bodies and spirits Well then try your faith and profession whether it be dead or formal or active or living by these few particulars it is not a naked assent or unactive outward profession will serve turn this is dead and liveless yea twice dead and to be plucked up by the roots Jud. 12. dead in your first natural condition and dead in your hypocritical profession for by this it appeareth never to be otherwise with you But a lively faith is a working faith by and through the influence of Christ and his spirit being zealous of good works and all for Christ's sake and his glory Paul's whole life Phil. 1.21 was as it were consecrated to Christ for to me to live is Christ says he that is my life is Christ's for his uses his purposes and his glory In short a true and lively faith works by Christ by the continual supply and influence of his spirit and for Christ and with aim at his glory Observ 2. 'T is very usual for dead Formalists to carry a higher hand in outward profession then the real Christian Sardis pretends highly to faith and to a name that she lived beyond her sister churches and the name was only that she aimed at for in the truth of grace she was no better then dead and rotten It is not very usual still among dead and carnal christians to boast of their christianity their baptisme their church their external ordinances and the like They needs would satisfie themselves in the name of christians as the carnal Jews that said they were Jews and were not vers 9. So unto these carnal Formalists the name of christians is pleasant to them yet still are enemies to the true Saints of God and the power of godliness and the reason of this is in that they perceive they want the true working faith which is only acceptable unto God all being naturally self-lovers they would needs content themselves and God too if they might with a guilded sophisticate and dead faith and profession which is to be had at an easier rate then the true one which should commend them unto God and denominate them his Saints in the eye of the world but this faith is too short for such a work being dead false and liveless as a carcass without a soul but that is the faith that justifieth and Christ accepteth that worketh by love 1 Thes 1.3 Vers 2. Be thou watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to dy for I have not found thy works perfect before God Esto vigilans as Beza reads it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and I should rather take it in the active sense Be thou awake or awake thou then be watchful for it it argues the state of life and activity to be watchful watch and pray but to awake it only shows a dormant dead and sleepy state wherein the church of Sardis was for she bore the name that she lived but she was as good as dead therefore Christ tels her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rouse up thy self from thy sleepy state and strengthen the things which remain re-inforce revive and stir up those small remaining sparks of graces that are ready even to give up the very last gaspe within thee and though thou thinkest and maist have a conceit of thy self that thou art something in that thou hast an external profession and name that thou livest yet I must tell thee saith Christ I have not found thy works perfect before God Hence Note Observ A state of sin is a great impairing and consumption unto the life of grace Sardis is brought by it even to death's door her graces that were once eminent are come thereby to some smal remainders and they too almost extinct and neer the grave and though death it self I mean spiritual hath not yet seized her yet she is somwhat neer it she is under the shadow of death for she sleeps and is called to awake and to stir up the remainders of life that is in her least she takes her last sleep by the spiritual death of grace here and eternal death hereafter Sin is to the soul as sickness is to the body 1. It carries with it its distemperatures and disorders of the soul 2. Ugliness and deformity it is compared to the Leprosie under the Law 3. Grief and pain as sickness causes grief to the body so sin causes horror and anguish unto the soul 4. It causes weakness for the more sin the more weakness and disability to spiritual duties We were without strength saith the Apostle Rom. 5.6 weak feeble souls in the things of God whilst we were in sin and the state of nature 5. Every sickness of the body tends to the death of the body so every sin tends to the death both of body and soul eternally The only remedy that we have against this poyson and sting of sin is to hasten to Christ by faith who is the Phisitian of our souls and by whose stripes we are healed Object But is it not said here to Sardis to awake and strengthen the things that remain that are ready to dye Was it not in the power of Sardis to awake her self recover her self and renew her graces without going to Christ by faith I answer Negatively Christ is set up for that very end not only for a propitiation If any man sin we have an Advocate but it is also from his influence and from him as the Fountain of life whereby all our graces are maintained and kept alive For the life I live as the Apostle says is by the life of the Son of God If Christ should withdraw his gracious presence from our souls we should never awake out of sin nor do our first works or renovate our selves by repentance Secondly This duty to awake and renew their graces