forth into singing and cry aloud thou that didst not travell with child for more are the children of the desolate then the children of the married wife saith the Lord. Rom. 10.6 7 8. But the righteousnesse which is of faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thine heart who shall ascend into heaven that is to bring Christ down from above 7. Or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring Christ again from the dead 8. But what saith it the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach 4. They had the grace of God darkly and obscurely we plainly and apparently 2. Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 5. The communication or gifts of the Spirit under the Gospel of reconciliation are more excellent then those which have been communicated under the Law Act. 2.17 18. the 17. And it shall come to passe in the last dayes saith God I will poure out of my Spirit upon all lesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesie and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams The 18. And on my servants and on my hand-maids I will poure out in those dayes of my Spirit and they shall prophesie 6. The old Covenant was given by Moses this by Jesus Christ Joh. 1.17 For the Law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 7. The old Covenant binds us over to absolute righteousnes the new commands us to seek it in Christ the Lord our righteousnesse Joh. 6.40 And this is the will of him that sent me that every one which seeth the Son and beleeveth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day Rom. 3.26 To declare I say at this time his righteousnesse that he might be just and the justifier of him which beleeveth in Jesus 8. The old Covenant was given to impell men to Christ the new to hold forth and exhibite Christ Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternall life and they are they which testifie of me 9. The proper object of the old was to consternate and humble the new to comfort them who are consternated and humbled Matth. 11.28 29. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavie laden and I will give you rest 29. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls 10. They differ by accident and through our infirmitie for the Law without the Gospel is insufficient to salvation Rom. 8.3 For what the Law could not do in as much as it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likenesse of sinfull flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh 11. The Lord Christ is the Mediatour of the new Covenant not onely because the Covenant is made with his for his sake but because through the vertue of his mediation this Covenant cannot be disanulled Hebr. 8.6.9 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministery by how much also he is the Mediatour of a better Covenant which was established upon better promises 9 Not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt because they continued not in my Covenant and I regarded them not saith the Lord. 12. The supereminent superabundant and superexcellent grace of God our dear and propitious Father is manifested to his poore servants in that he hath established the everlasting Covenant of free grace and mercie in the hand of Christ Mediatour 2. Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us Hebr. 9.15 And for this cause he is the Mediatour of the new Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternall inheritance 13. The Covenant of grace is an everlasting and perpetuall Covenant sith the foundation of that Covenant is the free grace of God and the ratification and confirmation of the same is the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ Hebr. 12.24 And to Jesus the Mediatour of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of Abel 14. The supereminence of divine grace and favour hath not only appeared in this that he hath established this Covenant in the hand of a Mediatour but also in this that he hath smitten a Covenant with the immeriting and undeserving Hos 2. the last And I will sowe her unto me in the earth and I will have mercie upon her that had not obtained mercie and I will say to them which were not my people Thou art my people and they shall say thou art my God 15. The grace of God is the ground the blood of Christ the matter the end eternall life and beatitude made over to the faithfull in all ages that they might be certainly and fully assured that God will be their God and Father everlasting Hos 2.19 And I will betroth thee unto me for ever yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteousnesse and in judgement and in loving kindnesse and in mercie 16. The true and solid knowledge of this free Covenant of grace bountie causeth the beloved Saints and beleevers to hate all Pharisaicall performances or the righteousnesse of Justiciaries Phil. 3.9 That I may be found in him not having mine own righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is by the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God through faith 17. The benefits of the free Covenant of pitie and clemencie are the remission of sinnes and condonation of transgression the donation of the Spirit everlasting and continuall communion with the Lord Christ in the kingdome of felicitie perseverance in the state of grace by the all-sufficient hand of God our clementious and heavenly Father Jer. 31.34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord For they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquitie and I will remember their sin no more 1. Joh. 3 24. And he that keepeth his Commandments dwelleth in him and he in him and hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us 1. Pet. 1.5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation to be revealed in the last time 18. The intrinsicall seal of the Covenant of grace and salvation is the Spirit of glory and obsignation the extrinsicall is the Lords Supper Baptisme 1.
