of God from him abideth not on any man on that account nor is any man held out from God because of his natural and necessary pollution simply The father henceforth judgeth no man otherwise then by Christ but hath committed all judgement to his Son Heb. 1. 3. Dan. 9. 24. Joh. 5. 22. And all that have sinned are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Rom. 3. 23 24. He once appeared in the end of the World to put away and abolish sin by the sacrifice of himself He was manifested to take away our sins and in him is no sin he hath not failed therein Heb. 9. 26. 1 Joh. 3. 5. Ezek. 18 2 3 4. He hath obtain'd also the forgiveness of our personal sins in which we sin after the similitude of Adam's transgression he hath obtained power to make reconciliation for the people Heb. 2. 17. Dan. 9. 24. he hath received gifts for men yea for the rebellious also Psal 68. 18. in him there is forgiveness and in his name it is preached unto all nations beginning at Jerusalem which was even the slaughter house of the Prophets and where our Lord was Crucified Luk. 24. 47. with chap. 13. 34. in him the Apostles had in their ministration to declare redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of God's grace Ephes 1. 7. Col. 1. 14. This man when he had offered up one sacrifice for sins for ever sate down on the right hand of God from ever offering up any new sacrifice or repeating or reiterating the former Heb. 10 10-12 7. 27. He hath also obtained a recovery of our loss all have sinned and come short of the glory of God in which and unto which they were created God made man in his image in a righteous and happy condition but man in seeking out many inventions thereby lost that image of God and Adam begat children in his own image Gen. 1. 26 27. Eccles 7. 29. Gen. 5. 3. But now Jesus Christ the second man hath restored that which he took not away he is the last Adam in whom mankind is again created in the image of God after a more glorious manner then in the first Adam He hath restored our nature in his person into the image of God into perfect innocency 1 Joh. 3. 5. 1 Pet. 1. 19. integrity righteousness immortality and eternal life Jam. 3. 9. 2 Tim. 1. 10. 1 Job 5. 10 11. Isa 45. 24. in him it hath pleased the father that all fulness should dwell and there is in him perfection for every man Col. 1. 18 19-28 2. 9 10. And he is become a quickening spirit and herein preferred before the first man Adam who was made a living Soul and abiding in that condition in which he was created might have conveighed life to his posterity but being fallen could not quicken dead ones neither himself nor any of his posterity But Christ is a quickening Spirit to quicken those that are dead in sins and trespasses 1 Cor. 15. 45. The living quickening bread that giveth life unto the dead world and they that eat him even they shall live by him John 6. 33-35-51-57 All things are here ready and prepared for all men in him he is made of God wisdom and righteousness c. And this righteousness he hath now openly shewed in the sight of the Heathen and hence all the Earth is called upon and exhorted to make a joyful noise unto the Lord to make a loud noise and rejoyce and sing Praise Psal 98. 1-5 Jesus Christ hath recovered all our loss into himself and is glorified in our nature with the Glory he had with the father before the World was John 17. 5. And he hath obtained the Inheritance of new Heavens and a new Earth of a better and more glorious Inheritance then the first man had in the first Creation and an excellent Dominion over the works of God's hand and so as with respect to these two last branches the Apostle sheweth to us that Christ who by the Grace of God tasted death for every man hath obtained that which the first Adam had and lost Compare Psal 8. 4-8 with Heb. 2. 6-9 And there shall be in due time a restitution of all things when God shall send us Jesus who now is preached to us Acts 3. 20 21. The whole Creation shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption iâ—to the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Rom 8. 19-21 And all this is that righteousness which Christ hath prepared for us and which they shall partake of that believe on him as the Scripture hath said In him there is the forgiveness of all our sins yea he is made of God to the believer redemption which non imputation or forgiveness of sins is righteousness without works whereby our sins are covered Rom. 4. 5 6 7. with Psal 32. 1 2. And a robe of righteousness in being cloathed upon wherewith they are made accepted in the beloâ—ed Ephes 1. 6. Those that buy this are righteous even as he is righteous 1 John 3. 7. And Christ doth present them in the body of his flesh in which he was raised again from the dead Holy and unblameable and unrebukeable in his sight Col. 1. 22. And as found in him they are all faiâ— and there is no spot in them Cant. 4. 7. Christ is become theirs and they are cloathed upon with him and reckoned after him being buried with him in baptism wherein also thâ—y are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised Christ from the dead Col 2. 12. Ephess 2. 5 6. And they are begotten to a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undesiled and that fadeth not aâ—ay reserved in the Heavens 1 Pet. 1. 3. Christ is made of God to them righteousness 1 Cor. 1. 30. And this the righteousness they have to appear before God in the best and first robe even Christ himself and the righteousness he hath wrought and obtained this the VVedding Garment Luke 15. 22. Mat. 22. 11. 2. By this VVhite raiment or those VVhite Garments are meant the fruits of this righteousness believed and believed in Jam. 3. 18. For this the Apostle prayeth for the Phllippians That their love might abound yet more and more in all knowledg That they might be sincere and without offence being filled with the fruits of righteousness which fruits are by Jesus Christ received and believed in unto the Glory and praise of God Philip. 1. 9-11 And of these fruits there are some more inward and some more outward 1. Those more inward and wrought in the Spirit of the mind by the Spirit in the Testimony in glorifying Christ and taking of his things and shewing unto us are Humility This is compared to a Garment Be ye all clothed with Humility 1 Pet. 5. 4. And this Garment these needed to buy of
had nothing to give or part with that might in the least be compared unto or valued with this Gold tried in the fire and white raiment and yet they are counselled to buy and it is intimated in the counsel that such may have it and therefore it is supposed and signified that they may have it freely This provision was freely prepared as with respect to us all was of grace and not of or from any merit of ours we had deserved nothing of good from the hand of God nay we had deserved to have been utterly expelled from the favour and merciful presence of God 2 Sam. 14. 14. We were dead at Law condemned to dye and dead in sins and trespasses filthy and polluted ones and altogether unable to help our selves as water spilt upon the ground that cannot be gathered up again 2 Cor. 5. 14. But the God of all grace without any goodness of ours to move him thereto and contrary to our deservings so loved us as to give his Son by his grace his free love to tast death for every man Heb. 2. 9. And in him who is raised again from the dead for our justification all that have sinned and come short of the glory of God are justified freely by his grace through that redemption in Christ Jesus They are redeemed without money Isa 52. 3. Rom. 3. 23 24. And in Christ before we know it there is freely prepared the forgiveness of our personal sins in which we sin after the likeness of Adam's transgression The free gift is of many offences unto justification Rom. 5. 15 16. And a full fountain of grace and truth yea there God hath freely given to us all things Joh. 1. 14-16 1 Cor. 2. 12. Psal 68. 10. And proclamation is made and invitation given to men of this preparation freely and men are invited to come that have no money nor price no goodness nor worthiness of their own yea he that is a Thirst and whosoever will may come and take of the water of life freely Isa 55. 1. Rev. 22. 18. 21. 6. Our Lord Jesus in the last day the great day of the feast of Tabernacles stood and cried even with a loud voice that all might hear If any man thirst whether out of necessity or from a former tast of his graciousness let him come unto me and drink There was that in him prepared for any Thirster that might cool his thirst refresh and comfort him And it might be freely had by any Thirster by such an one as had no gracious frames or qualifications Joh. 7. 37. And to those that receive Christ Jesus he giveth with him all things freely Rom. 8. 32. Yea he is ready to forgive and accept and love freely such as he hath been provoked with for their treacherous departing from him upon their returning again to him from whom they have revolted As he saith I will heal their backslidings I will love them freely Hos 14. 1-4 He frankly forgiveth them whose sins are many Luk. 7. 42-48 And this doth evidence that this provision may be had and is a great consolation to the poor not only to such as are naturally so but to such as are so in a spiritual consideration to such as have no goodness greeness graces who have nothing in themselves to incourage them yet such are invited and may partake of this inriching satisfying covering and adorning preparation proposed to and set before them and may therefore incourage such to come to the waters How many are there that are so poring upon their own unworthiness and nothingness as that thereby they discourage and hinder themselves and at last conclude there is no hope for them This consideration might incourage them and cause them to lift up the hands that hang down and to come to this fountain of the grace of God Joh. 4. 10. And this Instruction as thus demonstrated to wit That Christ and this provision in him may be had by such as are wretched and miserable and poor c. Yea by any sinful worthless creature of mankind while God is exercising longsuffering and vouchsafing means and striving with and calling to them may be of usefulness to us 1. To take us off from listening unto or entertaining those false witnesses of God in Christ who shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men and even in their Doctrines say Christ died not for all men nor by the grace of God tasted death for every man but only for the fewest of mankind and so by necessary consequence there is nothing prepared in Christ for the greatest part of mankind No gold no forgiveness no righteousness c. When our Saviour inveigheth against the scribes and Pharisees the first woe he denounceth upon them in the hearing of the multitudes and his disciples was because they shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men which was indeed their great evil and cause of the following evils for which they are so sharply and severely rebuked Matt. 23. 1-13 And at another time when there were gathered together an innumerable company of people insomuch that they trode one upon another He said first of all to his disciples in their hearing Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees their evil doctrine which is hypocrisie Luk. 12. 1. 2 Pet. 2. 1. Oh! Let us also beware of such doctrines as deny the grace of God in Christ to mankind as declared in the Scriptures and hold we fast those wholesome words the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the doctrine which is according to godliness As well as also it may take us off from others who though they plainly deny not that Christ died for all and is raised again or that any man may in coming to him be inriched by him yet they confess not this they speak it not out nor make it the subject matter of what they say so to exalt Christ that men might run to him but press men first to do such and such duties and then direct them to Christ when they are thus and thus qualified like those teachers to whom God said This is the rest wherewith you may cause the weary to rest even Christ as witnessed in the law and by the Prophets and this is the refreshing but they would not hear but the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept c. And hereby they caused God's people to go astray and to forget their resting place Isa 28. 12 13-16 Jer. 50. 6. Instead of directing men to Christ and calling and moving them to come to this fountain they press men to establish a righteousness to themselves and to be justified by the Law or to perfect by the flesh what was begun by the spirit like those evil workers who came amongst the Galatians chap. 3. 1-4 5. 1-4 1 Joh. 4. 3. 2. Seeing this provision may be had and had freely by such it sheweth unto us the great and admirable grace of Christ and of the Father in him