was set on those of Sardis that had already received the first grace and Christ by faith for it is here said strengthen the things which remain therefore they had a being though a sorry one and those that have received grace from Christ are in a capacity to work from the power of that grace Having received the promises saith the Apostle that is Christ the great end and object of the promises cleanse your selves go on in the work of sanctification in the power of Christ for all our gracious acts are to be done in and through his continued power and influence Thirdly When we are commanded to awake strengthen and renew our selves by repentance c. they must be always taken to be as inseparable parts of a lively faith for we cannot awake from sin unless we first look upon Christ in the promises neither can we possibly renew or restore our falne graces before we first eye God in Christ out of whose fulness we receive grace for grace Therefore in vain to set home spiritual duties on persons that have not first received light and life from Christ Christ is the first work that must be offered and
in the resurrection so hath power to deliver them from the state of death and hell Or secondly Take death and hell for the state of the damned and he hath power over that too he holds the key of the bottomless pit Rev. 20.1 as he hath obtained power since his exaltation to give Crowns and Thrones to all his faithful ones that shall persevere and overcome so also to chastise his impenitent and obstinate adversaries with hell and death The Keys in Scripture do signifie Power Dominion and Rule He that keeps and commands the keys of a City hath the Power and Rule over it The Keys were anciently carried before the chief Magistrate and are in some places at this present time as symbols and badges of authority On Peter's honourable confession in Mat. 16.19 the Keys of the Kingdom of heaven is given unto him by Christ which intimates the power of shutting and loosing which was by Christ deposited in the Church It is said in the third chapter that Christ hath the key of David that shutteth and no man openeth and openeth and no man shutteth and in chap. 20. v. 1. Christ is there represented by an Angel that had the key of the bottomless pit All this connotes Observ That Christ hath the full power over all powers and principalities of darkness over the divel and death and hell it self which before he hath attained and purchased by his death 1 Cor. 15.55 c. they cannot move nor stir to the destruction of souls but as he permits them it is a most vain conceit yea and savours of little faith in those that think that the godly or faithful ones of Christ are in the hands of Divels or Witches to be hurt by them or tormented at their pleasures Christ hath the Keys of hell and death the wicked Angels are so surely locked in their prisons and reserved in chains up by his providence that they cannot possibly touch any one of those that are dear to God no not to hurt a hair of their head or the least lamb in their fold without Christ's special commission for it and then too they are like a dog in a chain under his hand and direction to go thus far and no farther The Divel could not touch Iob who was hedged about by God before he bid him go And therefore O! How reasonless and weak it is to affirm or hold that they are in the Divel's power to touch or hurt at his pleasure for whom Christ hath said down his most precious blood and are as dear unto him as the apple of his eye but if at any time God shall give any of his into the hand of Satan to be touched by him either in person or goods let us consider it is either to withdraw and wean us from sin and to bring us to repentance for it or else to winnow and try us whether we will bless the name of God or not In such cases which seldom God exercises his children under for few are able to bear such temptations and God will lay no more on his then they are able to bear the most high and eminent in grace are only fit to meet with such strong tryals and not sink under them as Iob and Paul whom Satan buffetted but if God shall use the hand of Satan to smite any of his children let them look upon God as the principal Mover and Author of it and though Satan be the Instrument yet to say with wise and godly Iob The Lord hath done it The Lord taketh and the Lord giveth Blessed be the name of the Lord. Observ 2. Another observation hence is That Christ's obstinate enemies according to the Prophesies in this Book may expect and look for a most sure and certain ruine and destruction For here Christ says unto Iohn Fear thou not Iohn that is of the truth and execution of those dreadful predictions and judiciary visions which I shall now make known unto thee concerning those high implacable and obstinate enemies of mine they may think I have not power to execute those judgements upon them but they shall know that I have the keys of hell and death that Satan is at my command and beck to be the executioner of my wrath upon them and that I have power to open the door of hell death and destruction and to shut them up together with Satan in that Lake of fire that burneth with fire and brimstone for evermore Rev. 19.20 and 20.10 Hence two Uses arise very naturally First That the godly need not fear hell nor death either that of the grave or that of the second death for Christ their head is the Key-keeper of both and hath power thereof Next Let the