Fiddle my Pot and Tobacco-pipe singing and making merry and jovial and behold that very sin then committed it thrust a spear into the side of Christ O vile creature therefore that I was that ever I did thus the other day I sat dressing and trimming and pricking up my selfe curling and laying out my haire by handfulls three houres together and altogether neglected prayer c. and now I see that sin wounding Jesus Christ The other day I was with my Queans in such a corner c. railing at these Round-heads Independents Sectaries c. and now I see this also wounding Jesus Christ The other day I was speaking evill of my brother grudging against him proud arrogant c. and now I see this piercing the side of Jesus Christ 2 By bringing a pardon in hand to the soul looking upon Jesus Christ brings a pardon in hand to the soule Now a man being convinced of sin and then his sin aggravated to the highest and then a pardon brought this will breake his very bea rt for his sinne to thinke that eyer hee should do thus When a man comes to thinke thus I am the vilest sinner that hath been in all the Country O but yonder Christ hee hath been pierced for my sins and behold I see him And to assure mee that hee is pierced for my sinnes behold God the Father through the wound that was made in his side hath given mee an Acquittance and here I have my pardon in hand which though it hath cost mee nothing yet Christ hath paid dear for it and thinking and beleeving thus hee reflects upon himselfe and his sinnes and his heart melts all into tears and O saith the soule that ever I should do thus that ever I should do thus and now it calls it selfe Wretch and Foole and Devil it hath walked so towards God and it is so incensed against his sinnes that were they flesh and blood to bee fought with as wee fight with men it would presently try its life with them 4 By assuring him of a Crown and Inheritance that God hath laid up for him The Soule lookes upon Christ as pierced and as it is convinced of sinne hath sinne aggravated and a pardon brought So also by looking upon Christ it hath assurance given it of a Crowne it shall one day enjoy O saith the soule now I behold that very thing viz. my sinne which kept mee from enjoying of a Crowne and Kingdome Christ hath taken it away A Crowne from all Eternity was prepared for mee and nothing is in the way to keepe mee from possessing of it but this I have been a filthy sinfull and a foolish creature and have both forfeited my Crowne to Gods Justice and given the same to the Devil But behold yonder Jesus Christ hath bought this Crowne againe for mee satisfying Gods Justice and by force hath taken the same from the Devil and hee gives it mee freely though hee hath paid his dearest blood for it When the soule looks upon this and considers the infinite love of Christ in it and its wretchedness that it should cause Christ to suffer thus much it is even melted and broken to peeces The most effectual means to kill and subdue Sin One SERMON on 1 John 2.1 If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous IN the former Chapter the Apotle laies before Beleevers that plenteous Redemption that is in Jesus Christ and the precious vertue and merit of his Bloud to cleanse poor Sinners from their sins vers 7. But if wee walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another and the bloud of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin and also what riches of pardoning grace and mercy are in God to poor sinners In the first verse of this Chapter hee makes use of these things to stirre up to holinesse of life and modification of sin in all Beleevers These things write I unto you that you sin not as if he should say I doe not write these things that now you might live as you lift and sin boldly because Christs Bloud is so efficacious and Gods Grace so free no nothing lesse but I write these things that from such considerations you might be more provoked to holinesse of life and the mortification of sin in you the end of these discoveries and the use you should make of them is purity not prophaneness holinesse not licentiousnesse These things write I that you sin not By the way observe two things Obser 1. That the end of Gospel Revelation is to keep men from sin 1 John 3.8 He that committeth sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil Acts 26. â—â— To open tâ—eir eyes and to turne them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgivenesse of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me Rom. 8.3 4. For what the Law could not doe in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his owne Son in the likenesse of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the righteousnesse of the Law might bee fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit And this must needs be the end of Gospel-Revelation because 1 God sent Christ to this end Tit us 2.13 14. Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that hee might redeeme us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works 2 The Gospel is preached to this end Acts 14.15 We also are men of like passions with you and preach unto you that yee should turne from these vanities unto the living God c. 3 The Spirit is given to this end to make us holy 4 It was the end of all Gods administrations it was the end of the Legal administration Gal. 3.19 Wherefore then serveth the Law it was added because of transgressions till the seed should come to whom the promise was made c. which administration being weak and not able to doe it as Rom. 7.9 10 11. For I was alive without the Law once but when the Commandement came sin revived and I dyed and the Commandement which was ordained to life I found to be unto death for sin taking occasion by the Commandement deceived me and by it slew me Chap. 8.3 4. For what the Law could not doe in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his owne Son in the likenesse of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the righteousnesse of the Law might bee fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spiit Heb. 7.19 For the Law made nothing perfect but the bringing of a
come to mee and him that cometh to mee I wil in no wise cast out Christ is willing poor sinners should come bee thou O sinner willing to come As bee is a willing Saviour so should wee bee a willing people and who would not bee willing to bee saved when God and Christ are willing to save As the father of the Prodigal met his Son coming so Christ will meet thy soul above halfe way In a word if thou wilt not come thou wilt bee damned for ever There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby thou canst bee saved but by the name of Christ Hee that beleeveth on him which is the coming I speak of shall bee saved but hee that beleeveth not shall bee damned Vse 2. Comfort to the Saints Your salvation is sure you have God and Christ the will of either ingaged for you If the Divine will bee irresistable as it is then your salvation is firme and everlasting because it is grounded upon this will A mans affections are hardly overcome but his will is harder to bee overcome you may overcome the man when you cannot the will the will is such a thing that most men if they can have their will