to promise Gal. 3. 16 17 29. 4. 28. and 5. 1. And so here Christ declareth himself to be the Amen To cure these of that Lukewarmeness they were polluted with and assureth them that in opening and giving entertainment to him he would come to them and sup with them and they with him And that he that overcometh should sit with him on his Throne Rev. 3. 14 20 21. Oh were this considered by us that God hath not spared his own Son but delivered him up for us all how would this make us confident that with him he will freely give us all things also How would this cause us to mount up with wings as Eagles to run and not be weary to walk and not faint and incourage and ingage us to listen to his counsel whom God hath given for a Covenant to the people For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield and will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Rom. 8. 32. Psal 84. 10 12. The Faithful and True Witness This may be an explication of the Amen and shew us what is further meant by and contained in that expression These two words Faithful and True may mean one and the same thing or we may say He is the faithful Witness in that work whereto the Father appointed him hence the Apostle instructeth the Holy Brethren to consider the Apostle and High-Priest of our profession who was faithful to him that appointed him namely in that hard and difficult work of humbling himself and becoming obedient to death even the death of the Cross Heb. 2. 9 18. 3. 1 2. He is in his Cross a faithful witness of the greatness and sincerity of the fathers affection to us Isa 55. 3 4. Who is meant by the faithful Witness here spoken of may be plainly seen and wherein is he so firstly and fundamentally Rev. 1. 5. Jesus Christ the faithful Witness and the first begotten of the dead And so 1. As he died for our sins by way of propitiation and as the Peace maker so he is a faithful witness of the fathers love and that he is not willing any should perish but that all should come to Repentance He is the great sign and undoubted evidence of the heat and ardency of Gods love towards us poor sinners even towards every poor sinful Creature of Mankind in that he by the Grace of God tasted death for every man in this was manifested the love of God towards us because God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins 1 John 4. 9 10. God so loved the World that he gave his onely begotten Son c. John 3. 16. This is the great sign of Gods love to us and it is an evil and adulterous thing to seek after any other Mat. 12 39. The Jews require a sign but we Preach Christ crucified Christ the power of God the great witness and manifestation of his power and goodness toward us 1 Cor. 1. 22 24. and he is the faithful witness therein of the truth and faithfulness of the father in performing his promises according to the tenour of them for he that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him freely give us all things also Isa 55. 3 4. Rom. 8. 32. Yea in what he hath suffered he is the faithful witness also of the freeness and ardency of his own love toward us his love was so fervent as that many Waters could not quench it nor could the Flouds drown it it was strong as yea stronger then Death such his Grace that he laid down his life for us he died for all and such the preciousness of his Blood that in the virtue thereof he is raised again hath purged away our sins made peace slain the enmity broken down the middle wall of partition between God and Mankind taken out of the way all that was in it contrary to us abolished death and destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil and obtained into himself all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly things and confirmed a new Testament and everlasting Covenant Oh what a faithful witness is he of the greatness and fervency of his own and his fathers love and how powerful therefore is the view of him in his Cross to cure us of our lukewarmness do ye thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise is he not thy father that hath bought thee Oh how doth this love constrain us to love him and to cleave to him with full purpose to give him our hearts and let our Eyes observe his ways and how doth this incourage and imbolden us to follow him fully who hath delivered us from our enemies that we might serve him without fear and who is become the treasury of all Gods fulness that we might come with boldness to the Throne of his Grace and hold fast our profession Yea and to return to him when we have fallen by our iniquities for herein he sheweth us he hath no pleasure in the death of him that dieth and so not in the death and destruction of poor wretched miserable blind naked luke-warm ones Oh fear not to come unto and walk before him and be perfect let not your hands be slack by this ye are saved if ye keep in memory what at first was declared unto you unless ye believe in vain viz. That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15. 2. 4. O foolish Galatians saith the Apostle who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the Truth that ye should not continue in tunning well but grow remiss before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you Gal. 3. 1. with Chap. 5. 7. 2. The faithful Witness and Martyr as a Peace-preacher who laid down his life in Testimony to the Truth of that Gospel which he received from his father and declared to us on this account he gave his back to the smiters and his Cheeks to them that plucked off the hair he hid not his face from shame and spitting he set his face as a flint to indure whatever afflictions reproches persecutions he might undergo for the truth for which purpose he was born and to which end he came into the world that he might bear witness to the truth John 18. 37. and to this he did bear witness to the death and sealed to the truth of that Gospel with his Blood This the Apostle setteth before Timothy to incourage him to fight the good fight of faith that Jesus Christ witnessed a good confessiom before Pontius Pilate when he knew what things he should suffer on that account 1 Tim. 6. 12 14. Away
with this luke-warmness and let us come unto and follow him whithersoever he goeth induring hardness as good Souldiers of Jesus Christ who profess him to be our Captain the Captain of our Salvation he hath set us an example that we should follow his steps 2 Tim. 2. 1 3 8. The Apostle setteth before us his being a faithful Witness in both respects viz. as a Peace maker and Peace-preacher to provoke us to fervency of Spirit and demeanour Let us saith he not faintly or fearfully go but run and that not for a season only but with Patience the race set before us as for our lives and for a Crown an incorruptible Crown looking unto Jesus Who for the joy set before him indured the Cross despising the shame and is now set down on the right hand of the Throne of God For consider him that indured such contradiction of sinners against himself lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds Heb 12. 1 3. And the true Witness in his Testimony in which he hath declared what he hath done and the fathers love in him and that he is the Amen he is the truth it self and his word is the word of truth Prov. 8. 6 8. Psal 119. 160. 1 John 5. 20. The true light now shineth 1 John 2. 8. His word was always true but the truth of it is now made more apparent in the preaching of the Gospel according to the revelation of the Mystery his record is true concerning all things there is no lye of it but he is a true witness in what he speaketh of God the Fatheir himself the work of the Spirit Mankind sin righteousness judgement life death and of what he is become and hath for us Gold tryed in the fire white raiment and of the lothsomness of this luke-warmness to him these things he saith Who is holy he who is true Rev. 3. 7. He is true and worthy to be listened unto and believed by us in all his declarations promises discoveries requirings instructions reproofs threats c. a faithful and true witness who will not lye one who is faithful to the interest of our Souls Prov. 14. 5. a true Witness who delivereth Souls from their transgressions wanderings luke-warmnesses who hath power to deliver from sin Satan fears evils dangers yea from the wrath to come and is able to save to the utmost all that come to God by him Prov. 14. 25. 1 Thes 1. 10. Heb. 7. 25. Oh! hear the instruction and hearken to the Counsel of this true Witness that you may be delivered he that hearkeneth to Counsel is wise that you may be zealous and repent The beginning of the Creation of God He is before all things and by him all things consist Col. 1. 17 18. the beginning both of the first and old Creation and that both 1. In giving a being to it when it fore-had none it was Gods Creation but made by him God Created all things by Jesus Christ Eph. 3. 9. By him were all things created visible and invisible All things were created by him and for him Col. 1. 16. he is the creator of the ends of the Earth that sainteth not neither is weary there is no searching of his understanding he knoweth how and hath understanding to help us when we are faint dead dry decaying He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he incrâ—aseth strength Isa 40. 27 29. Oh Lord God saith the Prophet Behold thou hast made the Heaven and the Earth by thy great power and stretched out Arm and there is nothing too hard for thee Jer. 32. 17. What cannot he do that created all things and All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made John 1. 1. 3. he can restore heat and health and heal us of our wounds and cure our loathsom distempers when our bruise is incurable and wound grievous and we have no healing Medicines nor is there any to plead our cause that we may be bound up Jer. 30. 12 17. 2. And He is the maker of the Creation of God when it was marred by mans seeking out foolish inventions The Earth and all the inhabitants thereof were dissolved he beareth up the Pillars thereof Psal 75. 3. He upholdeth all things by the word of his power Heb. 1. 3. the world was made by him preserved from perishing and upheld when it was marred spoiled and dissolved by the iniquity of Mankind John 1. 10. and therefore though you have destroyed your selves and deserved to be rejected and cast off and out from his presence and favour for ever yet in him is your help neither is there Salvation in any other Acts 4. 12. Oh turn again unto him from whom you have revolted He hath made peace by the Blood of his Cross by him to reconcile all things to himself Col. 1. 20. And he is the beginning of the new Creation through and by means of his personal abasement and sufferings the Captain of our Salvation was made perfect through sufferings Heb. 2. 10. In him there is a compleat Creation he is the beginning the first born from the dead that in all things he might have the Preeminence for it pleased the father that in him all the fulness should dwell Col. 1. 18 19. In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and in him we are compleat compleatly prepared for and furnished with all furniture who is the head of all Principality and Power Col. 2. 9 10. In him our Nature is restored again into the Image of God after a more glorious manner then ever it was made in the first publick man and so there is in him a compleat and perfect provision of all things that may tend to our being brought back to God in our own persons and so made new Creatures as every one is that is in him because he died for all and rose again Jam. 3. 9 Ephes 2. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 14 17. there is in him justification and acquittance from the guilt of our first sin and sinfulness So as all that have sinned and are come short of the Glory of God are justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus Rom. 4 25. 3. 23 24. and he hath obtained forgiveness of our personal sins gifts for men yea for the rebellious also healing of our diseases decays deadnesses Gold to inrich poor wretched miserable ones White Raiment to cover our shameful nakedness eye-salve to cure our blindness and dimsightedness Spirit to quicken and inliven us and to put heat into and recover luke-warm ones The last Adam was made a quickening Spirit to quicken those that are dead in trespasses and sins 1 Cor. 15. 45. there is in him perfection for every man Col. 1. 28. he hath by his Blood obtained eternal redemption forgiveness of our sins for ever by that one offering of his body offered once for all and the recovery of our loss