impenitent wicked and such as will not have Christ to reigne over them fear and tremble for he has the keys of hell and death Therefore repent in time and kiss the Son lest he be angry before the day come wherein he shall shut and no man openeth Verse 19. Write the things which thou hast seen and the things which are and the things which shall come after Verse 20. The mystery of the seven Stars which thou sawest in my right hand and the seven golden Candlesticks is this The seven Stars are the Angels of the seven Churches and the seven Candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven Churches After Christ had fitted and confirmed John in his Prophetical Office by laying his hand upon him and by giving his Spirit to him and assuring him that it was he that is the first and the last that is alive but was dead and had the power over hell and death most able and mighty therefore to bring to pass and execute all the dreadful predictions and visions which Christ should make known unto him and being thus qualified and confirmed he receives his commission to write the things that he had seen and the things which are that is to Record these things which he had seen and were represented to him by and in the precedent visions which relate unto things that are present and in being to wit God's discovery of his will and judgements towards the famous seven Asian churches some whereof had much back-slidden from their native purity which the first second and third chapters do treat of as things that were then present and in being Next Iohn is commanded to write the things which shall come after that is he is to record visions and things which he shall see which are related unto the future Observ Hence Note That this book of Prophesies is not only a Historical relation and discovery under hyerogliphick figures of things present but also of things to come Iohn is commanded to write to the then seven Asian churches and that as an Introduction to all the future Prophesies and this is that that is intimated in cap. 5. v. 1. where a book is represented written within and without within that is secret sealed under seven Seals and their end yet
so called for on the performance of every condition by vertue of compact it hath a legal influence merit and causality unto the production of its end Neither indeed is there any such compact in the Word since the fall of Adam that on the performance of any conditions be they never so Evangelical as Faith Repentance c. Justification or life was promised thereupon only the condition of the old covenant between God and man was death upon disobedience and life upon obedience Man having forfeited the one by his disobedience Christ steps in as the Mediator of a better and surer covenant and makes his soul an offering unto death which was the full performance of the penal condition due unto the sinner and so absolutely purchased a blessed seed unto himself and on such stable conditions performed altogether by himself that they cannot possibly forfeit their inheritance being in so sure a hand and are still heirs though whiles under years they differ not from servants that is whiles under sin and unregeneracy are still in bondage until faith come to discover their heirship and interest unto the purchased possession and in the mean time by evil works they are as enemies strangers and aliens to God and the commonweal of Israel according to the old Legal distinction they have notwithstanding Jus ad Rem though not Jus in Re. And though I deny faith or repentance to be conditions properly so called in the covenant to life or justification yet I say they are required in the same new Law Covenant or Testament as conditions improperly so called or as conditions in order preceding one the other and as benefits of the same covenant But seeing the word condition is of late glown so rampant and overmuch perfumed with the Spiceries of Rome I shall willingly let it lie as that other term of merit which in their first births were more innocent and inoffensive and shall rather call them as duties and qualities required in the new covenant by Christ as necessary in all his redeemed ones to life and salvation And when I say they are duties necessary I would be understood not absolutely necessary but virtate precepti and virtute medii unto all such as are capable of their duties but not unto Infants or Idiots that want the use of reason for to believe and repent are acts of the will and understanding which Infants or Idiots are not capable of and therefore we exempt them from salvation dying so if the condition of faith was absolute and peremptory as Augustine once dreamed and therefore was called durus pater Infantum and all others must conclude the like harsh judgement on them also that hold actual faith and repentance as absolute necessary conditions unto justification and life But again If it were true what the Arminian says That none are saved but on the condition of the To credere or act of faith and none damned but for unbelief then I re-assume that some persons according to this are neither damned nor saved for Infants dying such as aforesaid cannot have by reason of their incapacity the act of faith nor unbelief which is a privation by refusal or resistance of the truth made manifest Indeed such absurdities do they incur that assert such absolute conditions in the covenant of grace to be done on man's part yet I say they are absolute