they will have it Now Saints the will of God and Christ is engaged for your salvation God and Christ should not have their wills should you misse of Heaven Who hath or can resist his will Hence likewise learn for your comfort That you shall never want what shall bee for your good here If it bee the will of God and Christ to give salvation to you then surely are they willing to give you all things necessary for your temporal well-being of sustentation here if it be their will to give Heaven to you then surely nothing needful for you between this and Heaven shall bee wanting to you Think you that they are willing to give the greater and not the lesse O trust then for the one as well as the other Use 3. Duty to the Saints Are God and Christ willing to have you saved Then bee you willing to do or suffer any thing for God Doth the Lord lay out himself for your good lay out you your selves for his glory bee you as willing to glorifie God here as God is to have you glorified hereafter Think not any thing you have or can do too much for him who hath not thought himself or any thing hee could do too much for you No Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus proved in Seven SERMONS SERMON I. Rom. 8 1. There is therefore now no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus IN the former Chapter Paul sets forth the great Combate that hee found in himself betwixt the Flesh and Spirit the Old and New Man the law of his members and of his mind the one delights in doing good the other hates it the one wills to do it the other resists the doing of it one serves the Law of God the other the Law of Sin This Combate grows so high and the worser part so prevalent that vers 24. Paul as a poor Prisoner in Bonds cries out O wretched man that I am In this his low condition in comes the Lord Jesus Christ to his rescue and then presently the day is his and he obtaines a glorious victory vers 25. whereupon he celebrates this Christian Triumph in our text There is therefore no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus The words are a blessed Triumph founded upon that confidence a Christian hath in and that experience he daily hath of the strength and power of Christ rescuing him from Sin the Law Hell the Devil and all the enemies of a Beleevers Salvation without mincing of them they afford us this truth Doct. Souls interessed in Jesus Christ are persons priviledged and exempted from Condemnation 1 They are freed from Condemnation at present Joh. 3.18 He that beleeveth in him is not condemned i. e. are not for the present under any Sentence of Condemnation as others are 2 They are also freed for future â—oh 5.24 Shall not come into Condemnation that is no sentence of Condemnation or execution thereof shall hereafter pass upon them In prosecution of which blessed comfortable truth I shall shew 1 What is meant by Condemnation which a Saint is freed from 2 VVhy souls in Christ must needs be freed from it 3 VVhat that is which frees them 4 How great and glorious a priviledge this is 5 Answer some Objections and then apply all As touching the First not to speak of the Word which hath various acceptions in Scripture but of the thing it self Condemnation holds forth three things 1 The passing a Sentence of Death upon a Malefactor this is a part of Condemnation now in Adam all men sinned and Gods Justice passed a Sentence of Condemnation upon all upon Adam himself actually and all his Posterity vertually as in his loines This sentence the Law of God passeth upon every individual man actually at his first coming into the VVorld and so all according to the Apostle Ephes 2.3 are borne children of wrath and all men from the first man to the last are under an actual sentence of Condemnation 2 The effects of the Sentence passed which are punishments inflicted on Soul and Body out of wrath and for satisfaction of Justice Before the Fall man lay under no punishment but the whole man had the Divine Image stamped upon it the Soul was endued with those Divine properties and perfections of Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness the Body free from sufferings and immortal Man falling God out of wrath strips him of his Image the Soul in a great measure is deprived of those glorious perfections of Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness the Body becomes passible and subject to Mortality so that the Excellencies of Soul and Body are lost and these are but the effects of the Sentence which the Justice of God did immediately pass upon Man so soon as he was fallen 3 The final execution of this Sentence and that is the heavie and insupportable Wrath of God lighting upon Soul and Body in Hell hereafter Taking Condemnation for either and all of these a Soul interessed in Christ is freed from it 1 From the Sentence passed true a Sentence was vertually passed upon him in the fall of Adam his common person but this was reversed in the standing of Jesus Christ the second Adam and his common person so actually also the Law of God passeth a Sentence upon him at his first coming into the World which is againe actually reversed at his conversion so as that a converted Soul stands free from any sentence arising either from Adams guilt or his owne Obj. But how can the Law in Equity and Justice passe an actual Sentence upon a man who before his coming into the World is justified in his common person Ans Though a Saint be justified long before in Christ yet the Law may pass an actual
is usual in Scripture-language to give the name of Flesh to the one and Spirit to the other The Law is called Flesh Rom. 4.1 compared with 2. What shall wee say then that Abraham our Father as pertaining to the Flesh hath found for if Abraham were justified by works hee hath whereof to glory but not before God Phil. 3.4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh if any other man thinketh that hee hath whereof he might trust in the flesh I more Comp. with the 6. v. concerning zeal persecuting the Church touching the righteousnesse which is in the Law blamelesse The Gospel is called a Spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 Who also hath made us able Ministers of the New Testament not of the letter but of the Spirit Both are together under these names or titles Gal. 3.2 3. This onely would I learn of you received yee the Spirit by the works of the Law or by the hearing of faith Are yee so foolish having begun in the Spirit are yee now made perfect by the flesh What hee calls works of the Law and hearing of faith in vers 2. hee calls Flesh and Spirit in the third Again the old man is called Flesh Gal. 5.19 Now the works of the Flesh are manifest which are these adultery fornication uncleanness lasciviousnesse c. compared with Rom. 6.6 Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might bee destroyed that henceforth wee should not serve sin The new man is called Spirit Ezek. 36.26 A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you c. both together are under these names Rom. 7. last So then with the minde I my selfe serve the Law of God but with the Flesh the Law of sin Gal. 5.17 For the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh Matth. â—6 41 The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak Now that there is good reason why wee should take both these and not one to hee here meant I think the scope shews us for the Apostle having spoken of both these things in the former Chapter and proceeding onwards to a glorious triumph in this hee takes the rise of this triumph from the consideration of the premises and that of both of them for one alone as may by good reason be made to appear had not been a sufficient bottome for such a triumph as if hee should say These things being so that through Jesus Christ as hath been cleared wee are delivered from the dominion of the Law and also from the tyranny of the old man in us there being now no longer any reigning Law over us nor reigning old man in us I therefore do conclude That there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus there being no enemy that can do it the Law without and the old man within which onely were able to do it having now no condemning power over them which persons that hee might give an infallible note and character of hee still keeping the scope describes them to bee such Who walke not after the flesh but after the spirit i.e. They are such persons who being by Christ set free from the Dominion of the Law and Tyranny of the old man do not walk after the one or the other and on the other side being by Christ brought under the power of the Gospel and regiment of the new man they do now walk as becomes in some measure Gospel Saints and new creatures These things being laid down and premised wee are to understand the words thus Walking after the Flesh i.e. Either first Legal walking to walk after or according to the Law Or secondly Corrupt walking i. e. to bee wholly and constantly swayed ruled or lead by the principles dictates or motions of the old man or unregenerate part Walking after the Spirit i.e. Either first Gospel-walking to walk after or according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ Or secondly Renewed walking to walk according to the rule principle motions and dictates of the new man or regenerate part in a Saint Now in saying that these two are to be understood by Flesh and Spirit I do not exclude any of those laid down in the general explication of the words no I do think that by Flesh the Apostle may mean all those viz. mans wisdome reason understanding outward priviledges c. and the contrary to these by Spirit But I name these two onely with their contraries because I think that although the other are included in Flesh and Spirit as general termes yet here these are chiefly intended being most agreeable to the Apostles scope and what hee had said in the former Chapter which gives rise to this verse I shall therefore begin with the words as they lye in the first sense to bee understood of Legal and Gospel-walking and so wee have in them two Propositions 1 Legal-walking is walking according to the Flesh 2 Gospel-walking is walking according to the Spirit 1 Legal-walking is walking according to the Flesh In the opening of this I shall shew 1 What I mean by Legal-walking or what it is to walk Legally 2 When a mans walk may bee said to bee such that is a pure Legal-walk 3 Why Legal-walking is called Flesh or walking according to the Flesh 4 That those persons who are freed from condemnation for such our Text imports do not walk Legally or after the Flesh in this sense 5 Answer an Objection and Lastly conclude with Application Of the first viz. What I mean by Legal-walking or what it is for a man or woman to walk legally Answ Legal-walking in the sense wee are now to speak to it is this To make the Law as the same is a Covenant of works the rule of our lives and actions and the alone touchstone to try our conditions by To walke after the Law or according to the Law as the Law is a Covenant of works that is Legal-walking That so wee are to understand here I prove thus because Legal-walking is here called Flesh and the Law is no where in Scripture called Flesh but as the same is considered under this notion as it is a Covenant of works If you take the Law in its self that is for the matter of it the substance of those things the Law requires so the Apostle saith the contrary of the Law Rom. 7.14 The Law is spiritual the matter or substance of the Law is spiritual injoyning spiritual duties requiring spiritual performance and designing to make the creature spiritual so that the Law in its selfe is not Flesh but rather it is a spiritual and an everlasting rule of righteousness But now look upon the Law whensoever it is spoken of under this notion as it is the old Covenant or a Covenant of works and then it is called Flesh I will give you but a few places in Gal. 3.2 3. before quoted when the Galathians were gone from the Gospel to the Law
from the Covenant of grace to the old Covenant of works to look for life and justification The Apostle then calls the Law Flesh So in Chap. 4 21 22 23 c. The Apostle speaking exprefly of the two Covenants the New and Old or of Grace and Works whereof one viz. the old Covenant was Hagar the bond-woman the other Sarah the free-woman he in plain language calls Hagar the bond-woman i. e. the old Covenant Flesh vers 23. and 29. So also Rom. 7.5 wee have a place pertinent to our purpose When wee were in the Flesh i.e. when wee were in or under the old Covenant and did walk by the Law as it was a rule of the old Covenant there were by the same continually occasioned risings and stirrings of sin within us here the Apostle in plaine termes calls the old Covenant Flesh as before Now that the Apostle doth here speak of the old Covenant is clear from the next verse But now we are delivered from the Law that being dead wherein we were held as if hee had said now we who are beleevers are delivered from the Law as it is a Covenant of works Why because the Covenant of works it self by which wee were held once and bound to the performance of the Law is dead What was it that wee were held by why the Law as a Covenant of works as Gal. 3.23 But before faith came wee were kept under the Law shut up unto faith which should afterwards be revealed Now that wherein we were held is dead therefore the old Covenant is that 's the meaning so that here hee speaks of the old Covenant So also in the next words that we might serve in newness of spirit and not in the oldness of the letter i. e. that all our obedience which now we perform to God might be inward and spiritual according to the way of the new Covenant we are under i. e. arising from new Principles put into us new thoughts and new apprehensions of God begot within us new strength and assistance given us new ends in our working and not in that way of outward and litteral performance which was the way of the old Covenant here he speaks plainly of the old Covenant shewing the difference betwixt that obedience which that produceth and that which the new Covenant brings forth therefore what he calls Flesh in the former verse by weighing the scope can be no other but the old Covenant which he speaks of in this I could bring many other places but these may suffice to shew us that when the Law is called Flesh we are to understand the Law as it is the Covenant of Works the Law of the old Covenant which being so by legal walking in this place