it was Christ given up to in his Death Isa 63.3 I have trodden the Wine-Press alone and there was none to help for I will tread them in mine Anger and trample them in my Fury and their Blood shall be sprinkled upon my Garments and I will stain all my rayment 3. It was to and by the worst of Executors For First They were his Enemies Secondly Their envy was in them as Professors under the Notion of Religion Wrath covered with Zeal is implacable and such are the worst of Enemies that Envy is the worst and where that is there is no pitty no more had they of our dear Saviour Isa 50.6 I gave my back to the Smiters and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair I hid not my face from shame and spitting Apply Mat. 27. 4. In the highest of his Sufferings when he was on the Cross in the sence of his Sufferings God did appear to forsake him Mat. 27.46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cryed with a loud voice Eli Eli lamasabachthani that is to say My God my God why hast thou forsaken me O to lose sight and sence of Presence is sad Suffering in it self is sufficient to sink down a soul but to lose Presence in the midst and heighth of Sufferings doth sadly aggravate it yet this must dear Christ be given up to O what Love is there in God! O unspeakable Love to poor Sinners that to accomplish their good and safety his Son must thus suffer and be thus forsaken The third thing in order is How God gave him up 1. Freely for he was not sought to by any for Christ thus to be given up nor no purchase should have been given if he had been so offered but God doth it freely In Isa 50.2 Wherefore when I came there was no man when I called there was none to answer Is my hand shortned at all that it cannot redeem or have I no power to deliver c. And chap. 63.5 And I looked and there was none to help and I wondered that there was none to uphold therefore mine own Arm brought Salvation unto me and my Fury it upheld me Besides all his Tearms in his Tenders of this dear Christ are free 2. As he did it freely as to us so he did it with the greatest severity as to him and that you will see if you consider these Scriptures Isa 53.4 5 6 7 8 9 10. applyed with Mat. 27. from the 29 to the 50 verse and Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things And in that 8th of the Romans consider what it is for God not to spare his Son as the Word is He Spared not his Son 1st Not to Spare implies or signifies the highest Severity of Justice Deut. 13.8 Thou shalt not consent unto him nor hearken unto him neither shall thine eye pitty him neither shalt thou Spare neither shalt thou conceal him Isa 13.18 Their Bowes also shall dash the young men to pieces and they shall have no pitty on the Fruit of the Womb their eyes shall not spare Children 2dly It 's to let out Justice upon one without the least exercise of pitty or any reluctancy or roulings of bowels of compassion See Jer. 13.14 And I will dash them one against another even the Father and the Sons together I will not pitty nor Spare nor have mercy but destroy them Ezek. 7.4 8 9. In the 4th verse And mine eye shall not Spare thee neither will I have pitty but I will recompence thy wayes upon thee and thine abomination shall be in the midst of thee and ye shall know that I am the Lord. In 〈…〉 Now will I shortly pour out 〈…〉 and accomplish mine Anger upon 〈…〉 â—â—dge thee according to thy wayes and will recompence thee for all thy abominations In the 9th verse And mine eye shall not Spare thee neither will I pitty thee I will recompence thee according to thy wayes and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee and ye shall know that I am the Lord that smiteth And in Ezek. 9.5 And to the others he said in mine hearing Go ye after them through the City and smite let not your eye Spare neither have ye pitty 3dly It implies a laying aside all regard or respect to the party suffering See this word so exprest Job 30.10 They abhor me they flee far from me they Spare not to spit in my face And as it was there with Job so it was with Christ Isa 50.6 I gave my back to the Sâ—â—irters and ny cheeks to them that plucked off the hair I hâ—â— not my face from shame and spitting Apply to this Mat. 27. From all this if you consider it you will see it was from God upon Christ with the greatest Severity that could be 3. God did not only give him unto us freely as to Christ with the greatest severity but he did it delightfully Isa 53.10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his Seed he shall prolong his dayes and the Pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand 〈…〉 to give up the Son 〈…〉 death to accomplish 〈…〉 Life for poor Sinners 4. He did it self 〈◊〉 〈…〉 himself and to Christ and he did it so as admitting of no reasoning from himself or any way of repining or minding the loss of his Sons Life and as to Christ he might have said as David O my Son my only Son O shall I give my Son for Sinners my Friend for my Enemies he never seems to give way to any such discourse or reasoning but denies all to accomplish his Love for lost Creatures Nay Christ might have said to his Father What dost thou find in me word 〈◊〉 Death if not how can it stan◠〈…〉 24.16 The Fathers 〈…〉 Death for the Children neither shall 〈…〉 put to Death for the Fathers every 〈◊〉 shall he put to Death for his own sin 