and peremptory on Christ's part to be performed and he having fully finished all the conditions for his elect ones by his death though some of them dying Infants yet are saved by vertue of that everlasting covenant made with Christ in for and on the behalf of all his chosen ones of whom he will not lose one which the Father hath given him From this precedent discourse you may plainly conclude that though I grant repentance a necessary Gospel duty and for divers good ends it is ordained so yet do not in the least place it in any subordinate causality joyntly with Christ in the work of our salvation but only as our duty thorowfare or way thereunto commanded and instituted by Christ as part of his new Law that he himself might have the pre-eminence in all things and the name and glory alone of our salvation And this hereon shall suffice See more hereon v. 23. Observ 2. Another Note hence is That the doctrine of judgments and threats is a very useful Gospel doctrine When Christ hath passed with his doctrine of grace and offers a reconcilement freely if the sinner will but turn from his iniquities and repent and yet the sinner will refuse his gracious terms he hath another burden to tell him that after he hath refused so great salvation he can cast both soul and body into hell fire the most obdurate and incorrigible child must have the sharpest rod a smile or a love-token will work upon the ingenious but saith Solomon a rod is for the back of a fool Neither is judgement a strange work unto Christ for as he is related unto his church as a Saviour and a Father respecting his grace and loving kindness so he is as well a Judge and a Legislator and so may justly chastise his church as contemners and transgressors of his Royal Law If he calls us to repent which is part of his new covenant Law as he did the church of Ephesus and yet go on obstinately in sin justly may he remove his candlestick from amongst us If his Lamb-like quality of mercy and grace will not invite us to return he can roat as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah which will cause us to call upon the mountains to fall upon us and to hide us from the presence of the Lamb wherefore they are much mistaken that would shut out as useless the doctrine of threats and judgements from the Gospel which are to be preached soberly and conditional not peremptory and absolute for if there were not a curb and fear of loss and punishment the wanton straying soul would hardly be reclaimed though the more tender hearted the apprehension of grace and love might reclaim and mollifie Observ 3. Another Observation is To take off God's candlestick or to unchurch a Nation or people is the most grievous of all God's judgements Christ could not afflict the church of Ephesus with a greater loss then to remove his church from among them for hereby First Privatively His glory and special presence of grace and favour is withdrawn Secondly The guidance light and comfort of his holy Spirit is departed Thirdly His Ordinances are all defiled and vanished Fourthly His special protection is withdrawn also Fifthly and lastly Instead of his gracious presence they have his presence in wrath judgements and fiery indignations Instead of his Spirit of light and comfort they have the dismal spirit of darkness errour and despair instead of Christ's holy Ordinances they have the Divel's sacrifices and instead of God's special protection over them they are carried captives by Satan to all foul and
way is never like to win the prize Heaven is set forth as a crown and reward of our faithfulness though not for the merit of the work but according to the work it is freely given as wicked works shall not pass unpunished neither shall good works or our faithfulness towards Christ pass unrewarded Every one shall receive according as he hath done in the flesh whether good or evil And he that hath fought the good fight of faith and perseveres therein under all afflictions and that even to death he is the true christian conquerour and for him is laid up the crown of eternal life The true militant christian must not look for the crown if he turn's back to the enemy and that which is most admirable herein is that the method of obtaining this crown is far different from that of obtaining worldly crowns they are got by over-mastering and surviving the enemy but the christians crown is gotten by suffering and dying the christians cross and the crown kiss each other And to set you right that seek after and contend for this crown First Understand what this crown of life is It is not only the translation of the soul after death into the supernal heavens that is not so properly called life but that blessed state which soul and body shall enjoy after the resurrection of the just and therefore it is called a crown of life that is life given most eminently which is the most desirable blessing of all things as being one of the chiefest gifts of the blessed Saints in the resurrection and so part is put for the whole and therefore it is here called a Crown of life To denote unto us first That that blessed state of life which the Saints shall then enjoy will be a most honourable state and so it is often set forth by a kingdom in Scriptures Luk. 22.29.12.32 Rev. 3.21 Secondly That it is an endless estate Thirdly That it is a state gotten by conquest and as a prize set unto a race 1 Cor. 9.24 Fourthly That it is a most glorious estate and