which the Apostle calls Flesh wee are to understand walking according to the way of the old Covenant walking after the Law as the same is a Covenant of works 2 But when may a mans walk be said to bee such a pure legal walking or a walking after the Law as it is a Covenant of Works Answ 1. When a mans obedience ariseth from and is drawn out meerly by the Law when the Law is principle motive and all in a mans obedience when a man doth this good avoyds that evil from no other principle upon no other ground or motive but because the Law saith doe the one avoyd the other There are three things in the Law which doe draw forth that obedience which is purely legal 1 There are Commands and Prohibitions in the Law commands of Holiness prohibitions of Sin 2 Threatnings of punishments 3 Promises of reward annexed to these commands and prohibitions of the Law now when I doe a thing barely because the Law commands me to doe it or promiseth me a reward in or for my doing thereof or threatneth with some penalty to be inflicted in case I neglect it and contrariwise when I forbeare a thing barely because the Law forbids it and promiseth me a reward in or for forbearing and threatens me if I doe not forbear it this obedience is purely legal and an obedience to a Covenant of works upon this score Adam in Paradise had he stood should have obeyed First there was a Prohibition Eate not then a Threatning In the day thou eatest thou shalt dye which did include in it the promise of the contrary good that in case he did not eate he then should live all which obedience of Adam's had he never fallen could have been no other but obedience to a Covenant of works he being under no other Covenant So I say Put case a man should be never so exact and punctual in his obedience labouring to walk up to every command of God and to avoyd every sin yet if the root principle or motive of this his obedience be the Law the Command the Promise and Threatning of the Law if there be no other principle or motive but the Law if the Law be the roote and rise of all though he should strive to live like an Angel pray ten times a day fast and weep and mourn for his sins till he can mourne no longer watch against and resist sin with the utmost care industry and diligence strive to bee as holy as passes yet all this his obedience would be but legal a walking after the flesh a yeilding obedience to the law as it is a covenant of works 2 When a man in all his obedience proposeth life justification salvation to himself as his end in what he doth then doth he walk legally after the Flesh and according to the rate of the covenant of works In the first making of the covenant of works with Adam in Paradise Life was proposed as his reward and had Adam stood and obeyed according to the promise and tenour of that Covenant the fruit of life would have been his end And how men did look upon the same in the renewal thereof with Moses upon Mount Sinai is very evident from the rooted principles which were in those persons with whom this covenant was made an example whereof we have in the Pharisees Scribes and others of those dayes wherein they lived who did expresly affirme and maintaine that Justification and Salvation was attaineable by the works of the Law and therefore they were so zealous for the same and gave themselves up to the observance thereof to the end they might bee justified and saved which very principle of theirs is that the Apostle both in our text and in many other places in the Romanes and Galatians calls Flesh so that a man then walks legally according to the flesh when by his obedience to the law he seeks to obtaine Life Salvation and Justification When a man because he prayes and heares and mournes and laments for his sins and strives against them maintaines an opinion in himself that because of these things God loves him that he will justifie him give him life and salvation yea that God because of these his duties his prayers
his tears his fastings his humiliations his lamentations his leaving of sin and doing of good stands engaged as it were to give him Heaven and Salvation he then walks legally when the course and stream of his life and actions runs this way that all his prayers humiliations resolutions covenants resisting of sin c. is to this very end that God hereby would be moved to pardon his sins justifie him give him Heaven and eternal life which had hee not some hope to procure by these things hee would neither pray nor hear nor mourn for sin nor doe any thing else he then most certainly walks legally after the flesh 3 When a man in his obedience hath altogether respect to the external or outward part of the Law contenting himself if that be but done never looking to the internal or spiritual part thereof his walking is legal and after the flesh In this manner did the Scribes and Pharisees those great Legalists apply themselves to the keeping of the Law by a litteral observance of what it required accounting it kept when the external works which the Law required should be done was performed or the outward act of sin shunned which the Law willed them to forbear Upon which ground according to the principles and practices of the Pharisees Paul saith of himself that hee whilst hee continued a Pharisee was touching the righteousness of the Law blameless Phil. 3.6 upon this ground likewise doe the Papists assert their Opus operatum the work done as sufficient to Justification and Salvation never regarding how the same is done Now whensoever a man in Prayer hearing the Word or any other Duty hath only respect to the external part contenting himself with that if that bee done never looking to the spiritual performance thereof he walks legally 4 When a man blesseth himself in his obedience and pronounceth himself happy because of that he walks legally Thus Paul whilst hee was a Pharisee did blesse himself in his way Rom. 7.9 I was alive without the law once i. e. so long as I gave up my self to an outward observance of the law being without the law in respect of the true spiritual meaning thereof I was alive in my owne conceit I thought all was well with me and that I was a happy man Thus likewise the proud Pharisee Luke 18.11 12. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself God I thank thee that I am not as other men are extortioners unjust adulterers or even as this Publican I fast twice in the week I give tithes of all that I possesse how doth hee blesse himself in his way of works and crow it over the poor Publican because hee was a Sinner and had no works When therefore a man blesseth himself in his obedience and thinks himself some body pronouncing himself happy because of this as many men will say I thank God all is well with me I have no doubt about my Salvation I am not nor never was I a Drunkard or Swearer c. I was never given to cheat or cousen as others my Neighbours will doe but I pray and read good Books and hear good Sermons c. a man then walks legally after the flesh 5 When a man performes his obedience ever and altogether in his owne strength the law as a covenant of works it calls for obedience but it gives a man no strength but what he hath of his owne to doe it Hence it is called a voyce of words Heb. 12. and a killing letter 2 Cor. 3. because it requires obedience under penalty of death and knowes the creature hath no strength to obey and yet gives him none and so by its very command it kills all those that are under it Now when a man sets himself to keep the law in his owne strength neither finding nor knowing nor feeling nor looking after nor desiring any other strength to enable him to doe his duty then his owne he then walks legally after the Flesh and all his obedience is obedience to a covenant of works Thus much of the Second particular what remaines I leave unto the next opportunity Why Legal walking is walking after the Flesh SERMON IV. Rom. 8.1 Who walk not after the flesh WEe are now upon the Character of those Persons who are freed from Condemnation they are such who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Flesh and Spirit in this place by the acception of the termes in other places and the consideration of the scope of the Apostle in this are as I told you the last day to be understood either of the Law and the Gospel or the old and new man Walking after the flesh that is either legal walking or walking after the corrupt principles of the old man Walking after the Spirit that is either Gospel walking or walking after the renewed principle of the new man I began with the words in the first acceptation as they hold forth Legal and Gospel walking and so I laid downe these Propositions viz That Legal walking is walking after the flesh Gospel walking is walking after the Spirit Concerning the first I have shewed 1 What I mean by Legal walking 2 When a man's walk is a Legal walk I now proceed to the third 3 Why Legal walking is called walking after the flesh Ans 1. Because there is nothing of the Spirit of God that goes along with a legal walk The Spirit was not given by the Covenant of works and therefore so long as a man walks in the way of that Covenant there is nothing of the Spirit of God that goes along with him Now we usually call that flesh that hath not Spirit in it take a man when he is dead wee say hee is flesh nothing but flesh because the Soul and Spirit is gone so take a legal Walker hee is flesh his walking is flesh because there is nothing of the Spirit of God in him nor his walking hee praies but there is nothing of the Spirit of God in his prayers and therefore though hee pray dayes and weeks and months together all is but flesh he mourns and humbles himself for sin resolves vowes and strives against it but doing all this in a legal manner there is nothing of the Spirit of God in all this and so all is but flesh 2 Because Legal walking is walking in the way of Nature the Covenant of works was given to Adam as out common person and sois in the Nature of every man Rom. 2.14 15. For when the Gentiles which have not the law doe by nature the things contained in the law these having not the law are a law unto themselves which shew the work of the law written in their hearts their conscience also bearing witness and their thoughts the meane while accusing or else excusing one another Now in Scripture phrase Nature is called flesh Joh. 3.6 That which is borne of the flesh is flesh i.e. that which is borne of meer Nature can be no more but
the performance of some external duties stand thou by too thou hast not in-being in Christ Rom. 2.28 29. For hee is not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh but hee is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God Object But though I have not in-being in Christ Is there no hope for a soul in this condition Answ No there is no hope for thee in this condition that is continuing in this condition but mistake not there is hope thou mayest yet come to Christ and so come out of this condition and so though for the present thou hast not in-being in Christ yet possibly by coming to Christ thou mayest have it and then there is hope for thee I say Soul which soever of these conditions is thine there is hope thou mayest come to Christ and then there is hope Art thou a prophane sinner read 1 Tim. 1.15 Mark 3.28 Art thou a persecutor so was Paul Art thou a moral man so was Nicodemus Art thou an outward professor onely and so an hypocrite indeed read Isa 65. vers 2. compared with the 5. Therefore I say poor soul though there is no hope for thee in this condition thou hast not at present in-being in Christ and so art under condemnation yet hope there is thou mayest come out of it and bee freed from condemnation What Legal walking is SERMON III. Rom. 8.1 Who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit HAving already spoken from this Text to the Saints priviledges viz. Freedome from condemnation and the rise thereof viz. In-being in Christ I now come to the last and principal thing contained in the words and that which moved mee to choose them for the subject of my Discourse having hastened over the other thing that I might come to this and that is the distinguishing character of those persons who enjoy this priviledge to bee freed from condemnation and that is Walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit Not a man nor woman in the world hath any right unto or do enjoy this blessed priviledge but those who have this character upon them of walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit There is abundance more in these words than at the first blush there seems to bee in them the marrow and sweetness of these words lyes in the breaking of the bone or in the explication of the termes what is meant by FLESH and what by SPIRIT FLESH and SPIRIT are very general termes and of a large extent in holy Scripture taking in betwixt them both all the motions actions thoughts inclinations wisdome reasoning doing of man-kinde all being either flesh or spirit there is not a thought nor an inclination nor a reasoning nor an action good or bad but it is one of these two either Flesh or Spirit In which large extent FLESH comprehends whatsoever is contrary unto or is not of the Spirit of God Whatsoever thought reasoning or action whether it be a good moral action or an evill sinful action that is contrary unto that is not of springs not from the Spirit of God that is Flesh Again SPIRIT comprehends whatsoever is contrary unto and is not of the Flesh Whatsoever imaginations inclinations wisdome reasoning righteousness that is contrary unto that is not of the Flesh that is Spirit Or as a Godly man Mr. Cradocke upon Rom. 8.4 as it seems to mee doth better express it though in substance the same with what is spoken thus Flesh saith hee that takes in whatsoever is of old Adam Spirit whatsoever is of new Adam These two Adams being as hee saith the two roots beginnings beings or principles from whence all the motions proceedings actions wisdome righteousnesses of mankinde do flow and further as hee saith as two springs in a hill do convey their streams to two Rivers so these are the springs from whence arise all the thoughts purposes reasonings doings of mankinde good or bad all coming from one of these two which two were the onely publick persons that ever were in the world either Adam in Paradise natural Adam or the Lord Jesus Christ the spiritual Adam So that by Flesh is meant whatsoever is or comes of old Adam whether that natural or moral