living Waters but such as are insensible also such as are poor miserable wretched blind naked and know it not and this is generally true as with respect to Gods preventing men with his Grace that bringeth Salvation to all men when he first calleth to and counselleth men in and with his glorifying his Son unto them they are dead in trespasses and sins they are deaf and wretched and blind they know not the sadness of their condition hence he calleth to such Hear ye deaf and look ye blind that ye may see Isa 42. 18. They are at first dead to whom the Son of God sendeth forth his voice destitute of all Spiritual liâ—e and light they are ignorant and out of capacity by and wisdom or light of theirs to know what their condition is John 5. 25. And hence men generally have such a good esteem of themselves and of their condition and ways and think highly of themselves as the Jews who though they did search the Scriptures yet would not come to Christ that they might have life and therefore had not the love of God in them yet they thought themselves to be in a good Case and that Eternal life did appertain to them John 5. 39 40. And those that made mention of the God of Israel but not in truth nor in righteousness For they were obstinate and their neck as an Iron Sinew and their brow Brass yet they called themselves of the holy City and stayed themselves upon the God of Israel Isa 48. 1 4. Yet to such as these he calleth and giveth good Counsel to simple ones who know nothing yea who love and that for a long time their simplicity and to fools who hate knowledge Prov. 1. 20 23. He counselleth foolish ones who know not him and therefore know not themselves for he is the light of the world yea indeed all the Sons of Man are foolish and ignorant until or further then they are inlightned by him Hence that cry and call Unto you O men I call and my voice is to the Sons of Man Oh ye simple understand wisdom and ye fools be ye of an understanding heart to signifie to us that the Children of men are simple and fools and yet are called upon and invited to come to Christ Prov. 8. 4 6. This may give us somewhat to answer those that abuse the Scriptures and pervert them to the hurt of themselves and others when the Holy-Ghost inviteth every thirster to come to the waters to buy and eat this is onely meant say they of such as are sensible of their sad condition and such as are gracious thirsters which hunger and thirst after righteousness when as indeed it appeareth most directly to be spoken to such as thirsted out of necessity only and who were seeking rest and satisfying in vain things that could not profit them and therefore were reproved for so doing and this I am sure is no gracious frame or qualification for it is added Why do ye spend Money for that which is not Bread and your labour or that which satisfieth not Isa 55. 1 2. So when our Saviour saith Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden this is spoken say they of such as laboured for Christ and were weary of and willing to part with their sins when as such are hereby invited who did seek rest where it was not to be had such as sought to know the father by the wisdom of this world and so failed of their expectation Hence our Saviour calleth them all of them to him who knoweth the father and none but he and him to whomsoever he will reveal him and in coming to him he would give them rest from their burdening and unprofitable labour Mat. 11. 25 29. And this is sutable to what we have noted in this place we see here such are called upon and incouraged to buy and purchase and good counsel is given to them whose case and condition was very bad and lamentable and yet they knew it not they were insensible 〈◊〉 of it and thought otherwise and better of themselves then was meet 4. In that he giveth such Councel to these that were ignorant of their state he signifieth to us that the way to make men sensible of their condition when their case is wretched and miserable and they know it not is to commend to them and lift up before them Christ and those treasures in him and to direct them thereunto and not at first to preach the Law or otherwise to use it then according to the glorious Gospel The Gospel of Christ is the Arm of the Lord in which his power is put forth and Spirit given to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death so Christ sath The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor and therewith to preach recovery of sight to the blind to preach their eyes open in preaching the Gospel Luke 4. 18. So our Savionr saith The Holy Ghost shall reprove and convince the world of sin of righteousness and of judgment in and with glorifying Christ this way he should shew unto them and open their eyes to behold the sinfulness of their sin in not believing on Christ and the vanity and unprofitableness of their Idols of their works of righteousness judgment c. John 16. 8 14. In like manner also the Apostle Paul was sent with this Gospel to open the eyes of Jews and Gentiles and so to shew them what a sad condition they were in how well thoughted soever they were of themselves Acts 26. 18 23. Prov. 8. 4 6. Hence also the Gospel is called The Word of Life Phil. 2. 16. The Words of Christ are Spirit and life to them that believe not John 6. 63. The Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple that know nothing Psal 19. 7. 119. 130. The Gospel is light the Medium for discovering all things in their right and proper Colours and for giving sight to us also 2 Cor. 4. 4. Surely the lifting up Christ is the way to make men run unto him that were formerly insensible of their sad condition without him because they were ignorant of and unacquainted with his excellency Isa 5â— 5. Cant. 5. 8 16. with Chap. 6. 1. In lifting him up thereby the Spirit of God sheweth unto us and convinceth us of our deadness as the Apostle hereby judged and reasoned and herein shewed all were dead condemned to dye and helpless in their misery and insensible of their condition in that One dyed for all and rose again 2 Cor. 5. 14 5. Particularly from the Counsel it self we may note these instructions 1. That there is a rich treasury and full and compleat provision answering to the needs of those that are poor c. and know it not 2. That this provision may be had by such as are poor c. 3. That to the end they
smiters for the smiters and gave himself to prayer for his persecuters though he was oppressed unjustly proceeded against and unworthily and despightfully intreated and used by them whose good he aimed at and pursued and afflicted Yet he opened not his mouth but was led as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a Sheep dumb before the Shearers so he opened not his moâ—th against them Isa 53. 7. Yea he prayed and dyed for them who with wicked hands did crucify and slay him And being raised again was sent and did come to bless them in turning every one of them from their iniquities Isa 53. 12. Acts 3. 13 14 15-26 Yea at that time when he was numbered with transgressors and hanged between two Thieves and most unmercifully and inhumanely intreated mocked at and reproached then said Jesus Father forgive them Luk 23. 34. Oh wonderful trial Oh matchless love He was greatly tried also in the greatness and depth of the abasement whereto he was abased for us a small condiscension in such an excellent and glorious person for such unworthy ones would have been admirable But as that would not have sufficed for our recovery so such was the cordialness of his love and servency of his affection to us that he did not avoid or shrink from that great abasement whereto it was absolutely necessary he should humble himself that we might be redeemed from the curse of the Law and our loss might be again recovered for us he laid not hold on the Nature of Angels when many of them had sinned to keep them from falling or to recover them though that had been wonderfully beneath him but he was made a little lower then the Angels his own Creatures in a Nature inferiour to theirs yea he did not partake of our Nature as it was when first Created by God but as it was become through our seeking out foolish inventions and was in all things like unto us sin only excepted he partook with us of flesh and blood of weakness and mortality and was subject to all our infirmities to hunger thirst weariness painfulness and was poor and needy and took upon him the form of a Servant who was Lord of all and was made in the likeness of men yea of sinful flesh and being found in fashion as a man he still and further humbled himself and became obedidient to death even the death of the Cross that cruel shameful and accursed death Phil. 2. 6-8 He came down from Heaven and descended into the lower parts of the Earth not only into the Womb of the Virgin but into greatest and deepest afflictions Sorrows and troubles yea his Soul was in Hell and his Flesh in the Grave Acts 2. 27-31 He was tried and found faithful in that such was his power in himself and with the father that he could have acquitted himself from those sufferings which he indured from his enemies He was not at first necessitated to undertake for us but his Grace and free love moved him thereto and he could afterwards have confounded his foes and that way or otherwise have delivered himself out of their hands as he did do many times in the days of his personal ministration and some proof and demonstration he gave of his power to have destroyed them had he pleased when they came to apprehend him for when he told the band of Men and Officers who were sent to take him that he was the person they sought for as soon as he had said unto them I am he they went backward and fell to the ground John 18. 3-6 So when Peter drew out his Sword out of its place and smote off the ear of the High-Priest's Servant after our Saviour had bid him put it up again c. He addeth Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my father and he shall presently give me more then twelve Legions of Angles as intimating that such was his interest with his father that had he prayed he might have been rescued from their destruction with a great and Heavenly Host of those Glorious Angels and needed not Peter's Sword to avenge his quarrel but how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled in his breaking the head of the Serpent and healing that first breach between God and Manking and doing and becoming that whereby we might be brought back to God Mat. 26. 