a living crown and that that will continue to all eternity Secondly In the next place understand how this crown of eternal life is rightly to be obtained every suffering will not do it The cause must be good that makes a Martyr it must be for Christ and that in faithfulness Secondly The heart must be upright for Christ therein It is not vain-glory or worldly applause or obstinacy in private opinions that will weigh the least to make a Martyr it must be in the uprightness of your hearts and that you can appeal unto God with the Psalmist Psal 44.21 and say The Lord knoweth the secrets of the heart Yea for thy sake are we slain all the day long Lastly This suffering must be out of love unto God and his glory or else all in vain as Paul said 1 Cor. 13.3 If I give my body to be burned and have not love it profiteth me nothing There may many die for Christ and yet not out of love to Christ obstinacy of mind and formal profession may do much in that particular but a true zeal to God and his glory makes the Holocost a sweet smelling Sacrifice and the crown of life its reward Observ The last Observation from these words is Sufferings and afflictions are but the opening the door to a Christians happiness The most happy estate of the worldling is but vanity and the most suffering state of a christian is a crowning when the christian suffereth the loss of all things for righteousness sake he aboundeth then in greater measure of graces yea when he suffereth death it self it is gain unto him for he hath only left thereby a world of troubles sin and vanities for a crown or life and glory For if our hopes were only in this life we were of all men most miserable Therefore be thou faithful unto the death and thou shalt have a crown of life Vers 11. Let him that hath an ear hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death The Spirit doth often inculcate in this and the next chapter this charge and duty on the judicious and enlightened christian to take notice what the Spirit of Christ in this spiritual appearance saith unto the churches To avoid repetition see more on this on verse 7. of this chapter But he that overcometh that is that abideth constant and faithful unto Christ and his truths under all temptations and tribulations and so a faithful christian overcometh it is he that shall not be hurt of the second death that is the second death mentioned in 21 chap. Rev. ver 8. and 20.14 In that Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone for evermore shall not touch him Negatives in Scripture strongly evince the enjoyment of the contrary as Thou shalt not be hurt of the second death that is thou shalt surely live thou shalt taste of the Tree of life in the midst of the Paradise of God and a crown of life shall be thy portion It is here called the second death in respect the first death is but a partial punishment of the wicked but the second death is that when the first death and hell shall deliver up the dead were in them and they shall be cast into the Lake of fire cap. 20. 13 14. there is a first life and a second life that we shall enjoy the first life is that that we now at present enjoy the life of grace the second life we shall be made partakers of at the resurrection of the just The life that the soul in heaven enjoys is but a partial life and incompleat in respect of that at the resurrection as the punishment of the wicked under the first death either spiritual or corporal is but partial so the glory of the elect is but partial and incompleat now in heaven in respect of that that will be revealed at the resurrection Abraham now doth not know us and Jacob is ignorant of us neither do the faints departed know our wants nor are touched with our infirmities Their condition is happy but what it is we know not but this we are sure of at the resurrection we shall know as we are known and see as we are seen and this is eternal life and the crown of life that is so often promised to the Saints in Scripture So then there is a first death and a second death the first death is but a partial punishment for the wicked but the second death is the compleat execution of divine wrath upon them in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone for evermore Observ The Observation from the words are That the constant faithful and persevering Christian is secured from all dangers of death whatsoever Tribulations in this life and death it self does him no hurt that tries him refines him and renders him glorious into the hands of his Creator Hell
cap. 18. The Beast and false Prophet joynt companions in evil the one upholding and confirming the other the one by an unrighteous and tyrannical Sword the other by false doctrines and miracles till at last both are caught by Christ and his Armies and cast into the lake of fire and brimstone Rev. 19.20 And if common tribulations were not enough for false teachers and their folowers Christ will cast them into a bed wherein they shall roul themselves in grief cover themselvs in grief and with great tribulation and if all this will not do to bring them to repentance for their wicked deeds and practises Christ hath another bed to cast them into a bed of death and destruction in the next verse And I will kill her children with death except they repent of their deeds Repentance is the only remedy against divine judgments turning from sin and turning to God will turn God's wrath from us and his love towards