good which hee had before his fall some reliques of which wee partake of or that sin which hee drew upon himself and all his by the fall all is but Flesh well his natural moral wisdome and righteousness as his sin and unrighteousness is but Flesh so that all the thoughts intents reasonings wisdome doings of old Adam whether natural moral or sinfull are flesh and comprehended under the word Flesh By Spirit is meant whatsoever comes and springs from the new Adam Jesus Christ or the Spirit of Christ within what ever motion purpose thought inclination wisdome reasoning righteousness doing comes from Christ grows upon the root of Jesse that is Spirit Onely here I would exclude from Flesh and Spirit in the general sense it hath been laid down all those motions and actions which are purely natural having neither any thing of Religion nor sin in them but are in their own proper nature neither good nor evill as for mee to think or resolve whether I will do such a thing to day or to morrow there being nothing which doth necessitate or require mee to do it now rather than then or then than now to resolve whether I wil sit or stand go out of the door or stay within these and such like motions and actions in a simple consideration have neither good nor evill in them and therefore are not in the sense of the Apostle here used either Flesh or Spirit The upshot or conclusion of the matter in general is this To walk after the flesh is when a mans thoughts motions reasonings his wisdome righteousness his wayes proceedings practises run all in the very path and footsteps of old Adam either Adam in Paradise or faln Adam And to walk after the Spirit is when all these go in the path-way or steps of the new Adam Jesus Christ Thus much in the general now for a more particular inquiry into the meaning of these words of FLESH and SPIRIT I do conceive they have some reference unto what the Apostle had discoursed of in the foregoing Chapter Two things hee had been speaking of first Of the Law and Gospel shewing a beleevers liberation or freedome from the one and present station by vertue of Christs death and his marriage to Christ under the other Secondly Of the old and new man shewing that great and continual conflict that is betwixt these two in every beleever and the happy victory which beleevers in the end through the strength of Christ get over the old man the discourse of which hee continues to the very end of the Chapter Now as touching either of these it
Nature for this reason legal walking may be called Flesh 3 Because of the weakness of such walking Flesh is put in Scripture for weakness so Isa 31.3 Now the Aegyptians are men and not God and their Horses Flesh and not Spirit when the Lord shall stretch out his hand both hee that helpeth shall fall and hee that is holpen shall fall downe and they all shall faile together Spirit hath strength in it but flesh without spirit is a weak thing the more any mans spirit decaies the weaker he growes Now legal walking may be called a walking after the flesh in regard of the weaknesse of those persons who walk in a legal way they are pittious poor weak Creatures there is nothing as a godly man saith in such but wishing and woulding and covenanting and promising and protesting and vexing and fretting no strength at all one day they vow they will leave their sins and the next day they run into them one day they will weep and mourn and howl for the neglect of such a duty and the next day they will neglect it again thus they tugge and pull and worry and weary themselves but are never the near nothing comes of all this they wish and would and have good desires c. but walking legally all is but flesh and flesh is weak so as that after all they are by all their toyling and labouring and the adoe they keep to mend their hearts and tame their lusts as farre from the attaining the one or the other as when they began as far from their journies end after many dayes months and years travells as when they first set out 4 And lastly Because the Flesh or unregenerate part is in a manner maintained alive by such walking my meaning is the more any man walks or acts in a legal way the more active sin is and the stronger his lusts grow and the more doth sin get ground of him As the Gospel will take an advantage to bring a Soul which walks after the Gospel to be more holy and beleeving by his very slips sins and infirmities so the Law doth take an advantage from the very outward holinesse of those who walk after the Law to make them more prophane and licentious than otherwise did they not presse after some outward holinesse and conformity to the Law they would be This the Apostle clearly teacheth us Rom. 7.8 9.10 11. Without the law sin was dead How dead what had sin no life in it till the Law came did the law put life into sin which was not in it before No not so but the meaning is that sin did not shew that livelinesse that was in it although it were there before and not begotten by the law yet till the law came up close to it it did not appear but sin lay as though it had been dead being not so vigorous and active when it saw no law to restraine it as afterwards it grew to be when it saw it self restrained by a law when sin saw the Commandement come to lay bonds upon it then sin which lay as though it had been asseep or dead revived started up and broke all the bonds of the law to peeces Saith the Law Sin I will have you bound and curbed aye but saith Sin I will not be bound and because you will goe to binde me I will stirre and act the more then the Flesh or unregenerate part accidentally gets strength by the law and therefore legal walking may well be called walking alter the flesh 4 That those persons who are freed from Condemnation being such as my text speaks of doe not walk legally or after the flesh 1 If such are dead unto and delivered from the law as it is a Covenant of works then doe they not walk after the law as such for a man cannot be said to walk after that which is both dead unto and delivered from But now those persons who are freed from Condemnation are dead unto and delivered from the law as it is a Covenant of works for this see Rom. 7.4 Wherefore my brethren yee also are become dead to the law by the Body of Christ that yee should be married to another even to him who is raised from the dead that we should bring forth fruit unto God How are Beleevers dead to and delivered from the law Not as the same is a rule of Christian life for so the Apostle afterwards speaks for it ver 12 14. Wherefore the Law is holy and the Commandement holy and just and good for we know that the law is spiritual In this sense hee consents to it vers 16. I consent unto the law that it is good yea delights in it vers 22. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man yea serves it and conformes himself thereto vers 25. So then with the minde I my self serve the law of God but as the same was a Covenant of works holding forth Life and Salvation by doing which was the very sense that those whom the Apostle in this Chapter disputes against did put upon the law and the works thereof as is clear from Acts 15.1 And certaine men which came downe from Judea taught the Brethren and said except yee be circumcised after the manner of Moses yee cannot bee saved and therefore the Apostles exclusion of the law from beleevers must needs lye in that sense which they would have inforced the same upon them viz. as a Covenant of works or as a way or means by observance of which they might obtaine life justification here and eternal salvation hereafter 2 If such have the Spirit of God in them and are led guided and governed in their waies and walkings thereby then doe they not walk after the law as a covenant of works Where is Legal walking is nothing of the Spirit because the Covenant of vvorks gives not the Spirit but now such have the Spirit of God in them Rom. 8.9 But yee are not in the Flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ hee is none of his and in their walkings are led and acted thereby vers 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God therefore doe not walk after the Law altering but a word or two and the Apostle from the very same premises makes my conclusion for mee Gal. 5.18 But if yee be led of the Spirit yee are not under the law 3 If the obedience of such persons be true Gospel obedience then doe they not walk after the law as a Covenant of works for then their obedience should be legal obedience to a Covenant of works being legal But the first is true as I prove thus either there is no Evangelical obedience in the world or if there be it must be found in those who are not freed from condemnation in those that are that there is Evangelical obedience none
failings in one thing or other It is a divine maxime there is no man that doth good and sinneth not All have sinned and come short of the glory of God Jew and Gentile saith the Apostle are all under sin Quest But why doth God suffer sinne to bee in his people Answ God hath many gracious ends in it as 1 To keep them humble Paul had a thorne in the flesh that hee might not bee exalted above measure Spiritual pride is one of the Saints greatest enemies God therefore suffers sin to bee in his that so they might bee kept low that they might alwayes see something in them as a ground or matter of humiliation something that they might bee continually reflecting upon to keep them low 2 To teach them to live by faith Should there bee no sin in us there would not bee that need of faith and of living by faith that by reason hereof there is The more a Christian falls the more hee is taught to live by faith When I see righteousness in my self I am prone to rest too much upon and to live upon that but when I can see no righteousness at all but do instead thereof see daily and hourly a great deal of unrighteousness I am led hereby to live out of my selfe upon anothers righteousnesse and hereby faith is kept in daily exercise 3 To prevent security The more enemies a man hath about him and near him the more watchful hee is thereby made Now God suffers these enemies to abide in his children that they may hereby bee continually awakened by the hourly alarms of these enemies and thereby kept from security 4 To exalt his own grace towards them The more sin is in those that are saved the more grace appears in their salvation 1 Tim. 1.13 14. Who was before a blasphemer and a persecuter and injurious but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbeleef And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus 5 To shew forth more of his power in them 1 In strengthening them against sin 2 In upholding them under their falls 3 In mortifying sin in them 6 To make them the more compassionate of their fellow-brethren under the like infirmities Gal. 6.1 Brethren if any man bee overtaken in a fault yee which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meeknesse considering thy self lest thou also bee tempted Heb. 5.2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the way for that hee himself also is compassed with infirmity 7 To make them more to long to bee dissolved 8 To permit wicked men hereby to bee stumbled and offended at the wayes of God Use Then bee not discouraged at the sight and feeling of sin in thee but seek God that hee would work and wait upon him for the accomplishing of these and such like gracious ends in thee thereby Thus much in a word of the first thing in the Text viz. the SUPPOSITION If any man sin I come now to the second viz. The REMEDY prescribed or what that is which may support and comfort Saints notwithstanding this sin that dwells in them and that is the Advocateship of Jesus Christ Wee have an Advocate Doct. The Advocateship of Jesus Christ now hee is in heaven is a great ground of comfort and support to Saints against and under all their sins and infirmities In the opening of this I shall shew 1 What this office of an Advocate is 2 What manner of Advocate Christ is 3 Whose cause hee pleads 4 What hee pleads for 5 The manner of his pleading 6 The prevalency of it 7 Why Christ is a Saints Advocate 8 How this makes for our comfort and support 9 What wee may learn hence as matter of our duty 1 What is this office of an Advocate Answ The word Advocate is in Scripture no where used but in this place therefore to finde out what it is wee must look to the first rise of it Now it is a borrowed speech taken from the Civil Law in which those are called Advocates which wee in the Common Law call Councellors Now in Law the office of an Advocate is this to plead in a way of Justice and from principles of equity and justice anothers cause who is not so well able to plead it himself Christs office then as an Advocate is this to plead the causes of poor sinners who cannot themselves plead them and that in a way of Justice Here is the great difference betwixt Christs pleading and ours Whensoever wee plead wee plead but as petitioners but when Christ pleads hee pleads as an Advocate A petitioner hee brings his cause to the foot of mercy and leaves it there hee dares not appeal to Justice lest hee bee cast but now an Advocate hee pleads in a way of justice hee brings his cause to the bar of Justice and is willing it should bee tryed by Justice and stand or fall there When wee come with our causes to God wee must as petitioners throw them down at the foot of mercy and stand to the verdict of mercy but when Christ takes up our causes hee goes boldly to the bar of Justice and pleads them there hee makes appeals to Justice and saith Do but speak O Justice whether it bee not a fit and requisite thing that this poor sinner should have the cause go of his side I have dyed satisfied for him purchased this is it not a just and equal thing that it should go well with the poor sinner and his cause I will be tried even by thee O Justice 2 What manner of Advocate is Christ Answ 1. Hee is an Advocate in the superior Court An Advocate in the superior Court is better than in the inferior because there may bee an appeal from the inferior and a sentence there passed is not determinative because it may bee reversed above but now the Laws and Decrees of the superior Court they are binding and determinative there can bee no appeale thence but whatsoever is ratified there carries the authority and force of a Law with it Now Christ is an Advocate in the superior Court hee is an Advocate with the Father as in the Text and so Heb. 9.24 it is said that Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands but heaven it selfe the High Priests under the Law when they were to plead which was a part of their office they entred into the holy places made with hands they pleaded here below But now Christ our High Priest and Advocate hee is gotten into heaven it self and there hee pleads in Gods presence at the highest bar hee pleads So Heb. 4.14 Wee have a great High Priest which is passed into the Heavens Heaven now is the place where Jesus Christ is Priesting of it and where Christ is pleading with the Father for us And hence it comes to pass that whensoever Jesus Christ gets any sentence to bee