52-54 He was not forced to suffer what he did but he might have avoided all had he so pleased and this is a great trial of love and patience We may pretend to patience in sufferings when we cannot help our selves but if the power were in our hands we should be apt presently to get rid of the trouble but though Christ was such a mighty one yet he readily and chearfully undertook for us at first and patiently indured to the last such an hot fire He was not a Passive simply but Active and forward also in all his abasement not only was he sent into the World but he came and came rejoycingly Lo I come I delight to do thy Will Psal 40. 6-8 Not only was he made flesh but he laid hold on the Seed of Abraham in that body the father prepared for him Heb. 2. 16. Not only was he put to death but he died yea to shew his forwardness he breathed forth and commended his Spirit into the hand of his father before they died who were crucified with him and he so soon died that the Governour admired at it Mark 15. 44. He emptied himself and made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and he further humbled himself and became obedient to death even the death of the Cross Phil. 1. 7 8. Oh that that mind that was in Christ Jesus where more in us Ver. 6. Here was a trial indeed and herein was love inexpressible love incomparable He was tried in his obedience to his father and in his love to us and in his power in grapling with such and so many and great enemies in his so great abasement and in the day of his calamity when the fathers wrath lay heavy upon him They prevented him in the day of his fog when his God forsook him and hid his face from him Psal 18. 18. They persecuted him whom God had smitâ—en Psal 69. 26. When he was weakest and his Soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto death then was their hour and the power of darkness then his and our enemies appeared in their strength against him He had all our sins even all the trespass 〈…〉 f the World upon him He bare our sins in his own body to the Tree and this was so great a burden that his heart even failed and these were such a multitude that they were more then the hairs of his head Psal 40. 12. 1 Pet 2. 24. And these must be born and taken away there must be an abolishing of them or else there could have been no deliverance for us Heb. 9. 26. He had our death to die and
overcome and this was so great a death as that we had perished in it for ever had we died it according to the first Sentence 2 Cor. 1. 10. He had the Devil who had the power of death and his Instruments to grapple with and overcome Satan thrust sore at him that he might fall Psal 118. 13. He had the Law as it was against us to satisfie and indure the curse of and so to blot out that hand-writing that was contrary to us And Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one jot or title of the Law till all be fulfilled Mat. 5. 18. Here he was proved to purpose in his love power and patience and herein he did abide the fire and made it evident and apparent that God laid help upon one that was mighty and he gave a wonderful proof of his patience and submission For in â—aiting he waited for the Lord until he inclined his ear and heard him and brought him out of the horrible pit and miry clay Psal 89. 19. 40. 1 2. Here was a trial of his strength and here it appeared to be very strong for though all these compassed him about like Bees yet they were extinct as the fire of Thornes for in the name of his God he hath destroyed them He hath made purgation of our sin Heb. 1. 3. He hath abolished our death 2 Tim. 1. 10. He hath 〈◊〉 death destroyed him that had the power of death that in the Devil Heb. 2. 14. He hath led Captivity Captive spoiled Principalities and Powers and made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in himself Psal 68. â—3 Col. 2. 15. He hath overcome the World John 16. 33. He hath broken down the middle wall of partition that was between God and Mankind having abolished in his flesh the enemity the Law of Commandments in Ordinances Ephes 2. 14 15. Col. 2. 14. His own right hand and his Holy Arm hath gotten him the Victory Psal 98. 1. He hath delivered us in himself from the hand of all our Enemies that we might serve God without fear of them Luke 1. 74. And he is gone up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a Trumpet Sing Praises to our God sing Praises Sing Praises to our King sing Praises Psal 47. 5 6. and 68. 18. Yea to add no more to this he was tried and proved in the fire in that all he indured was of no real personal advantage to himself He could not be added to by it but it was wholly for the sakes and good of others This excellent one who is charity did not seek his own things 1 Cor. 13. 5. Oh! this was Grace indeed free love no fore-worthiness of ours did move him to undertake this difficult work no future advantage to himself did strengthen and incourage him to enter into and abide in this fire to the last but it was the good and commodity of others of us unworthy ones of us unable ones to make any retribution for such an admirable kindness He that was rich for our sakes became poor that through his poverty not he but we might be inriched 2 Cor. 8 9. The chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed Isa 53. 3-6 The Messiah was cut off but not for himself Dan. 9. 26. He was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification Rom. 4. 25. Christ once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God 1 Pet. 3. 18. He did not look on his own things but the things of others Philip. 2. 5-8 He got no real addition of Glory or happiness to himself by all his indurings and therefore when he had finished the work which the father gave him to do induring the Cross and suffering the curse he then prayeth and now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the Glory I had with thee before the World was John 17. 4 5. He did through sufferings enter into his own Glory which was his before but now he entred into it in our Nature and for us That the World through him might be saved Luke 24. 25 26. And God raised him from the dead and gave him Glory that our Faith and Hope might be in God and that so we might not perish but might have everlasting life 1 Pet. 1. 20 21. John 3. 14-17 Oh! in all this was love love without comparison love beyond comprehension Let us look upon it that we may be ashamed of our love or rather bewail our want of love and not proclaim our goodness and say We are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing Is this the manner of man thus to express love Surely we have let slip the view of and departed from the consideration of his love while we are doting upon and boasting of and lifting up our selves by and glor 〈…〉 ing in our love Oh! consider also how he hath been tried that we may not complain of or faint under our trials But that we may run with patience the race set before us look we unto Jesus who for the joy set before him indured the Cross despising the shame c. And consider diligently the excellency of this Gold and how it hath been tried that we may be zealous and buy it whatever it cost us 3. His being tried in the fire doth signifie that he was herein and herethrough purifi'd and refin'd and came forth as Gold out of the fire full of lustre splendor and glory Job 23. 10. Indeed he never had any pollution of his own or any mixture of sin cleaving to him he was the Holy one of God he knew no sin in partaking of our Nature for he was made partaker of it by a wonderful work of new Creation so as that he and he only partook not of the filth or pollution of our sin he did indeed partake of our sorrows sufferings afflictions He was in all points tempted like unto us yet without sin Heb. 4. 15. He had no sin of his own to answer for he did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth 1 Pet. 2. 22. But yet he had our sins laid upon him and was by imputation spotted as it were with our spots and deformed with our afflictions and wrinkles Though he knew no sin yet God made him to be sin for us and imputed the trespasses of the world unto him the guilt of our natural and necessary sin and sinfulness even the guilt of the disobedience of the first man Adam in which we all sinned and from whence we are necessarily polluted and defiled and of all the unavoidable branches thereof this was imputed to and laid upon and accepted by him as his to answer for and he his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree 1 Pet. 2. 24. All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord laid on him the
iniquities of us all Isa 53. 6. and he confesseth these as his own when he saith Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up Psal 40. 12. and saith to his father my guiltiness is not hid from thee Psal 69. 5. he becoming our surety and undertaking for us all our debts were charged upon him and our trespasses were imputed to him and he bare our sins in his own body and so by the imputation of the father and by his own gracious acceptation our sins became his own sins Heb. 7. 27. he is that Lamb of God that did bear the sin of the world John 1. 29. But he was tried in the fire therein and thereby was he purified from our sins from the guilt of them and so he is pure 1 Joh. 3. 3. He was manifested to take away our sins and in him is no sin 1 Joh. 3. 5. He appeared once in the end of the World to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself and is without sin and shall so appear the second time unto salvation to all them that look for him Heb. 9. 26. 28. To this purpose the Apostle saith Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness God was manifest in the flesh justified in the spirit to wit He was justified acquitted and discharged from the guilt of our sins in the spirit 's raising him from the dead who died for our sins and was buried 1 Tim. 3. 16. and He through the eternal spirit hath offered himself without spot to God Heb. 9. 14. he having fully paid our debt and compleatly satisfied for our sins in his bearing the judgment of the world and being tormented for our transgressions he is released by the father and taken from Prison and from judgment and hath by himself made purgation of our sins and purged them from before the presence of God made peace and attonement for them and redeemed us in himself from the curse of the law and through that redemption that is in him all that have sinned and come short of the glory of God are justified freely inasmuch as he as our surety and as the publick man and last Adam is justified and is through his personal abasement and sufferings become a lamb without blemish and without spot Heb. 1. 3. 7. 27. Col. 1. 20. Gal. 3. 13. Rom. 3. 23 24. and chap. 5. 18. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Yea and also he partook of our infirmities he partook with us of flesh and blood of weakness and mortality Heb. 2. 14. he himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses Matt. 8. 17. It behoved him in all things to be made like to his brethren the sons of men such an one as they were become as the fruit of sin as distinguished from sin it self Heb. 2. 17. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and was deformed as it were with that reproch shame and dishonour which appertained to us Psal 69. 19 20. and was in that body subject to corruption though he did not abide so long in death as to see it as is implied in that the Apostle saith God raised him from the dead now no more to return to corruption Acts 13. 34. he partook of our infirmities sorrows griefs and had a mortal body in which he was crucified and put to death and died and was buried his visage was marred more then any man's and his form more then the sons of men Isa 52 14. 53. 