us See more hereon about repentance ver 5. and 16 of this cap. Vers 23. And I will kill her children with death and all the Churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reines and hearts and I will give unto every one of you according to your works As the true church of Christ hath her children begotten and fostered up by the immortal seed of the word so false Teachers and Heretiques have their children also begotten by the spirit of deceit and falshood and nourished by errors and wickedness So this false Nicolaitish Prophetess had her children followers of her Fornication and Idolatry In the former verse we read of her Adulteries that doth commit fornication with her and promote her doctrines of Idolatries equally with her self and that Christ would cast them together into great tribulation except they repent and here we find their Issue children of the same cursed stock which Christ will aso shew no mercy to but kill her children with death that is will sweep them away in judgment not only with a violent and precipitant deatnh â—ut will also slay them with a death eternal Hence Note Observ 1. That children that tread in the steps of their wicked parents are envolved under the same judgments with themselves If we be partakers of our Father's sins it is just that we should be partakers of their punishments If we follow the steps of our faithful parents we shall have the same reward with them of our faithfulness in the latter day God giveth to every one according to his works the child shall not dye for the sin of his parent nor shall the child be saved for the faith or obedience of his parent For the Soul that sinneth shall dye And he that believeth shall be saved But as for the little ones that are uncapable of actual sin or faith their salvation or damnation is according to his will that sheweth mercy on whom he will and whom he will he hardens Rom. 9. Quest. But if it be demanded How will it stand with the justice of God to cut off little children which are innocent nor ever yet done good or evil together in judgment with their parents Answ Little children that had never committed actual sin even babes new born or in the womb doubtless perished in the floud and many in Sodome and yet without impeachment of or derogation to divine Justice First God can do it out of Soveraignty and absolute dominion which he hath over his creatures He is the Potter he that made the Vessel can break it he that gave life to babes can take it away and who can say why dost thou this Secondly all Infants are defiled with original sin and as the wages of sin is death so God can justly inflict death on them both temporal and eternal as the due wages thereof together with their parents Thirdly Little children are part of their parents substance and family and God may justly punish the living parent in his child by death as well as any others of his stock and substance as by a temporal punishment Fourthly Though God may often sweep away in his temporal judgments many little innocent children as by the Sword Famine c. and yet they not perish eternally for violent or sudden death is no Argument of God's hatred to them for many precious souls expire by a more terrible and violent death then that of the Sword Pestilence or Famine Fifthly and lastly For the comfort and the better support of the hopes of faithful parents for the well being of their little innocent dying infants whether they are taken off by God either by an ordinary death or in a common judgment let them understand for their comfort that God hath made an everlasting covenant of grace and salvation with Christ for all his Elect ones Gal. 3.16 Isa 53.11 12. and though the Infants of believers die before they can receive the promise of the Spirit by faith yet the chosen ones in Christ are secure by virtue of God's eternal love towards them in Christ being chosen in him from all eternity Ephes 1.14 and let me with reverence speak it Christ may as soon perish as one of them he being the head they the members making up one mystical church Had God ever cloathed himself with flesh in the person of the Son had it not been to lay down a sufficient price and ransom to divine Justice for all his ever beloved chosen ones And where there is such a predeterminating love as God's is towards his Elect and such an inestimable and compleat price paid for them as Christ's death is how can any such possibly perish without violation and impeachment both of divine Love and divine Justice This is a surer ground of the salvation of some dying Infants of believing parents then that that some Arminianising persons of these days do make to wit the parents faith the condition of the Infant 's salvation Dying Infants with those of that perswasion I leave these few following considerations First They should do well in the first place to produce that grant which they pretend to be in the Gospel covenant that the parents faith is the condition of their Infants salvation dying so but this will be done ad Graecas Calendas it savors too much of works of Supererrogation and Popery to be true Secondly If some dying Infants of believing parents are saved on the condition of their parents faith then all are so saved that dyes so before they have forfeited their condition by their own actual transgressions and if all of them are saved dying so then happier would faithful parents be to see all their children dy whilst Infants and innocent for then they should be sure of their salvation then to see them live for some of them must become reprobate and wicked for few godly parents have ever had all godly children Abraham had Ishmael as well as Isaac Isaac had an Esau as well as a Jacob Jacob had a Reuben Simeon and Levi. brethren