2 Kings 14.6 But the Children of the Muâ—â—◠〈…〉 according unto that which is wâ—◠〈…〉 of the Law of Moses wherein 〈…〉 â—â—â—ded saying The Father sâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 for the Children nor thâ—â—◠〈…〉 death for their Fathers but every man shall be put to death for his own sin Besides Father there is rouling of thy Bowels to others as in Hos 11.8 How shall I give thee up Ephraim how shall I deliver thee Israel how shall I make thee as Admah how shall I set thee as Zeboim mine heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled together And in Jer. 31.20 21. Is Ephraim my dear Son is he a pleasant Child for since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy upon him saith the Lord. Verse 21. Set thee up way-marks make thee high heaps set thine
heart toward the High-way even the Way which thou wentest turn again O Virgin of Israel turn again to these thy Cities What! is there none for me None of this is mentioned but all laid aside to accomplish this rich admirable and unexpressible Love so it was done self-denyingly The fourth thing is For whom he gave him 1. He gave him for Sinners Rom. 5.8 But God commendeth his Love towards us in that while we were yet Sinners Christ dyed for us And in 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful Saying and worthy of all acceptation That Christ Jesus came into the world to save Sinners of whom I am the chief 2. Ungodly Rom. 4.5 But to him that worketh not but beleiveth on him that justifieth the Ungodly his Faith is counted for Righteousness 3. For Enemies Rom. 5.10 For if while we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his Life 4. The worst of sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful Saying and worthy of all acceptation That Christ Jesus came into the world to save Sinners of whom I am chief 5. It was for the Rebellious and Blasphemers and such as caused others to blaspheme Psal 68.18 Acts 26.1 8.1 Tim. 1.13 O this heightens God's Love O rich Love God loves them that hate him The fifth thing is God's End in giving his Son 1. It was to reconcile poor lost Sinners to himself 2 Cor. 5.19 20. To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not imputing their Trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the Word of Reconciliation Verse 20. Now then we are Embassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God And in Col. 1.20 And having made Peace through the Blood of his Cross by him to reconcile all things unto himself by him I say whether they be things in Earth or things in Heaven Surely God doth highly prize this that he doth purchase it at so high a rate O see see poor Sinner it was not only to accomplish Reconciliation with him but us to him it was not his gain but our gain and his loss O what rich Love is here God seeks a way for us and then seeks to us 2. His End was to overcome and conquer that or them that would have destroyed us As first Sin Rom. 7.24 25. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death and in verse 25. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I serve the Law of God but with the flesh the Law of sin Secondly The Law Gal. 2.19 For through the Law I am dead to the Law that I might live unto God Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death Thirdly Death 1 Cor. 15.55 56. O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victory The sting of Death is Sin and the strength of Sin is the Law Fourthly The World John 16.33 These things have I spoken unto you that in Me ye might have peace in the World ye shall have tribulation but be of good chear I have overcome the World Fifthly The Devil In 1 John 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil O what an End is that O reckon every End and they all end in one End for us poor Sinners 3. His End was To bring up poor Souls as into Union so into Communion with himself and Son in all their Light Life Love and Glory John 17.21 That they all may be one as thou Father art in Me and I in Thee that they also may be one in us that the World may believe that thou hast sent Me ver 22. And the Glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one as We are one verse 23. I in Them and Thou in Me that They may be made perfect in One and that the World may know that Thou hast sent Me and hast loved Them as thou hast loved Me. Apply 1 John 1.3 and 1 Pet. 1.3 4 c. 4. His End was That we might have nothing to hinder our Faith and Confidence in Him in our appeals and approaches to him Heb. 4.16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need And in Ephes 3.12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the Faith of him O mind these Scriptures poor Soul if thou wantest Faith go O go in the Faith of Jesus It is and was God's great care that poor souls though never so poor might come to him with boldness without fear If any should demand the Reasons why God takes this way to manifest his rich Love by Answer For these Reasons 1st Reason There was an absolute necessity lay upon it for there was not another way to accomplish Salvation for Sinners and satisfie divine Justice Isa 63.5 And I looked and there was none to help and I wondered that there was none to uphold therefore mine own Arm shall bring Salvation c. And by this Free-Grace is displayed gloriously 2d Reason That it might