2. He was covered over with the wrath of God for our sins and by his permission and ordering he was covered over with shame from men so as he had no form nor comeliness no appearing beauty outwardly to make him desirable When his God forsook him then he was a reproch of men and despised of the people all they that saw him laughed him to scorne they did shoot out the lip they did shake the head saying He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him let him deliver him if he delight in him Psal 22. 6 8. as intimating that though he made his boast of God and said he was his Father yet he would not own him as his Son and therefore said they God hath forsaken him persecute and take him for there is none to deliver him Psal 71. 10 11. and how he was covered with reproches as if he had been a gluttonous person and a wine-bibber a friend of Publicans and Sinners as if he had cast out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils as if he was a deceiver of the people as if he was guilty of blasphemy against God and of stirring up sedition amongst the people the Scriptures of the Evangelists abundantly shew to us But in this respect also he is tried in and came purified out of the fire and hath in himself overcome and abolished that death he died 2 Tim. 1. 10. and put off all mortaliry and weakness in his resurection that mortal body of his hath put on immortality his body that was so marred and without sorme is now become a glorious body and he therein and he only is a spiritual man death in him is swallowed up into victory and he is become the first-fruits of them that sleep and his triumphing Song is Oh death where is thy sting Oh grave or hell where is thy victory The sting of death is sin this he hath purged away and the strength of sin is the law this he hath answered and satisfied and hath gotten himself the victory and thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Phil. 3. 21. 1 Cor. 15. 42-47-55-57 he hath put off all weakness grief sorrow pain mortality and restored our nature in himself into the image of God in a more glorious manner then ever it was in the first creation even into perfect righteousness integrity immortality and eternal life and he is in our nature glorified with the father 's own self with the glory he had with him before the world was Therein he is become eternal life for us who was delivered for our offences and such glory and lustre is upon that body that it is above the brightness of the sun at mid-day such as we are not capable to behold unless wonderfully and miraculously strengthned It was so glorious as that the sight of it struck Saul blind three days Acts 26. 13. 22. 11. 9. 17. and this seen in a vision by John caused him to fall down at his feet as dead Rev. 1. 17. and when Daniel also saw him in vision there remained no strength in him but his comliness was turned into corruption and he retained no strength Dan. 10. 5-8 and he was tried in and came purified out of the fire from all the wrath of God and from all the reproches and shame and dishonour cast upon him by his enemies God hath actually testified of him that he is the Son of his love and that he is well
pleased in him of this he hath given assurance to all men in that he hath raised him from the dead He was declared to be the Son of God with power by the spirit of holiness in the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1. 4. though they gathered together against him and unjustly condemned him and said and intimated that he was not the Son of God yet God did stand at his right 〈…〉 and to save him from the judges of his soul Psal 109. 30 31. he wiped off as it were all that dirt reproch and ignomy wherewith they covered him and testified he delighted in him in sending from above and taking him out of great waters Psal 18. 16 17. And in setting him on his own right hand and glorifying him in the Gospel He is purified in and through this fire from all the guilt of our sins and from all the weakness and mortality of our Nature and from all the hidings of Gods face and from all the calumnies slanders and dishonours of his enemies yea from all trouble and grievance and is now an inconceivably glorious one full of lustre and splendour And this will be furher shewed in what followeth 4. This Gold is said to be tried to denote and signifie that this work this trying work is over and past though the virtue and glorious fruit of it remaineth and abideth for ever It is not said Gold trying but tried in or out of the fire for as before is said he is acquitted of all our sins that were imputed to him and hath overcome abolished and got rid of all our weakness and mortality and all occasions of grief and trouble and is not as some ungodly and Antichristian Spirits affirm blasphemously dying in some or in any in every Age of the World Those that so say make his sufferings and Sacrifice like those directed to under the Law they even count the blood of the Covenant a common thing like the blood of Bulls and Goats take away sin and therefore was daily offered but herein his Blood and Sacrifice is distinguished from and infinitely preferred before all legal Blood and Offerings in that his is not to be itterated or repeated and so by consequence he can suffer no more as the Apostle intimateth in the dissimilitudes he maketh between the former Priests and their Offerings which they offered according to the Law and our High-Priest and his Offering when he saith Nor yet that he should offer himself often as the High-Priest entreth into the Holy place every year with blood of others for then must he often have suffered since the Foundation of the World which to imagine and affirm is the greatest and first-born of absurdities as the Apostle doth intimate but now once in the end of the World hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Heb. 9. 25 26. Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more death hath no more Dominion over him For in that he died he died unto sin once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God Rom. 6. 9 10. And this Christ proposeth unto John to strengthen him against his fears He saith John laid his right hand upon me saying Fear not I am he that liveth and was dead and behold consider and set thine heart unto this give attention hereto I am alive for evermore Amen This is a true and faithful saying Rev. 1. 17 18. Were he always trying always suffering and offering there could be no perfection by his Blood if he were always dying in some in every Age or always to be offered up a propitiatory Sacrifice then would his Blood and Sacrifice be like that Blood and those Sacrifices under the Law which could not make the comers thereunto perfect for the Law made nothing perfect But Christ hath once and but once suffered for sins the just for the unjust 1 Pet 3. 18. And by his own Blood he entred in once into the Holy place having obtained Eternal Redemption Heb. 9. 12. And offered up one Offering that of his one body once for all and this man when he had offered up one Sacrifice for sins for ever sat down on the right hand of God from ever suffering any more or offering any more Sacrifice or Offering for sins Heb. 7. 27. 10. 10-12 And hath by his one Offering once offered perfected for ever them that are sanctified whereof the Holy-Ghost also is a Witness to us Heb. 10. 14 15. And this Holy-Spirit convinceth the World of righteousness evidenceth that Christ hath compleated righteousness a perfect righteousness in and by himself for us and therein sheweth and demonstrateth the unprofitableness of ours in that he is gone to the father and we see him no more no more coming down to suffer or offer any new Offering or to repeat that Offering of his own body for us nor hath he given or left behind him instruction to any one who may pretend himself to be his Vicar to offer him up a propitiatory Sacrifice for the sins of quick or dead John 16. 10. Heb. 10. 10-14 In this Phrase then or manner of speaking is implied and intimated to us the preciousness of his personal abasement and sufferings and herein is evidenced that his Flesh is meat indeed and his Blood is drink indeed that we might eat his Flesh and drink his Blood and rejoyce and glory in nothing save in the Cross of Christ in that he is tried not trying but come out of and delivered from the fire taken from prison and judgment and is ascended up where he was before John 6. 54-62 And it is also a powerful admonition to us not to count it a common thing not to despise or set light by it for there remaineth no more Sacrifice for sins he can dye no more so that If this Blood and Sacrifice be rejected and trodden under foot till the day of Grace and patience be at an end there remaineth nothing but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery indignation Heb. 10. 26-29 It was witnessed of him who was dead that he liveth and he was made a Priest after the power of an endless life and that by his Oath who sware and will not repent Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech and so ever liveth to make intercession for them that come to God by him And is therefore able to save them to the uttermost Heb. 7 8. 16-25 Rev. 2. 8. This is Gold not trying but tried in or out of the fire 1 Pet. 3. 18. 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. Rom. 6. 3 4. 5. In this Phrase and expression in saying Gold tried in the fire is also signified that he is become Gold for us who was tried even that same person in that same body the same that was tried the same is become Gold for us precious and inriching even as it is with natural and earthly Gold that precious Metal of the Earth The same substance that is cast in the same
cometh out again and is Gold tried only the Dross and mixture is taken out so it is here this Spiritual and Heavenly Gold which was in the fire and was then Gold the most precious one even he the same Jesus who dyed for our sins and was buried he in that very personal body is raised again discharged from the guilt of our sins and free from the fruits thereof God did not leave his Soul which was made an Offering for our sins Isa 53. 10 in Hell nor suffer his Flesh in which he was put to death 1 Pet. 3. 18 to see corruption Acts 2. 27-31 So the Apostle Peter saith Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye crucified both Lord and Christ Acts 2. 36. He that descended is the same also that assended far above all Heavens even into the presence of God that he might fill all things Ephes 4. 8-10 The Stone which the builders set at nought and disallowed the same is made the head of the Corner 1 Pet. 2. 7. It is even he the same person who was delivered for us that is raised again and taken from prison and judgment And in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily even in the body of his flesh Col. 2. 9 10. And this same Jesus shall so come in like manner As those men of Galilee saw him go into Heaven Acts 1. 9. 11. And herein is he preferred before David He fell on sleep and was laid unto his fathers and saw corruption and his Sepulchre is with us saith Peter unto this day but Christ whom God raised again saw no corruption Acts 13. 36 37. 2. 29-32 And Christ in those fourty days after his resurrection in which he was seen of his Apostles Shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs Acts 1. 2 3. And shewed them his hands and his feet that were nailed to the Tree and his side that was pierced with a Spear of a Souldier and his Disciples did see and look upon and handle his raised body by which it appeared he was not a Spirit simply but hath a body that hath flesh and bones And these infallible proofs are given us that we may know and be assured That Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing in him we may have life through his name Luke 24. 36-40-48 John 20. 19-31 And of this the Apostles are Witnesses and have testified That he is the first born from the dead brought forth out of the heart or Womb of the Earth as Jonas was out of the Belly of the Whale Mat. 12. 