. 17 18. Holy Ghost setting the sinner in blessed gracious and glorious liberty We work then at the wrong end when we toyle with our own hearts pore upon our sins think we will believe walk obey and the like and so
go on and encrease more and more and then finding by experience how weak unable wanting and extreamely failing we are we become dejected and sore perplexed and are ready to say If God hath given such promises to them that fear him why am I thus and almost ready to say As good give over all it will ever be thus with me I shall never get the victory over my sins I shall never attain to setled consolation and assurance Ah poor hearts take this advice Go Gods way to work Go the way after faith and grace received which God took with you when you were in your sins dead in sinnes Go that way still with thanksgiving for what you have in the sense of your sinnes and in ability to fetch the next step in the wayes of faith and holinesse be viewing the glory of the free-grace of God in the face of Jesus Christ even of Christ crucified presented by the Holy Ghost in the Gospel which he breathed oh this is the sight which will make you more and more like him and draw upon you to the life the image of such glorious grace and love to your exceeding joy This sight gives power to walk take and hold this course and thou shalt say with David thy loving Ps 26. 3. kindness is before mine eyes and I have walked in thy truth This sight impowring is the joy and rejoycing of the heart the joyful growing flourishing prosperity of the soul consists in the walking in the light of Gods countenance Ps 89. 15. reconciled and reconciling us to himself in Jesus Christ All power against sinne and unto duty and all comfort and joy all healthfulnesse soundnesse and thriving in our spiritual estate is this way conveighed It is not attained or maintained by extasies and raptures trances ravishments impressions impulses revelations voices joyes that come by Euthusiasme or inward immediate force of the Spirit these at the best are in Gods own hand and they may be given to a Balaam a wicked man a false Prophet a Conjurer a Witch they may be mixed with Satans working they may be of fancy and not of God at all or of faith they may be of Satan Diabolical delusions Now in our upright walking the joy of the Lord is our strength preserve it If this â—oy may be hindred Satan hath his Neh. 8. 19 desire of us let him not bereave you of it SECT 6. In the fifth place the sins of these holy 5. Their sins ought not to hinder their combating against the flesh walkers ought not to hinder their constant combating against the flesh the flesh lusseth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and shall the spiritual yield the day shall they sâ— down discouraged hath the Spirit undertook doth he lead and cause them to walk after him and shall the flesh and its workings turn them off Hear ye Christians of the Gentiles your Apostle the Apostle of the Gentiles this I say saith he walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh the flesh lusteth Gal. 5. 16 17. in you contrarily but walk on and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh 1. You have the better and have no cause to be discouraged these sinnes you see and finde are the flesh's forces but they are but the scattered gleanings of the Field which you have reaped the broken leavings of the body of the Army you have overthrown 2. God could have driven them at once out of you but they are left to learn us the use of our spiritual Armour without an enemy our prowess would not be proved our graces would not be tried our warlike discipline shewed our watchfulnesse excited our strength exercised Vertue lies along without an Enemy 3. We forget our state which is a warfare we fotget it if we admit thoughts of ease or fainting we are to carry our weapons in the one hand while we work in the Lords work with our tooles in the other hand we must fight that we may work and fight out our way Our walk cannot be maintained and held on but by a warre and we warre that we may walk 4. They should be so farre from hindering that they should raise our courage and heat cause us to smite our flesh with sorer blows make us beat down our bodies and bring them into subjection and teach us a point of heavenly wisdome in this warre that is to single out those sins as our special enemies and as the flesh's troops and life-guard say See here be these hellish villains and fall on with a shout against them 5. They should make us the more to think of our Leader and Acter the Holy Ghost and to say should such a man as I flee for fear who of Gods Saints and Souldiers would do it to save his temporal life or estate nay if the rebellion should grow hot high and prevalent yet fight the more and if we be made to cry out Wretched men that we are who shall deliver yet never cease so our holy Apostle Rom. 7. 23 24. gives us himself for a president 6. And indeed there is no cause of fainting and flagging for in the way of righteousnesse there is no death in this walk after the Spirit there is nothing but life and peace in the way that is called holy there is no hurtful thing molestation there may be and will be hurt and destruction there cannot be while thou art in this walk 7. Besides the maintaining of the combate is no losse in thy way the walk is speeded thou art not so much as diverted whiles thou art mortifying these earthly members for this walk is not measured by paces nor by tale of duties but by powerful conquests made over thy fleshly lusts And every resistance is a conquest 8. Let them not put thee to a disorder or an hurry keep thy minde sedate and thy walk steddy take heed of amazements the Spirit delights in a calme breast stand still and thou shalt see the salvation of the Lord and in quietnesse and confidence of faith is thy strength SECT 7. In the sixth place The sinnes of spiritual 6. The sins of the spiritual should not hinder their full dedition to the Spirit Rom. 8. 2 Gal. 5. 18. Ro. 6. 14. walkers should not hinder their full giving up themselves to the Law of the Spirit No rather should they make us to do it the more for 1. No other Law but the Law of the Spirit alone delivereth from the Law of sinne and death 2. They are not under the Law and while they were under it they could get no power against their sinnes but sinne had dominion over them therefore to go to the Law of works will not help them 3. They have had experience of the power of the Gospel that Law of the Spirit It hath broken down the dominion of sinne in them It hath broken off their hearts from the love of sin