appear as to be an act of God's Wisdom so singularly an act of Love which other wayes could not have been had not all other things in the world have been lost and overlooked 3d. Reason That all flesh may be silent and brought to lye down and confess it to be a work only of God in that none but God could have done it See Rom. 3. at large and see chapt 4. at large where this rich Work of Love is fully related and debated and this as a Reason asserted Now for the Improvements of this rich Soul-supporting Truth mind in these Uses 1st Use To inform us of the great Wisdom Love and Grace of God to poor Sinners which is so fully made out in this Act of God in giving his Son in this manner O go over all the Particulars and you must say with the Apostle O the heighth and depth of God's Love Ephes 3.18 19. Rom. 11.33 2dly To inform us what poor Man had been had God left him in his lost estate or left him to have found out a way to have saved himself 3dly If this be so as hath been fully proved of this rich admirable and unexpressible Love of God in giving his Son then this may assure us in general That God cannot nor will not withhold any good thing from us but with Christ will give us all things It 's the very use Paul makes of this Truth in Rom. 8.32 where he saith He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things O poor souls consider this and mind it
whatsoever is lost or laid down for Christ cannot be a loss because it 's only lent and God and Christ have given sufficient ingagement to repay with an hundred fold improvement See Mat. 19.29 But this Text assures us of not only freedom from loss but a finding or gain If any should say Wherein is a Saints gain in thus suffering Answer First mind this no sooner is the soul upon the wheel of suffering for Christ but God and Christ is upon their motion to rise and serve them And that First By inquiring into their state and condition as he did in the old time Secondly By giving forth a suitable proportion of Grace to carry them through it Thirdly By debating with the tryal and waiting it out that it may be in measure Isa 27.8 Jer. 30.11 Fourthly When it s gone forth and seized upon a Saint God stands by it and if it appears too heavy he makes it lighter by giving the heart a lift into the higher Life and strength or by taking some of that away See Psal 138.3 7. Fifthly While that is on that he in his Wisdom seeth best to be on Christ stands in so great a sympathy with them that he is afflicted in their affliction Isa 63.9 and it is such a sympathy that causes Christ not to stand silent but to sympathize with the soul so as to send it and carry it answerable comforts Sixthly The Grace that God gives souls in such a suffering day is not only so much as may and doth answer their troubles but it doth over-ballance and transcend all their sorrows See 2 Cor. 1.4 5. Seventhly God doth not only keep Saints in suffering and bring them out without loss but he makes even their affliction to increase profit and gain to the Soul Rom. 5.2 3 4. Eighthly God is so indulgently tender of Saints and their good and gain in a suffering day that rather than they shall want what is in his hand or heart he will with his own Presence be with them and abide with them Isa 43.1 2. if they go he goes if they be put into the water and fire so will he too See the three Children Dan. 3.24 25. and if shut up in prison where they are kept dark there God will shew them more than before Jer. 33.3 8. whatsoever they want or are in point of comfort deprived of God presently makes it up Micah 7.7 8. Ninthly And to make up all after his often coming down to them and inriching them by his giving forth Light Love Life and all that they may be fully gainers he will take them up to himself and so to live in eternal Glory with them for ever where sin and sinners suffering and sickness shall trouble them no more but all sorrow and sighing shall pass away and all tears shall be wiped from their eyes Isa 25.8 Rev. 7.17 chap. 21.4 O come Lord Jesus come quickly Amen Amen O now my Soul what loss is there by loseing for Christ his Cause and Interest Ah happy is the soul that is imployed in this work O who would not leave it self and its all to Him and his disposal and never chose or refuse its own Cup that the Father mixes and gives to us O my soul trust God he is Faithful and will make good every tittle of his Promises See 1 Kings 8.56 Isa 34.16 Now the next Scripture God brought comfort to my Soul by was Rev. 2.10 Fear none of these things which you shall suffer behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tryed and ye shall have tribulation ten dayes but be faithful c. These ten dayes is an uncertain time and that the word Ten is taken for an uncertain time is clear if you mind Gen. 31.7 41. Numb 14.22 Job 19.2 Object The Ten Horns in Dan. 7.7 sure is a certain number Answ Yes 't is so but mind the word Ten is not barely expressed and so left but it is expounded verse 24. These Ten Horns are ten Kings so that it is not there left as in the other places but when 't is expressed and not fixed to a certain number it is to be minded as an uncertain time so that by ten dayes must be meant an uncertain time Some say ' its to be meant a day for a year and the longest time of persecution that ever was since Christ's time was but Ten years