40. Col. 1. 18. Rev. 1. 5. And it is he that person that same Jesus that is very Christ Acts 9. 22. Anointed with the Holy-Ghost And in him this first-born from the dead it hath pleased all the fulness to dwell even all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and so he is become Gold for us and hath the pre-eminence in all things Col. 1. 18 19. 2. 9 10. And hath all Dominion given unto him Because he humbled himself and became obedient to death even the death of the Cross therefore hath God highly exalted him and given him who so humbled himself a name above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bowe c. Philip. 2. 8 9. And it is needful and good for us to be rooted and grounded in the hearty perswasion and belief hereof that we may be saved and preserved from those evil and Antichristian Spirits that say There is no resurrection of the dead and so by consequence that Christ is not raised again and then we are yet in our sins and the Apostles are found false Witnesses of God and faith is vain and those who are fallen asleep in Christ are perished But Christ is risen from the dead and is become Gold for us even the same that was tried in the fire 1 Cor. 15. 3 4-12-20 And herein he answereth to nay infinitely exceedeth and goeth beyond Gold that is the most incorruptible Metal Yet it will perish though tried with fire 1 Pet. 1. 7. It may canker and rust Jam. 5. 3. And is called a corruptible thing 1 Pet. 1. 18. But his Blood is said to be and is precious as opposed to corruptible of infinite value and worth and highly to be esteemed by us because it is incorruptible 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. And he himself in his own body in which he died for us is in the virtue of his precious and incorruptible Blood raised again no more to return to corruption Acts 13. 34. And is become incorruptible Seed even the Word of God which by the Gospel is preached unto us he liveth and abideth for ever 1 Pet. 1. 23-25 Isa 40. 8. And whosoever is born of this Seed shall live for ever this man continueth ever and therefore hath an unchangeable Priesthood He was dead and is alive and liveth for evermore and whosoever believeth on him though he were dead yet shall he live and he that liveth and believeth shall never dye 1 John 2. 17. John 11. 25 26. In such like respects he is said to be Gold tried in the fire 3. In the next place let us consider what is imported to us in the end why he counselleth this Angel to buy which is also a powerful Motive and Argument used to move us to have such an high estimate of this Gold as to buy it at any rate That thou mayst be rich To which I shall speak more briefly because what is intimated herein hath been noted formerly In this end then is signified unto us 1. That those that have not this Gold tried in the fire they cannot indeed be rich or inriched with the true riches but are poor miserable Creatures in the eyes of him that judgeth righteously though they have large possessions much Gold and a multitude of Rubies We may apply that saying of the Prophet to them Surely these are poor For they know not the way of the Lord nor the judgment of their God Jer. 5. 4. Alass all the substance here below will not procure the love and favour of God in which is life Cant 8. 7. These riches will not deliver from the stroke of Gods hand or from the Testimonies of his displeasure Will he esteem thy riches No not Gold c. Job 36. 18 19. They profit not in the day of wrath or death Zeph. 1. 18. Prov. 11. 4. They are deceitful riches they promise somewhat or rather we promise to our selves much contentment and blessedness in the enjoyment and possession of them but they are not there is no substantial and durable good in them That rich man in the Parable whose ground brought forth plentifully so as he was careful and thoughtful how to dispose of his fruits not having room where to bestow them and therefore resolved to pull down his Barns and build greater and there to dispose all his fruits
and sorrow they meet withall by reason of their poverty Strairs and necessities in this World blessed are such poor ones for theirs is the Kingdom of God Luk. 6. 0. and to incourage them to rejoyce in their King to whom all things are delivered of the Father though they are as the filth and off-scouring of all things and are like unto him in their outward condition who had not whereon to lay his head yet in being called unto the felloship of Christ and made partakers of him and united unto him all things are theirs and in due time they shall inherit the earth yea they shall inherit all things and reign for ever and ever This consideration the first and the last who was dead and is alive proposeth to and setteth before the Angel of the Church in Smyrna to comfort him I know thy tribulation and thy poverty but thou art rich Rev. 2. 9. And the mindfulness hereof is powerful to preserve us from immoderate sorrow and they who do consider it in the greatest necessity are kept from fainting While they look not at the things that are seen but at the things not seen for the things that are seen both the good and the evil are temporal but the things that are not seen are Eternal 2 Cor. 4. 16-18 3. In that he saith That thou mayst be rich it declareth and sheweth unto us the great Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and of the father in him it was not nor is his own good and profit this faithful and true witness aimethat but the profit and benefit of others that they may be saved to whom the Apostle also was in some measure like-minded and signifieth that he was herein a follower of Christ 1 Cor. 10. 33. 11. 1. This was his end in all he hath done for us and is become even our advantage and benefit such was his Grace to us that to this end he became poor that through his poverty we mâ—ght be made rich 2 Cor. 8 9. He was made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law even all Mankind for they were under it Gal. 4. 4 5. with Rom. 3. 19. He who knew no sin was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. He bare our sins in his own body on the Tree that we being dead to sin might live to righteousness 1 Pet. 2. 24. He died for all that they which live might not henceforth live to themselves but to him that died for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5. 15. He was raised again for our justification even for the justification of all those for whose offences he was delivered viz. of all Mankind Rom. 4. 25. 3. 23 24. And God haâ—h given him Glory that our faith and hope might be in God 1 Pet. 1. 21. Christ once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the Spirit 1 Pet. 3. 18. And that feast he hath prepared in himself 't is for all people Isa 25. 6. And so he is the same in what he is now doing as he was in what he hath done Heb. 13. 8. He seeketh not his own things he proposeth not nor aimeth at any personal advantage to himself but it is our good profit and benefit which is in his eye He is the Mediator between God and Men who appeareth in the presence of God for us making intercession for us even for transgressors and ever liveth to make intercession for them that come unto God by him to take away their fins and procure Grace and Mercy for them John 1. 29. Heb. 9. 15. 24. 7. 25. 1 John 2. 2. He preacheth the Gospel by his Spirit to our Spirits and therein giveth us good counsel as here for our good that we poor and miserable ones might hear his Word and listen to and receive his counsel and so be wise for our selves Prov 9. 12. Hence also he saith Hear Counsel and receive instruction that thou mayst be wise in thy latter end even profitable to thy self that thou mayst be rich Prov. 19. 20. with Job 22. 2. Here he counselleth poor wretched ones to buy Gold that they may be rich and White raiment that they may be cloathed and that the shame of their nakedness appear not and to annoint their eyes with Eye-salve that they may see It is our happiness he aimeth at and not his own for though we receive his counsel it is no profit or advantage to him Can a man be profitable to God as he that is wise may be profitable to himself Is it any gain to him that thou makest thy way perfect Job 22. 2 3. 35. 7 8. Yea and when he rebuketh and chasteneth it is for our profit that we might be zealous and repent and so be partakers of his holiness Rev. 3. 19. Heb. 12. 6-10 And the consideration hereof that he is gracious a free and cordial lover of us that seeketh not his own things nor aimeth at his own commodity but ours as is brightly and abundantly manifested in his great abasement and humbling of himself to death even the death of the Cross may be useful to us to incourage and move us to come with boldness to his Throne for it is a Throne of Grace erected not for his own advantage or advancement but for the good and benefit of poor unworthy undeserving ill-requiting and ill-deserving ones Heb. 4 15 16. And to take and drink of the Water of life of which he is the Fountain for we may take of it freely without money and without price Rev. 22. 17. Isa 55 1 2. And this might also move and strengthen us to be followers of him as dear Children as far as we have ability and opportunity and to that end to put on Charity that we may not seek our own things but the good of others To this the Apostle solemnly exhorteth the believers setting Christ before them as the motive and example Phillip 2. 1-6 7. In lowliness of mind saith he let each esteem other better then himself namely let him think and judge that another is rather to be eased and spared then himself If there be a burden to be born or some reproach or persecution to be indured let him rather bear indure and undergo it then his brother should let him not seek to deliver himself and be content that he is free though it fall upon his Brother but rather choose to bear and indure it himself that his brother may be eased and freed and that this is the meaning of the exhortation appeareth by what followeth Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others Let that mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no