will give thee a name better then of the sons and daughters He will protect thee by an invincible protection and crowne thee with everlasting and glorious salvation The best of the land of Egypt was given to Josephs brethren the best of the treasures of mercy and righteousnesse is given to thee Gifts were given to the sonnes of Keturah but the possession was Isaacs gifts are given to the sons of men but the possession amongst the Lords inheritance is given to thee O my soule thou hast obtained a lot above all lots and a mercy above all mercies Therefore exalt his name with the Church saying His mercy endureth for ever his mercy endureth for ever And make mention of his love with the Apostle Behold how great a love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sonnes of God 1. Joh. 3. CHAP. VII Concerning Redemption Definition 1. CHiefly our knowledge consists in this that having lost what was given in the creation is again restored to us by the hand of Christ in the act of Redemption who shed his blood to redeeme us from evils Phil. 3.8 Yea doubtlesse I count all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the losse of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ 2. The knowledge of Christ our redeemer is known by the fall of Adam and by the materiall cause of our Redemption 3. Redemption is the bringing of man to the state of libertie from the slavery of sin and Satan by the exhibition of a inst price Matth. 20.28 Even as the Sonne of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister and to give his life a ransome for many 4. The end of Redemption is application and the fast measure rule and reason of application is the fame gracious will of God which hath been the cause of mans Redemption Galat. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ neverthelesse 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 Sonne of God who loved me and gave himself for me 5. Man being lost he must seek for the Redemption of his soule through the hand of Christ Christ is the adoption of the elect the conservation of the Church the instauration after dissipation and the redemption of his from Satan sin and all miseries Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeeme us from all iniquitie and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works 6. We receive the vertue of that redemption by Christ through the power of the Spirit of Christ who joyneth us with Christ Hence is he called the Spirit of sanctification and adoption and the seal of our redemption and salvation 2. Cor. 1.22 Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts Ephes ◠14 7. When as in the loyns of Adam whole humane kind was lose so that the noblenesse and excellencie of our estate of integritie cannot profit us when we think upon it but rather turn to our greater shame untill God the Father appear in the person of his onely begotten Son to the saving or freeing of our souls from all calamities 1. Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption 8. After the fall of the first Adam whole mankind was inthralled his knowledge of God unto salvation sure would profit him nothing without a Saviour Hence saith our Saviour Joh. 17.3 This is life eternall to know thee the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent 9. Whilest we are condemned by the Law dead in sin naked wanting righteousnesse poore wanting riches and bondmen wanting libertie we must seek for these at the hands of our Redeemer in whom and at whose hands we may receive these in the time of necessitie Hebr. 4.14 15 16. Seeing then that we have a great high Priest that is passed into the heavens Jesus the Sonne of God let us hold fast our profession For we have not an high Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like us yet without sinne Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need 10. Not rashly nor by hap or chance or by the will of man that Christ should have this name Jesus but from the wil of God delivered by the Angels that he should save his people from their sinnes Mat. 1.21 And shee shall bring forth a sonne and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sinnes 11. God was an enemy to man till by the death of Christ he was restored into favour Man was accursed till by the sacrifice of Christ his iniquitie was expiated he was separated untill by the body of Christ he into Conjunction hath been received Ephes 2.16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the Crosse having slaine the enemy thereof 12. God loves us first after by Christ he redeemeth us unto himselfe and untill Christ by death redeem us from him that hath the power of death iniquitie doth remaine which may deserve the indignation of God so that through it we may stand accursed and condemned in his sight Rom. 3.19 Now wee know that what things soever the Law saith it saith to them who are under the Law that every mouth may be stopped all the world may become guiltie before God Gal. 4.4 5. Verse the 4. But when the fulnesse of time was come God sent forth his sonne made of a woman made under the Law Verse the 5. To redeeme them that were under the Law that wee might receive the Adoption of sonnes 13. When as we are redeemed by the death of Christ it is not so understood as though now he should begin to love us whom before he hated but that now loving us he doth redeeme us to be his people Gal. 1.4 Who gave himselfe for our sinnes that he may deliver us from this present evill world according to the will of God and our Father 14. It was not sufficient for the taking away of cōdemnation that Christ should undergoe death but also that he might feele the sence of his Fathers wrath upon him for us that so our Redemption from wrath might be fully accomplished 1 Pet. 2.24 Who his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his owne body on the tree that we being dead to sinne should live unto righteousnesse by whose stripes ye were healed 15. The Father hath abolished the power of sinne when the curse of God rested on the flesh of Christ then Christ was a satisfactory sacrifice to his Father for sinne that the strife being ended through his sacrifice we may cease to feare the anger of God