but I judge it best to mind this as in other places many dayes But from it I am made to see that to persecute Saints is the Devils work God makes use of the Devil to do his drudgery Sufferings is God's way to scoure and rub the rust off from his Servants it 's work fit for Satan but the profit of it is fit for none but Saints O I have cause herein to bless God for I have cause to say there was much rust got in my lazie time upon my heart and over my Experiences and Graces and acquaintance with God and his wayes O if this be God's rubbing and clearing day I must say as Peter Not only my hands but all over O my God did my Estate gather or cause rust thou tooks away that and thou didst see my Name dead Didst thou see my Name being too large for my Nature caused rust thou hast suffered that to be blasted and thou seest that both my Liberty and Life gather rust wilt thou also take that Do Lord do Lord what thou wilt so thou wilt bring me out as Gold like Job Job 23.10 and that is the next words in the Text and see what follows in this Rev. 2.10 Be faithful to the death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Saints faithfulness is to be such as not only to hold out in some dangers but to death O there is a sufficient reward a Crown and that a Crown of Life all earthly Crowns are dead or dying Crowns this a living Crown or a Crown of Life O who would but strive wait and work for such a Crown well might Christ exhort Saints not to fear any thing that shall befal them of this nature Now the chiefest word that God made of weight to my Soul from these words was these first words Fear none of these things O there is not only one sort of Sufferings but all sorts must attend Saints but none is to be feared Now upon my minding this these considerations did follow me First There is no cause of fear where the object of fear is removed Now the matter of Fear or Fearfulness is Evil. The Evil of all afflictions on Saints is removed by God through Christ Isa 27.8 That made David say Psal 23.4 Though in the valley of the shadow of death not to fear Evil. Secondly There is no cause of Fear of that or them which come either to serve us or save us Now al Suffering on Saints as Saints comes to serve them and so to save them sometimes from sin Isa 27.9
everlasting Life Now that the Comfort of these words may be discovered I shall first observe this general Truth from these words God So loved The word So is so unexpressible so admirable so matchless so that Observe Doct. The Love of God in giving Christ is a rich admirable and unexpressible Love For the opening of this mind 1. Scriptures to prove it 2. We shall by way of illustration lay down many things to make good this Truth As for Scriptures mind these Rom. 5.8 But God commendeth his Love towards us in that while we were yet Sinners Christ dyed for us Ephes 2.4 But God who is rich in Mercy for his great Love wherewith he hath loved us even when we were dead in sins c. chap. 3.19 And to know the Love of Christ which passeth knowledge that ye might be filled with all the Fulness of God In 1 John 3.1 Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God! chap. 4.9 10. In this was manifested the Love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him verse 10. Herein is Love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be a Propitiation for our Sins See John 17.23 I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the World may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me And you may see what is said of Christs Love in that sence Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the Life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Joh. 13.14 Greater Love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his Friend Now for Illustration mind 1. Consider in what relation Christ stood with God when God gave Christ 2. Consider to what God gave him 3. How God gave him 4. For whom God gave him 5. God's Ends in that work Lastly The Improvements 1. In what relation Christ stood with God there was the bond of nature in the highest degree for he was his Son Psal 2.7 I will declare the Decree the Lord hath said unto me Thou art my son this day have I begotten thee Heb. 5.5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an High Priest but Him that said unto him Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee 2. There was the tye of singularity and peculiarity his Son nay his only Son as in this 3d of John had God had another Son in that sence though the giving up had been 〈◊〉 high token of Love yet not so much as in â—his sence his only Son 3. As there was such an high Affinity in Nature so there was an unexpressable heighth 〈◊〉 Unity of Affection See upon God's â—â—de in Mat. 3.17 And loe a Voice from Heaâ—â—en saying This is my beloved Son in whom 〈◊〉 am well pleased and chap. 12.18 Behold â—y Servant whom I have chosen my Beloved in whom my soul is well pleased I will put my Spiâ—it upon him and he shall shew Judgement to the Gentiles and chap. 17.5 While he yet speak â—ehold a bright Cloud overshadowed them and â—ehold a Voice out of the Cloud which said This 〈◊〉 my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased â—ear ye him and in Mark 1.11 And there â—ame a Voice from Heaven saying Thou art my â—eloved Son in whom I am well pleased and in 2 Pet. 1.17 For