say it is such Raiment as is only to be had and bought of this Wonderful Counsellor the Amen the Faithful and True Witness and not such White raiment as is to be bought here below by which some persons distinguish themselves from others and in which they glory as if they were because of this better then others and what this white raiment here commended to us is we may be helped to know and understand by the Holy Spirit in the Scripture of Truth namely that it is righteousness even the righteousnesses of the Saints according to what we find spoken Rev. 19. 8. It was granted unto her the Lambs Wise that she should be arrayed in fine linnen clean and white For the fine linnen is the righteousness of Saints viz. that wherewith they are cloathed and adorned And so frequently in the Holy Scriptures righteousness is compared to a Garment cloathing or covering as where Job saith I put on righteousness and it cloathed me Job 29. 14. And again let thy Priests be cloathed with righteousness Psal 132. 9. So it is said The Lord hath covered me with the robe of righteousness Isa 61. 10. And the joyning here Gold and Raiment together aptly answereth to that motive and inducement given by the Holy Ghost to perswade us to receive Wisdoms instruction viz. That with her are durable riches Gold tried in the fire and righteousness white raiment Prov. 8. 18-20 So that the White raiment here commended to us appeareth to be righteousness But this righteousness which is the White raiment is not as after may be shewn our own righteousness according to the law or any works of righteousness of ours For by the deeds of the Law can no flesh living be justified in the sight of God Rom. 3. 20. But the White raiment here spoken of is 1. The righteousness of God without the Law even that righteousness which Christ hath wrought by and compleated in himself for us and is become there-through for this is his name Jehovah our righteousness Jer 23. 6. And so Jesus Christ himself through and by means of that righteousness he hath wrought and compleated for us in himself is likened and compared to a Garment and believers are instructed to put him on as Rom. 13. 14 Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ And as many as are baptized into Christ are said to have put on Christ Gal. 3. 27. And it is both taken for granted they have put on the new man Christ and they are instructed still and further to put him on Col. 3. 10. Ephes 4. 23 24. And they that follow after righteousness are such as seek the Lord for it even the Lord of whom the righteousness of the Servants of the Lord is Isa 54. 17. And in whom it is Isa 45. 24. And who is made of God to them righteousness 1 Cor. 1. 30. Yea that righteousness which is come by him it is unto all that have sinned and upon all that believe as their Ornament and Raiment Rom. 3. 21-23 And in the Prophet he is oftentimes prophesied of under this Title or expression of righteousness As I bring near my righteousness it shall not be far off Isa 46. 13. And my righteousness is near and near to be revealed Isa 51. 5. 56. 1. with Rom. 3. 21 22. And Christ is and in him appeareth the righteousness of God and he is become righteousness for us 1. In taking our Nature upon him and therein being made sin and a curse for us and so by cying our death even tasting death by the Grace of God for every man and so this righteousness is without the Law without the works or Sacrifices thereof though Christ did no sin in the days of his flesh but always did those things that pleased the father and observed the Law yet that could not be righteousness for us but to the end he might prepare and become righteousness for us he must have our sins laid upon him and therefore God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us by imputing the trespasses of the World to him that we might be made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 19-21 As well as also he must dye our death according to that If righteousness come by the Law then Christ died in vain Gal. 2. 21. In which is implied that to the end he might bring in everlasting righteousness he must dye and be cut off from the Land of the living Dan. 9. 24-26 righteousness could not come by the Law namely by our keeping the Law of ten words or by any works of ours according thereto for by the Law is the knowledge of sin in all we do in our best as well as in our worst works nay righteousness could not come by Christ's keeping and observing of it though he did always keep it and never transgress it in thought word or deed for then he died without any just or sufficient cause he died in vain And again righteousness could not come by the Law of the former Priesthood or by any gifts Offerings or Sacrifices appointed by it for then Christ died in vain It was not possible the bâ—ood of Bulls and Goats could take away-sin Where ore when he cometh into the World he saith Sacrifice and Offering thou wouldest not but a body hast thou prepared me In burnt-offerings and Sacâ—ifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure then said I Lo I come to do thy will O God namely to do that which the Law could not do to take away sin and bring in righteousness Heb. 10. 4-10 To this end he was the Lamb of God who was slain for us he was delivered for our offences And it was needful that Christ should suffer for our sins being put to death in the flâ—sh that this raiment of righteousness might be prepared for us for we had sinned against God in our fiâ—st father Adam and were thereby become liable unto the judgment of God and had deserved death in an utter separation from the presence of God and God who is a God of truth and without iniquity and to whom it is impossible to lye and therefore he cannot by any means in clearing clear the guilty had said and threatned In the day thou eatest thereof in dying thou shalt dye Gen. 2. 17. And cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this Law to do them namely as is explicated by the Apostle that continueth not in all things written in the Book of the Law to do them Deut. 27. 26. Gal. 3. 10. And therefore man having sinned and thereby fallen under curse and death unless the justice of God be satisfied and his truth fulfilled there can be no righteousness for us no accepting of us no forgiveness of our sins nor mercy to be shewn to us For Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one jot or tittle of the Law shall pass till all be fulfilled Mat. 5. 17 18. Therefore to the end that Christ might
bring in and become righteousness for us God laid on him the iniqâ—ities of us all and he was wounded for our transgressions bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him he was made under the Law for us that were under it and God went to Law with him and executed the judgement of the World upon him Joh. 12. 31. And put him to death in the flesh for us and he by the Grace of God tasted death for every man that is to say he died the death of all and tasted death for every man in the room and stead of every man he died that death which was the due desert of every man which they should have died and which was the Wages of their sinning against God and this he did for every man even for the good and behoof of every man So that we thus judge saith the Apostle that if one died for all then were all dead all have died that first death not in their own persons but in the last Adam who undertook for and was the representative of all Mankind 2. Cor. 5. 14. And his death is as acceptable with the father and as virtuous and satisfactory as if all had died in their own persons and infinitely more comfortable to us for had that death been died by us we had perished in it for ever But now by his stripes we are healed in whom mercy and truth are met together righteousness and peace have kissed each other Isa 53. 5. Psal 85. 10. He hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us for it is written cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree that the blessing of Abraham viz. righteousness and life might be in Christ Jesus for the Nations Gal. 3. 13 14. And there was a necessity for Christ's so humbling himself and becoming obedient to death even the death of the Cross that righteousness might come by him both because God is a God of truth and his word cannot be broken and he is infinite in holiness and purity a God of such pure eyes that he cannot behold iniquity nor clear the guilty unless he take vengeance on our sins and until his justice be satisfied and truth fulfilled which is all now done in Christ in whose flesh God condemned our sin Rom. 8. 3. As well as also Christ must needs have suffered because there is no other person or thing that could redeem us No man could redeem his Brother nor give to God a ransom for his Soul the redemption of the Soul is so precious No Offering appointed by the Law could purge away our sin God took no pleasure in them to any such end thousands of Rammes and ten thousand Rivers of Oyl would not have made our peace Lebanon was not sufficient to burn nor the Beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt Offering All Nations before him are as nothing and they are counted to him less then nothing and vanity Yea the Heavens were not clean in his sight to this purpose nor any of the Heavenly Spirits but Christ must be abased and dye or us or else there could be no righteousness for us Acts. 17. 3. Heb. 10. 4-12 Psal 40. 6. 8. Isa 40. 15-17 And that it was needful Christ should suffer is signified to us in that when he was in his great agony and distress and cried out Father if it be possible let this Cup pass c. Yet still it was continued to him and not removed from him doubtless to instruct us that it was impossible the Cup should pass from him and yet righteousness be prepared for us and mercy shewn to us Mat. 26. 39. This way then he hath prepared righteousness for us and herein God appeareth to be just and his righteousness is herein declared and shewn forth Rom. 3. 25. Aswell as also we may hereinsee the vanity and unprofitableness of all our works of righteousness and of all we could do to prepare a clothing and covering for our selves and the solly and ignorance of those that think to make a garment for the clothing themselves or to make their peace with God by any of their works sacrifices gifts sufferings Alass they are insufficient to this purpose In the cross o Christ pride is hidden from us and from all that no flesh might glory in his presence 1 Cor. 1. 29 â—0 31. And yet here also is a lifting up for all in that in which they are cast down and good cause and reason though not to glory in our selves yet to rejoyce and glory in the Lord who died for us that righteousness might come by him and in the Father who raised up righteousness from the east Isa 41. 2. And herein we may see the infinite grace of God in the abasing his Son and of Christ in so greatly humoling himself for us and be moved with thankfulnesS to lay aside our pride and stouâ—-heartedness and submit and humble our selves to receive and accept of this righteousness of God without the law prepared and compleated by Jesus who died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was buried and who also rose again the third day according to the Scriptures And this leadeth us to a further consideration 2. He who died for our sins is also raised again as the publick man and is in our nature and for us justified in the Spirit even in the Spirits raising him from the dead acquitted from all our sins imputed to him and so he is raised for our justification acquittance and discharge Rom. 4. 25. 1 Tim 3. 16. And in this God hath evidenced and declared his righteousness in releasing him and taking him from prison and judgment who had died our death and paid our debt it was not possible he should be holden of death because he had fully satisfied his justice and fulfilled his truth and God hath therefore in raising him evidenced and manifested his righteousness and testified to all men that he is welpleased in and satisfied with his personal abasement and sufferings in that he hath raised him from the dead He hath declared him to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1 4. And Christ not by the blood of bulls and goats but by his own blood in the virtue whereof he is raised and hath offered himself his raised body a spotless sacrifice through the eternal spirit unto God which is an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour unto him entred in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption Heb. 9. 12-14 Ephes 1. 2. That is to say He hath finished the transgression to wit the transgression of the first publick man in which we all sinned and from whence we are necessarily polluted and made an end of sins of the necessary branches thereof he hath purged away the guilt of this sin and sinfulness from before the presence of God so as now the wrath