in iniquity as well as Benjamins sons of love and comfort Thirdly If all Infants of believers dying Infants are saved on the condition of their parents faith how comes some afterwards to forfeit their condition Are the conditions of the covenant of grace unstable and left in the hand of man that is vain and frail that would soon forfeit them all if a thousand salvations were on them I always thought the death of Christ to be the only proper and meritorious condition of the covenant of grace and of our salvation and faith to be our principal evidencing condition and qualification as the way unto life Heb. 11.1 and at most I take it but as the first precedent condition to other graces for God gives one grace as a reward of the well improvement of the first grace he that encreaseth his Talent God multiplies his Talents to him God gives first faith unto his people before he gives them the other graces of his spirit to wit of adoption justification or sanctification Faith in order of nature is the precedaneous grace unto all others though they are conjunct and inseparable to that faith which is sound and sincere We receive saith the Apostle Gal. 3.14 the promise of the Spirit through faith Faith is made the thorow-fare conduit and pipe whereby God convays all his spiritual blessings and promises into our souls it is Man's receptive instrument and the Spirit 's revealing instrument the spirit takes the things of God and reveals them to the faithful soul by the instrumentality of faith and the soul receives and apprehends them by the same instrument of faith and therefore a blessed instrument both of God and Man 4. Are all believers Infants in the covenant of grace and salvable whilst Infants and afterwards fall away when come to years of discretion Hath not Christ said that the love of God is unchangeable Io. 13.1 and is it not impossible that any one of his chosen ones should be lost Mat. 24. or is his covenant broken Ier. 31.32 or is Christ's death and intercession unavailable Io. 17.15 20 21. or is God's wisdom deceived or his power and goodness made frustrate or overcome by the intervention of man's sin All which are not only absurd but impossible Fifthly If the parents faith is the condition of salvation unto their dying Infants then Infants are saved one way and grown persons in another way Infants by the faith of another to wit their parents and grown persons by their own faith how absurd this is let the judicious consider God saves none for faith but saves some by faith Faith is not the proper or meritorious condition of the covenant of grace that alone is the object of faith Christ crucified Faith is not the condition but in an improper sense as repentance and obedience and all other graces are but I should rather let the word condition lie by us unhallowed for this end in regard many have stumbled at it by making it an Idol rampant but I should rather call faith the fruits effects or some special branch or blessing promised in the covenant of grace for it is so mencioned in the new covenant I will write my Laws in their inward parts Heb. 8.10 and what is the great commandment or law of God that will be written in the heart That ye believe in Jesus Christ and faith is the gift of God If any take faith to be the condition of the covenant or of salvation only as a qualification a medium or way without which grown intelligent persons cannot be justified or saved with such I should not contend or should make it a precedaneous condition unto other subsequent graces I should not much quarrel with that neither for I think it to be the first foundation grace that the spirit works in the elect Saints of God which produceth cherisheth and sanctifieth all other subsequent graces in the soul but to make faith which is our own act though wrought by God's spirit the condition of our salvation in a proper sense to wit by performing whereof we may legally and justly claim it as our due as wages and debt the thing promised to wit life and salvation on the performance thereof in a legal way This is to set up somewhat of our selves that we may have that whereof to beast of and glory in our own strength And in the next place it derogates from all sufficient merits of Christ and his precious death which is the alone legal condition performed for us and in our behalfs and whereby we do legally and in the way of justice claim at the hands of Gods justification and remission of sins adoption and sanctification life salvation and glorification and all the good things of the Gospel But all these things are hid unto us until the spirit comes to reveal them to us by faith Heb. 11.1 Sixtly and lastly If faith therefore will not serve turn but is too short and weak a condition properly and legally understood for the believing parents own salvation then surely it will not reach the salvation of their Infants therefore vain to trust or bind upon it for such a work for it is alone the garment of our elder brother the white robes of Christs righteousness that is fit to reach and cover not only the faithful parents but their children also if so be God hath chosen them in