he received from God the Father Honour and Glory when there came such a Voice to him from the excellent Glory This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased So you may see in Christ what a high unexpressable Love he had to his Father his Fathers Will was his Will and to answer his Fathers Pleasure was so great a pleasure to him that Life and all must go as little enough to speak out his Love Now consider all this and you will see that the one might have restrained God and have tyed up his hands from giving up his Son and Christ might have pleaded on the other side Why me Father why me that am thy only Son c. but God looks over all in this act 4. There were bonds of Honour both on one Throne in one Glory It might seem in the eye of carnal reason to be below God thus to abase Christ and that in relation to a point of Honour O what Love must there be to over-look this 5. He stood related to God as the chief est and eminentest object of his Delight Prov. 8.30 Then I was by him as one brough up with him and I was dayly his Delight rejoycing alwayes before him Isa 42.1 Behol my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth I have put my Spirit upon him and He shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles O now reason from all and you will not be able to express this Love of God in giving the Lord Jesus Christ as he did O admirable Love Secondly Consider to what God gave him 1. To Death Phil. 2.8 And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto Death even the Death of the Cross O could not he have given him to suffering and not to death O what Love must that be that did and could cause God thus to overlook as it were the Love and care of Christ's Life and thus to give him to death 2. The Death of the Cross Phil. 2.8 And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto Death even the Death of the Cross and Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us as it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree the most contemptible Death that could be a cursed Death a shameful dishonourable Death O see what blessed Love was here shewed in this cursed and shameful Death 3. Not only to death and the death of the Cross but to all the Aggravations that could possibly accompany either As thus 1. He suffered as a Sinner in the highest sence 1 Cor. 15.3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received How that Christ dyed for our Sins according to the Scriptures and in the 2 Cor. 5.21 For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him Sins make suffering unsufferable else it is but a chastisment if sin be not in it but if it be then it is a punishment yet even so must our dear Christ suffer as a fruit of the Fathers Love 2d Aggravation was the exercise of God's Rage Fury and Wrath in the Law against Sin this O this in the highest of
a Soul or Spirit in man that lives though the body dyes and also give you a hint of some of the Priviledges that the Soul enjoys after its separation from the body and then make some improvement Now in the first place I shall let you have some Scriptures to prove that there is a separation betwixt Soul and Body according to the Doctrine and shew some Reasons for it the Scriptures to prove it are these Gen. 35.18 18. Job 34.14 15. to them apply Psal 22.26 Ezek. 12.7 Act. 7.59 60. Luke 16.21 and so much for Scriptures the Reasons follow The first Reason Is from God's Appointment The second Reason From the the very nature of Soul and Body the one Spirit the other Flesh and Dust As it is unnatural for a Spirit naturally to dye so it is as unnatural for dust and flesh for ever to live without being changed from a Natural to a Spiritual as in 1 Cor. 15.42 43 44. If it be objected That by this Adam must have dyed if he had not sinned Answer It is a Question that the best cannot answer for there is more ground to believe that if he had not sinned yet his fleshly body must have had a time to have changed because it was dust and so natural and not of the nature of Eternity and to that end do not only mind the Natural Reason but this Scriptural Ground Whatever was a fruit of Sin Christ by his Death freed Saints from but Christ frees no soul from a Natural Death Ergo A Natural Death is not a bare and only fruit of sin if it were every Saint through believing in Christ would be freed from it but none are Ergo c. But this is a dispute amongst the greatest of the Learned and I shall enter no further into it Secondly I shall let you know in what sence the Scripture represents the Soul 1. Sometimes it is taken for the whole man as Gen. 17.14 c. Lev. 5.2 3. and chap. 7.19 2dly It is taken only for fleshly and natural blood and so the common life of man Gen. 46.26 3dly It 's taken for the affection of the soul as first for Love as 1 Sam. 18.1 Secondly for Grief and Sorrow Jer. 13.17 4thly It is taken figuratively for the Stomach Prov. 27.7 5thly It is taken for the breath of a man Jam. 2.26 6thly It is taken for the natural life distinct from the body and also from the soul or spirit of a man 7thly It is taken for that Soul or Spirit which was breathed by God into Adam by which he became a living Soul this is that that never dies And that there is such a Spirit or Soul that never dies I shall give you the Reasons and Scriptures to prove That there is something