the time of the Law taught plainly that God would not be mercifull to any but through Christ and that salvation could not be found elsewhere save in the expiation of Christ who should poure out his blood for his peoples ransome Luk. 22.2 Likewise also he took the Cup after supper saying this Cup is the new Testament in my blood which is shed for you 27. When as man hath not been able to stand in Gods sight through the feare and terrour of transgression that we might appear without fear and terrour he hath given Jesus Christ our Lord that he might be Mediatour and Advocate with himself for us 1. Joh. 2.12 I write unto you little children because your sinnes are forgiven you for his Names sake 28. Christ is Mediatour to day yesterday and for ever Hence Gods people never fail of acceptation in Gods sight that loves them Heb. 13 8. Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever Ephes 1.6 He hath made us accepted in the beloved 29. Who of the sonnes of men could make themselves the sons of God of captives heires of the celestiall kingdome except Christ Mediatour who assumed the humaine nature of man that he might give to them that plenitude of his grace which was given unto him and that he might take to him that which belonged unto them 2. Cor. 5. last For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him 30. The prayers which the faithfull offer up to God are freely accepted through the mediation of Christ Ephes 5.2 And walk in love as Christ also loved us and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice unto God for a sweet smelling savour 31. Christ for ever appearing Mediatour and Advocate in the presence of God God doth turn away his face from our sins and turn his face toward his righteousnes Dan. 9.24 Sevēty weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy Citie to finish the transgression and to make an end of sins and to make reconciliation for iniquitie and to bring in everlasting righteousnesse and to seal up the vision and prophesie and to anoint the most holy 32. Through the mediation of Christ true beleevers have free accesse to the throne of grace from which they are filled with divine grace and heavenly blessings being freed from the terrors horrors of their spirituall enemies Luk. 1.74 That he would grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies may serve him without fear Hebr. 2.15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage 33. Damned preparatories will faile in the houre of death and judgement when the mediation of Christ will be a citie of refuge against sin and an arke of covert against the rigour of the Law and all evils Rom. 8.34 Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Contemplation SUch was thy separation O Christian from God that thou nor I could approach nigh to God without the hand of our Mediatour Christ Jesus through sin the hand-writing is written against us we are laid in the ballance and found too light the mightie wall of separation doth so prevent us from approaching that unlesse God did descend down to us by Christ we could not ascend to him If we did but think of ascending to God without Christ our quakings would be like the quakings of Beltashazar and our tremblings as the tremblings of Israel before Mount Sinai or we should hide our faces from him as did Adam our Father How terrible how dreadfull how angry is God with those who look toward him for mercy without Christs Mediation Assuredly if God should but enter into judgement for one sin should but ponder or weigh one iniquitie none could stand before him If the Angels are impure in respect of the puritie of his nature how much more sinfull or ungodly men Man may offend or trespasse against man and man may plead for him But if man sinne against God who shall plead for him but Christ By him alone we have recourse to the throne of grace for grace and to the throne of mercie for mercy Without him the heaven should be as brasse and iron so that our prayers could not enter into the celestiall Sanctuary nor find acceptation in the presence or sight of God Where now is the hand of mercy the scepter of bountie and the comfortable answer of God to the conscience but in Christ who sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us Wherefore if we want wisdome peace and righteousnesse remission of sins and joy of the holy Ghost let us look towards heaven and remember that Christs oblation once offered is so prevalent that through that we shall have an answer of what our souls desire Though we may hide our faces as did the Cherubims in respect of our own vilenesse yet may we look up to God for spirituall blessings through the mediation of Christ with confidence No child may go freer to his father no wife to her husband then we may have recourse to God through Jesus Christ Whilest our prayers are weak Christs mediation is strong and whilest our performances deserve to be denied through Christs oblatiō they are accepted Hester found acceptation although the golden Scepter of Ahashucrus was not stretched forth much more shall we find accepration sith that in Christ the Scepter of bountie is stretched forth not faithlesse requests lowdnes of voice repetitions of hell and death cause an answer of desires for had not Christ merited an answer wee could not be answered Hence before our requests touch the heavens we have an answer on the earth Dan. 9.23 At the beginning of thy supplications the Commandement came forth and I am come to shew thee for thou art greatly Beloved therefore understand the matter and consider the Vision CHAP. IX Concerning Reconciliation Definition 1. REconciliation is an Act of the free and deare love of God our heavenly gracious and clementious Father whereby through the death and bloud of the Lord Jesus Christ he hath reconciled us unto himselfe to the end that we might enjoy everlasting peace and communion with himselfe through his beloved 2 Cor. 5.19 2 Cor. 5.18 Rom. 5.10 Coll. 1.20 2. As the bloud of Christ is the cause of Redemption from sinne so it is the cause of Reconciliation to God Coll. 1.20 And having made peace through the bloud of his Crosse by him to reconcile all things unto himselfe by him I say whether they be things in earth or things in heaven 3. The onely subject in whom we are reconciled to God our Father is Christ Jesus our Lord sith that in him alone God doth not impute our sinnes to us 2 Cor. 5.19 To wit that God was in