is a Garment for beauty and Glory Hence it is said The Lord God hath covered me with a Robe of righteousness as a Bridegroom decketh himself as a Priest with Ornaments Isa 61. 10. 4. 2. Exod. 18. 2-4 2 King 22. 10-30 Rev. 7. 9-13 14. Christ hath washed them from their sins in his own Blood and hath made them Kings and Priests unto their God and as such he is clothing them and they by faith are putting on this beautiful and glorious Raiment Rev. 1. 6. 5. 10. 1 Pet. 2. 4 5-9 And the fruits of this righteousness render them comely among men so as being clothed and filled therewith they have a good report of all men as it is said of Demetrius 3 John 12. Though yet they hate them and hereby those that speak evil of them as of evil doers shall be occasioned to glorifie God in the day of visitation 1 Pet. 2. 9-11 12. And hereafter they shall be gloriously arayed herewith as with a Robe and as Kings shall reign with Christ on earth they shall then inherit the Earth and delight themselves in the abundance of peace then shall God bring forth their Righteousness their white raiment as the light and their judgment as the noon day Rev. 5. 10. 20. 4-6 Psal 37. 6-11-22-29-34 Isa 32. 1. Such like instructions are contained in this end here proposed to move and ingage us to buy this white raiment here commended to us We should now come to speak to the third thing here counselled unto to wit To anoint our eyes with eye-salve but to this in due time God assisting This which hath been said shall suffice for this first instruction And we now come to speak to the second Viz. 2. That Christ Jesus and this preparation in him may be had and partaken of by those that are miserable and wretched and poor and blind and naked and know it not while it is called to day This is imported to us in this counsel in that he saith who is the Amen the faithful and true witness I Counsel thee c. And this will further appear if we diligently mind and consider these things 1. That the ground and cause of all was for every sinful soul of mankind 2. The preparation is made ready in Christ the last Adam for all 3. This is discovered to all and especially where the Scriptures are vouchsafed in due time and they are invited 4. It may be had freely without any worth or worthiness 1. The ground and cause of all this provision in Christ was for all men for every sinful soul of mankind That is to say Christ was made of a Woman made under the Law for the good of all and to the end he might become a fountain for all according to their needs and capacities Gal. 4. 4 5. with Rom. 3. 19. He came into the World and was abased therein and further that he might become the Saviour of the world Joh. 3. 17. 4. 42. 1 Joh. 4. 14. And this was not whispered or spoken in secret or in the ear by our Saviour but publickly spoken and loudly proclaimed by him that we might know he was not ashamed of reporting this good news Jesus cried and said If any man hear my words and believe not I judge him not in this day of grace and patience for I came not to judge the world but to save the world Joh. 12. 44-47 It was in love in infinite pity and compassion to the world of mankind and so to those that are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked that God gave his only begotten Son And therefore it is thus expressed by his Son and that disciple whom Jesus loved God so loved the World so infinitely in expressibly yea inconceivably merciful and kind was he that he gave his only begotten Son Joh. 3. 16. 1 Joh. 4. 8-11-14 As to say 1. Jesus Christ took upon him the nature of all men and was as the Son of Abraham and David and so the witness and evidence of the truth and mercy of God to them in whom God hath shewed himself to be a God keeping covenant and mercy Luk. 1. 54 55-68-75 Acts 13. 32 33. So also the Son of Adam Luk. 3. 23-38 Yea the Second man who was foreordained of God and interposed himself for the good of mankind while there was none in a personal being but one even the First man in whose loyns all were and who was the representative of all mankind and so in his room became the Publick man for the good recovery and bringing back of mankind to God which had departed from him in the First man and so were justly banished from him in the righteous sentence of his Law 1 Cor. 15. 47. Yea He the Second man is the last Adam of whom the first was the figure or type 1 Cor. 15. 45. Rom. 5. 14. And the truth falleth not short of the type in those things most materially intended thereby but rather exceedeth it as the Apostle giveth us to understand Rom. 5. 15 16. Heb. 9. 13 14. And hence when Christ was actually born the Angel saith Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people for to you men as distinguished from and opposed to us Angels Heb. 2. 16. is born this day a Saviour which is Christ the Lord And the multitude of the heavenly host confirm and set their seal to the truth hereof praising God and saying glory be to God in the highest on earth peace goodwill not evil will towards men Luk. 2. 10-14 Hence also he is so frequently called the Son of Man yea only so called when one person is spoken of indeed when spoken to Ezekiel and Daniel are so called but he is never so called when spoken to but always when spoken off or speaking of himself I say He is so often called the Son of Man even of that kind or species of creatures because he partook of the nature of man and undertook their cause and was the Heir of man's misery to the end he might become their Saviour And by means of the King 's making a marriage for his only begotten Son in which our nature was married to the Divine nature in the person of the word the Son of God all things are ready and prepared for all mankind Which doth clearly intimate to us that he came into the world in a publick capacity and condition for the good and behoof of all men Matt. 22. 1-4-8 Luk. 14. 16-23 Isa 25. 6. 2. And being made of a woman he was therein and by the will of God made under the Law and had the guilt of our old sins the wages whereof was the first death imputed to him and laid upon him When God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself he did not impute their trespasses to them But he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us who knew it and were guilty of it and
with and relinquish them and with this eye-salve in the testimony of Christ we may see Therein all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light the light doth faithfully discover them in their right and proper colours to the end we might stand up from them and might flee from our iniquities and idols Ephes 5. 11-14 And indeed the holy Spirit that breatheth in this testimony doth in and with glorifying Christ and discovering the transcendent excellency of him shew unto us also the sinfulness of sin and the emptiness of all those objects in which naturally we are seeking rest and on which we are placing our affections that we might turn from our vanities unto him who is worthy to be cleaved unto by us So when the Lord by the Prophet saith Behold they are all vanity their works are nothing their molten images are wind and confusion He then addeth Behold my Servant whom I uphold c. Isa 41. 27-29 42. 1. The holy Spirit in glorifying Christ and taking of his things and shewing unto us doth therein and therewith convince the world of sin of righteousness and of judgment and teacheth the believers all things and leadeth them into all truth Joh. 16. 8-14 In bearing witness of Christ and in his testimony the holy Spirit sheweth unto us the odiousness of our sins that we might see and behold it that we might abhort and abominate them in that God hath taken such vengeance on them in the person of his son who knew no sin Though God testified of him that he was his beloved Son in whom he was well pleased yet when but the guilt of our sin was imputed to him he spared him not but condemned our sin in his flesh It pleased the Lord to bruife him He did put him to grief Isa 61. 2. Rom. 8. 3-32 Isa 53. 10. This seen and beheld by us would help us to abhorr it and say How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein Rom. 6. 1-3 And here may we also see the necessity of our being washed here-from in that he is become such a fountain through his blood for cleansing us Zech. 3. 1. And it was his very end in being manifest that he might take away our sins 1 Joh. 3. 5. He bare our sins in his own body on the tree not that we might live any longer thereto but that we being dead to sin might live to righteousness 1 Pet. 4. 1 2. and chap. 2. 24. And in his cross and testimony we may also see the vanity of our idols and our vileness in serving them that we might turn there-from to God to serve the living and true God 1 Thes 1. 9 10. Here we may see the brutishness of our wisdome Now is the Judgment of this world saith our Saviour Here you may take a view and have a discovery of it in that those that were Princes of the World for wisdom crucified the Lord of glory and were also before his hour was come the greatest enemies to him and thought that their taking him out of the way and killing him would much have tended to their security when as on the contrary it brought and hastened destruction upon them Joh. 12. 31. 1 Cor. 2. 8. Joh. 11. 47 48. With Matt. 21. 39-41 Joh. 7. 45-49 Here may we see the unprofitableness of our works of righteousness in that he only could and hath brought in by his death and resurrection everlasting righteousness and there was no other way for the compleating it for us for if righteousness could have come by the law or by any other way whatsoever then Christ hath died in vain Gal. 2. 21. The Holy Ghost saith our Saviour shall convince the world of righteousness namely he shall shew and evidence the unprofitableness of all our works of righteousness and of all righteousness according to the law and that righteousness could not come by the works or sacrifices thereof in that he is gone to the Father and we see him no more He cometh no more down to suffer or offer sacrifice but his sacrifice is accepted of God so as he hath set him down on his own right hand Iohn 16. 10. with Hebr. 10. 1. 2. 11. 12. and he hath prepared righteousness for all men without the law as hath been said Rom. 3. 20-22 here we may also see the vanity and helplesness of the riches of this world in that we were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold They that trust in their riches and boast themselves in the multitude of their wealth none of them can by any means redeem his Brother nor give to God a ransome for his own soul 1 Pet. 1. 19. Psal 49. 6 7. Here also we may see the emptiness and worthlesness of all the glory and honour of this world in that our Lord Jesus neither had nor would accept of it But he was rejected and despised of men a worm and no man a reproch of men and despised of the people All they that saw him laught him to scorn they did shoot out the lip they did shake the head Joh. 6. 15. Isa 53. 2-4 Psal 22. 6 7 8. Nor had he nor did he seek for the favour and friendship of this world but the world hated him because he testified of it that the works thereof were evil Joh. 7. 7. 15. 18-20 Yea in and by this one thing by this unction we may know all things that are needful to be known by us and see them in their right colours Hence the Apostle determined to know nothing in and unto all things but Jesus Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2. 2. And it is needful we should know the vileness of our sins and the vanity and unprofitableness of all those objects on which naturally we are placeing our affections and in which we have been seeking rest and satisfaction to our spirits 3. It was needful for them to see themselves and to see what manner of condition they were in and what manner of persons they were And to this end that they might see this needful it was they should anoint their eyes with this Eye-salve that they might behold themselves and know what state they were in They were at present very much mistaken they thought their condition was very good and that they were so happy that they needed nothing but this was the fruit of their blindness and ignorance for had they viewed themselves in the Testimony of Jesus they might have perceived it was far otherwise with them And indeed this is generally the fruit of mens blindness they are many times pure in their own eyes who are not washed from their filthiness Prov. 30. 12 13. Such fools are men that all their own ways are clean in their own eyes Prov. 16. 2. And they who have not the love of God in them yet think that eternal life appertaineth to them Joh. 5. 39-42 It is therefore a very ignorant and false saying