in a man that is part of man that lives and never dies and that I shall prove from these Scriptures and Reasons following and then shall give a brief Answer to the Scriptures and Reasons of such as are of a contrary mind The first Reason is grounded on Gen. 35.10 we reason thus Had there been nothing to have lived and gone to God it could not have been a departure but a cessation but it is said Her Soul departed and she dyed that is to say her body dyed But had her soul dyed there had been nothing to depart from the body The second Reason is from 1 Kings 17.21 22. And he stretched himself upon the Child three times and cryed unto the Lord and said O Lord my God I pray thee let this Child's soul come in to him again v. 22. And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah and the soul of the Child came in to him again and he revived Had the Child's soul been dead the Prophet would not have prayed that it might return to the body but that it might live again But God heard him and returned the soul of the Child and then the body revived Had the soul been dead both must have revived but the one returns the other revives so they were not both in one capacity The third Reason is from Eccles 3.21 Who knoweth the spirit of a man that goeth upward and the spirit the of beast that goeth downward to the Earth The Reason lies clear did the soul of a man dye when the body dies it dyed as a beast but here is a distinction so that there is a difference And where lies it the Text tells you That dust goes to dust but the Spirit to God that gave it so that it is clear that there is a part of a man that departs and lives when the body dyes The fourth Reason is from Mat. 10.28 And fear not them that kill the body but are not able to kill the soul but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell A good ground to prove this for Christ said Fear not them that can kill the body but are not able to kill the soul Now if the soul dyed with the body then he that killed one must of necessity kill the other but Christ saith plainly they may kill the body but not the soul So there is a Soul or part of man that lives though the body dyes The fifth Reason is from Act. 7.59 And they Stoned Stephen calling upon God and saying Lord Jesus receive my Spirit If there had been nothing in Stephen but what was to dye his Prayer had been needless but when his body was to dye he prayes that God would receive his spirit so there was a spirit or soul to depart and be received though the body dyed The sixth Reason is from 2 Cor. 4.16 For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day From whence we reason thus If all in man that is one with man dyed when the body dyes then when the body had on it any part of death or decay all in the body that is its own must be so too but here you see there is something that increases and gets up when the body decreases and goes down The seventh Reason is from 2 Cor. 5.6 8. Therefore we are always confident knowing that whilst we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord and in v. 8. We are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. In which words you may see that there is some part of man which when the body dyes is absent from the body and at that present is present with the Lord now if all in man that is of man did dye with the body then there was nothing to be present with God but you may here see it is and it was that which the Apostle groaned for The Eighth Reason is from Heb. 12.9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverance shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father
life in Duties doth not intail to the good of Promises but we are to draw the life of Duties from our Interest in the good of Promises Psal 116.1 Gal. 2.19 Thirdly The want of performance of the Condition through want and weakness is not nor cannot be a just ground to take away or weakâ— our Comforts and Confidence See 2 Sam. 23.5 Psal 89.33 34. Psal 106.45 Isa 43.22 25. c. Isa 54. apply 7 8 9 verses and Ezek. 16.61 c. Fourthly In a word There is no mutations in us that do or can make an alteration in it but what it was it is unalterable in Christ our Lord and King 2 Cor. 1.20 Heb. 8.6 with chap. 6.17 18. c. I shall say no more as to that But shall speak in answer to your desire a word or two what that Peace is that we have by Christ and this Covenant of Grace whether it be a bare Grace or a State Now as to the Peace that Christ purchased for Saints whether it be a bare particular Grace or a State I shall let you know my sence and for that end mind how the word Peace in a Scriptural sence is to be taken Peace in Scripture is taken many wayes As 1. Sometimes it is to be taken naturally as when mens natural constitution is to be Quiet Patient and Peaceable so was Moses accounted a Patient man or a man of Peace 2. It is taken diabolically or devilish As first when men make a League or Covenant with the Devil Hell and Death or Sin as those Isa 28.15 secondly As when men are stupified in sin and so unsensible as Nabal was 3. It s taken spiritually and that these ways first relatively that is when the frame of a Christians heart or behaviour is quiet and peaceable as Rom. 14.19 1 Cor. 7.15 Heb. 12.14 2dly It s taken vertually that is all that Peace which Saints enjoy and receive by and through believing