then would their trust be This trust in Ordinances was so great as that they did under it shrowd themselves in iniquity Micha 3.9 10 11. They commit all manner of iniquity and yet leane upon the Lord trust in him conclude for certaine hee was amongst them no evil should befall them What makes them conclude thus O they had the presence of Ordinances though they did sin and rebel yet they had their Temple among them and could offer up Sacrifices for their rebellions and this they thought made amends for all therefore when God will destroy their false trust he threatens them with the ruine of their City and their Temple the place of their worship vers 12. And because of this horrid abuse of their Sacrifices and Offerings making them by reposing their trust in them a most abominable Idoll God speakes disdainfully of their Sacrifices though yet they were things of his own appointment Hos 8.13 They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifice of my offerings and eat it but the Lord accepteth them not Now will hee remember their iniquity and visit their sins as to say Do they indeed sacrifice no such matter they onely bring mee a little flesh which I regard not but will punish them for it So Isa 66.3 Hee that killeth an Oxe is at if hee slow a man hee that sacrificeth a Lamb as if hee cut off a Dogs necke hee that offereth an Oblation as if hee offered Swines blood hee that burneth Incense as if hee blessed an Idol I count saith God your Sacrifices no other but as so many most abominable and detestable iniquities Memorable is that of Abijah 2 Chron. 13. whose faith riseth very high vers 12. Behold God himself is with us for our Captain O children of Israel fight yee not against the Lord God of your Fathers for you shall not prosper And by this faith a most glorious victory is obtained vers 18. Thus the children of Israel were brought under and the children of Judah prevailed because they relied upon the Lord God of their Fathers But what was this faith built upon why in great part though not wholly upon Duties and Ordinances as see vers 10 11. But as for us the Lord is our God and we have not forsaken him and the Priests which minister unto the Lord are the sons of Aaron and the Levites wait upon their businesse And they burn unto the Lord every morning and every evening burnt Sacrifices and sweet Incense the Shew-bread also they set in order upon the pure Table and the Candlesticke of gold with the Lamps thereof to burn every evening for we keep the charge of the Lord our God Obedience to the Commands and Institutions of the Lord and the presence and injoyment of Ordinances are two principal things upon which these high expressions of faith are grounded And observe notwithstanding the faith of this King did rise to so great a height yet was it not a true faith for of the same person it is said 1 King 15.3 That he walked in all the sins of his Father which he had done before him and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God as the heart of David his Father So that there may be great faith springing from Duties injoyment of Ordinances which yet notwithstanding is not true faith it is the faith of the Old Covenant but not the faith of the New 3 For Outward priviledges what confidence did the Jews lay in this external priviledge of being Abrahams seed Joh. 8.33 yet John Baptist tells them plainly that the foundation of their faith was an empty thing and would prove but a lying vanity Matth. 3.9 Thinke not to say within your selves we have Abraham to our Father as to say do not boast of this lay not your confidence here for I tell you it will deceive you you will finde a lie in it Such a confidence wee read of Ezek. 15.16 But thou didst trust in thine own beauty and playedst the Harlot God having by crowning Israel with many outward mercies and priviledges made them a Renown among the Heathen and very beautiful in the eyes of all through his comeliness put upon them vers 14. they presently lay a trust build a confidence upon this But thou didst trust in thine own beauty and what followed and playedst the Harlot False trusts do but open the door and lead to sin Notable is that place Isa 48.1 2. Hear yee this O house of Jacob which are called by the name of Israel and are come forth out of the waters of Judah which swear by the Name of the Lord and make mention of the God of Israel but not in truth nor in righteousness For they call themselves of the Holy City and stay themselves upon the God of Israel Observe here is a very great confidence laid upon an outward priviledge God by vertue of the Old Covenant gives himself as I have formerly said to Israel to be their God in a peculiar way so as that hee was not so the God of any other people this was a very great and glorious priviledge though no other as hath been observed but a conditional mercy which might bee forfeited and lost They ate too so taken with this that saith the Prophet they make mention of the God of Israel i.e. boast much of this God as their God yea saith the Prophet They stay themselves upon the God of Israel i.e. build much faith upon this that they are Israelites and God is the God of Israel therefore surely God loves us we must be happy yet observe all this boasting and beleeving was but a counterfeit They make mention of the God of Israel they stay themselves upon the God of Israel but not in truth nor in righteousnesse 4 For experiences and faith built upon them the example is famous Psal 106.11 12 13. God works a very glorious deliverance for Israel the waters cover their enemies not one is left What then What doth the experience of this miraculous deliverance work in them why see vers 12. Then beleeved they his words they sang his praise Now they beleeve yea so beleeve as that their hearts are filled with joy their mouthes with praises but observe this faith built upon experiences soon dyes as in the following verses They soon forgat his works they waited not for his Counsel But lusted exceedingly in the wildernesse and tempted God in the Desart And he gave them their request but sent leannesse into their souls Minde it Those that but just now had fat flourishing souls they beleeve sing praise their soules are presently lean Such is all the fatness and flourishing of the Old Covenant a dying fading thing 5 For Providences what faith doth Saul build upon a Providence 1 Sam. 23.7 Hee is hot in persecuting David David flying from place to place enters Keilaâ— a walled Town Saul hears of it presently cries out a Providence God hath delivered him into my hand as to say I have hitherto feared