in Christ called Peace of Conscience as in Rom. 5.1 chap. 8.6 c. 3dly It is taken essentially and that peace is not a bare Grace of Peace but it is a state of Peace though it be hard to define yet we shall speak a little of it and give you a description of it sutable to what we find it in Scripture and that is as followth It is a state of Favour and Grace purchased by Christ according to an Agreement and Covenant made between God and Him into which Christ doth instate all his in which state they have a perfect acceptance and are compleat in the sight of God and there they have a friendly Amity and sweet Harmony and full Agreement not only with God and Heaven but also with the Earth and all things therein For the proof of this mind 1. It is not a bare act of Grace but a state of Grace and Favour which shall by and by be proved by Scriptures and grounds from thence 2. That it is procured or purchased by Christ see Dan. 9.24 Zech. 9.11 c. 3. That there was an Agreement or Covenant between God and Christ see Psal 89.3 and 28.34 35. Mal. 2.5 4. That in this state Saints are compleat and perfect in the sight of God see Phil. 5.27 Col. 2.10 John 17.23 24. 5. This peace doth not only relate to God and Heaven but the Earth all things therin as you may see Job 5.23 Hos 2.8 Now that it is a state for the proof of that mind these Considerations wherein you will see that whatsoever was or is proper to a state is to be found there As 1. There is a Governour or Prince of it Isa 9.6 7. 2. It is that in which Saints shall be found of God at the last as in 2 Pet. 3.14 which will not barely admit of peace for us in another nor yet of peace in us but it is a state in which Saints are found at last of God 3. All things that do accompany a state as a state do accompany this as thus 1st There is in it a Govenment Isa 6.7 2dly There are Laws or Rules or Rulings or Leadings Isa 55.12 3ly Declarations or Proclamations go forth from it Isa 52.7 Rom. 10.15 4thly Ambassadors or Messengers belonging to it Isa 33.7 4. If you lay aside all these Particulars and only mind this Reason It must of of necessity be a state because it must be something that is the contrary of what sin by Adam brought souls into Now that was not a bare curse but a cursed state of darkness and death and that sin did bring souls into such a state you may clearly see in Ephes 2.1 23. applyed with the 5 and 6. verses and ver 11 12 13 14 19. the case is clear for the Scripture is clear in the proof of this If so then God's Grace by Christ must of necessity bring souls through believing into a state that is contrary to that state then this peace must needs be a state 5. Consideration If you mind all Prophecies and Promises throughout the holy Scripture you will see this to be a truth We might if I had time make very choice improvements of this truth First Were Saints truly informed of this Truth and did really believe it their comforts would be more sure and firm than now they are Now poor souls so look upon it that what peace is to day is many times gone to morrow and looks upon it sometimes lost by sins and miscarriages and gained again by Repentance and exact Performance and never looks upon this to be a state a standing state the sence of which is to recover souls that are fallen and to spirit souls that grow cold and dead even the sence and consideration that though they fall this state stands and stands with its doors of Grace opened and with its Ambassadors woing and beseeching sad sinners to come in and fallen souls to return into that rich unalterable State purchased by Christ and stands upon the unchangable Foundation of God's Free-Grace and the full and perfect Purchase of Christ our Lord and Prince of Peace Oh! that my soul and the souls of all them that fear God could alwayes believe this Truth this soul-satisfying-Truth this sinner-converting-Truth this fallen-souls-recovering-Truth this Grace-raising Truth This God and Christ-exalting Truth Oh my dear Friends let us study to walk worthy of this unchangable state And there is nothing will so much enable us to walk like it as the true knowledge and beleef of it O believe thou art kept by it as in Phil. 4.7 And when thou fallest look on this standing State believingly thou wilt find it like the Brazen Serpent to heal and restore thy soul To this God and Prince of Peace I leave thee and in that state I love thee and hopes through Grace for ever to live with thee Amen Amen NOw for the satisfaction of some few Friends I shall in the next place set down some of the Scriptures that I can well remember that in my
Scepter own Must to themselves now dye For He alone that 's on the Throne Mat. 16.24 25. Gives Life and Liberty Now I true Liberty doe know Isa 61.1 To Christ I 'le praises sing 2 Cor. 3.17 For he through Death will bring me No more to sigh and sin Rev. 2.7 17 I wish this news abroad may spread home Isa 25.8 That all my foes may see Rev. 7.17 21.4 And Saints with understanding read And know my Liberty What if false Witness should arise Jer. 6.13 And labour to betray My Innocency by their lyes Mat. 24.9 and 10.21 My life to take away Yet Christ's Cause I will witness to Luke 21.16 Tho for the same I dye Act. 20.24 21.13 I shall not fear what man can do Against my Liberty For now my soul hath sweet support Psal 27.1 Through Christ my Rock Tower Micah 7.8 In whom's my peace joy and comfort With fresh supplies each hour Hab. 3.19 His Love is now my whole delight Psa 138.7 His Presence stands me by Isa 43.2 I have him alwayes in my sight O here 's my Liberty God is my Witness and my Guide Psal 23.1.2 3 4 5. My conscience to keep clear I know the Lord is on my side Therefore I need not fear Jsal 118.6 Through Christ I am now freed from Jer. 10.11 And Hypocrites cruelty Rom. 8.1 38 So soon as God receives my breath death Act. 7.59 My Soul gains Liberty Patience with Balm my sores supplys Psal 37.3 4 5 7. I live above controul In Prison though my body lies Job 34.29 They can't inslave my Soul My free converse with Christ is sweet Cant. 5.13 Which brings in choice supply Psa 104.34 That they which now my body keep Joh. 14.17 Knows no such Liberty God did for me this place appoint Gen. 45.7 8 Before they brought me here And doth my soul with Grace anoint Mica 7.8 9 That cheerefully I bear Hab. 3.18 And now his Will and Pleasure 's mine Act. 21.13 He doth my soul make free Psa 11.2 6 7 8. To live above though they combine To take my Liberty I know my sufferings will have end Job 23.10 Till then I 'le them endure Hab. 3.2 A Saviour he to me wil send Heb. 10.37 My Freedome to procure Isa 19.20 And though ther 's some that it withstand Psa 91.14 He 'll make them know and see Isa 43.4 That he alone by his own Hand Dan. 3.17 Will gain my Liberty But some Sanballats still do plot Nehem. 6.5 8 12. My Body to keep here Ye Judas-like say they let not But rather would me clear Isa 24.16 But God will one day make them know 1 Joh. 3.12 And they shall not deny That they like Cain have alone Haeted my Liberty Till then I shall with sweet content Job 14.14 Attend on God and say Psa 27.14 That tho their evil bows are bent Psal 62.5 6 7. 21. 8 9 10 11. God doth the Scepter sway And he will turn them upside down And my soul satisfy 2 Tim. 4.8 And he 'l give me th' Eternal Crown Jam. 1.12 In perfect Liberty Rev. 2.10 Amen Amen Come my Lord and Life come quickly saith the groaning soul of P. H. I did intend to have inserted my Reasons that I gave for not taking the Covenant And the Reasons I gave against the Armies signing the Address to make O. C. Protector because as I said before they were such things which some spirits did very much reproach me for But I do not upon second thoughts think it fit to insert here lest by it I throw dirt in the face of some who did out of uprightness of heart in the point of the Covenant follow God in hopes of the Accomplishment of the Latter-Day-Reformation And though the Covenant was a step too low tâ— follow God in the breaking forth of that greaâ— Light and Power by which God will usher-iâ— the Accomplishment of those Prophecies and Promises that relate to Latter-Day-Work yeâ— surely there were many who in uprightness oâ— heart did aim at God and his Interest in that Work seeing no better or larger at that time 'T is good to love all God's Lambs and not tâ— throw dirt at any of them though we should judge them lame Lambs yet if Lambs theâ—â— are to be beloved Now as to the other that is to say my Reasons against the Signing of the Address they were publickly known and so were the dealingâ— of some with me for that matter But lest I should be thought to cast dirt in the face of such thaâ— have dealt so with me I shall forbear I shalâ— rather cross my own heart and follow my Lord in blessing when cursed and in being silent under censures 'T is an evil day but yet that which the Scriptures of Truth have told us of that such things must be not only betwixt Saints and Sinners but between professed Brethren And it is good for all that love and long for the coming oâ— our Lord not only to pray for it but be willinâ— to face and imbrace such sorrows censures and sufferings that attend Latter-day-Work seeing its that which must be and it 's that though iâ— crosseth which ushereth-in the prayed-for and â—onged-for Crown To which Grace and Crown of Glory I leave my self and all who in faithfulness wait for the coming of our Lord. Amen Amen Come Lord Jesus come quickly In the close of this that I have writ it will be convenient to give some account of my Imprisonment now in the Tower and the rather in that one cause of somes censuring me as was and â—s pretended relates to my former Liberty and my present Imprisonment For before I was imprisoned that was as some said the ground of their Jealousy In that so many were imprisoned and yet I that was so notoriously known should be at liberty Though it was well known I was a Prisoner in the Marshal-Generals house I got out only upon 1000 l. bond to appear when sent for What charges I was at and what hardships I underwent I shal forbear to assert but my long Liberty was by some judged a ground of their Jealousie of me And now when I was taken out of my bed the twentieth day of August 1663 and carried before the Secretary Sir Henry Bennet who would â—dmit me to speak but little for my self but sent me to this place And when I told him I must starve if he sent me thither having no means to keep me he did assure me that the King did allow Maintenance for all each Prisoner though to this day which is twenty five weeks I have not had one bit of bread or drop of drink allowed me And had it not been for the goodness of God and some few Friends I