Christ by his eternal love of election but for such Infants as God hath in his eternal preterition passed by as the Potter hath power over his clay to make thereof either vessels of honor or dishonor who shall say unto God why hast thou made me thus I say therefore to assert the parents faith the condition of their Infants salvation is a groundless reasonless assertion not comporting with the lest savor of truth and therefore to be excluded out of the Creed of all sound and orthodox chrâ—stians See more on ver 5. of this cap. And all the Churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reines and hearts c. By my righteous Judgments on those children of Idolatry and Fornication all the churches round about shall take notice that I am he saith Christ that tries the secrets of mens hearts and so as a God omniscient and an all-seeing Judge can execute righteous judgments on every one according to his works Hence Note Observ 1. That God knoweth our hearts most perfectly and therefore can judge of us most perfectly Man knoweth his own heart but in part but God more perfectly than himself 1 Cor. 4.4 He that created the heart must know it and he that himself is infinite must comprehend that fully which is finite The Devil knows not our hearts and thoughts till we do some ways manifest them by words gestures signes or actions but God knoweth our thoughts without those means Psal 39.1 2. The Divel may guess at mens thoughts by their natural complexions but God perfectly knows what is in man without any
received to and by souls before they can act towards God in the least acceptable services Object But then again some one may say If the small remaines of grace that were in Sardis were almost dead or ready to dy does not this argue a falling away and a possibility of the faithful to perish totally Answ Grace may be very low and yet not dead it was as sparks of fire under much ashes with Sardis and yet we know sparks are as real fire though not as fervent and virtual as a flaming one Indeed it was low with Sardis in her spiritual condition and it is most just with God when we are great sinners against him that he hides much of his gracious presence from us When by sin we quench the operations of the spirit of God God may justly quench its effects towards us but no sooner shall we follow the motions of the spirit and renew by repentance but presently God gives a more enlivening and effectual spirit into our souls and notwithstanding his former withdrawings yet it is but a Fatherly chastisement not an utter dereliction and forsaking Secondly I answer Persons that are Elect and have really tasted of the vertue of Christ's death and intercession can never utterly fall away unless they would make the power wisdome and preordination of God to be weak and fallible and the death and intercession of Christ impotent and insufficient unto that end to which it is ordained yet withal I assert though Elect persons cannot utterly fall away as being given by the Father unto Christ and none such can be cast away being helped by the mighty powâ—â— of God unto salvation yet Election of a state of persons may fail and perish As to instance in the Jewish Nation the Election thereof did obtain Rom. 11.7 to wit those that did pertain to the Election of God in that Nation did obtain mercy and reconcilliation by Christ yet at last for the sin of that Nation the Election of God did fail as respecting that State and Nation and the Ax was laid unto the root and that good Olive cut down and cast into the fire and the wild Olive or Gentile Nations graffed in upon their Stock Obstinacy in sin and unbelief was their cutting off and faith is the Gentiles incision and graffing in as the one is cut off by unbelief so the other is graffed in by faith Rom. 11.20 Those few names in Sardis that do hold fast the faith they are in a safe condition whilst all the rest of that church may perish utterly the first are marked and written in the eternal book of life of God and of the Lambe and therefore cannot perish but after God had finished his work at Sardis Thyatira Rome Corinth c. and called his Elect out of them and secured their eternal happiness he can remove the current of his Election to another people without any changeableness or shaddow of change in him and make those very people in their posterities the very seat and Sinagogue of Satan who were once his beulahs darling and beloved ones Thirdly there are guilded formal hipocritical graces and believers and such may not be only ready to dy but dead twice dead dead at the root and fit for nothing but to be plucked up and cast into the fire and therefore it is very ordinary in Scripture to say that such are fallen away perished and lost from their faith which they seemed to have all their graces are in the outward appearance only So Demas Simon Magus Judas Ananias and Saphira c. may be said to fall away from the faith because they had never the truth of real grace in them all was but seeming formal hypocritical and at best but historical which the divels may have and for all this perish everlastingly Observ 2. It is a great mercy for God to leave some remains of grace in a sinful Church and people If God had not left us a remnant we had been worse then Sodome and Gomorrah Small sparks being blown and cherished may become a flame so little grace though like a Mustard-seed may become a great Tree If God should deprive us of all the seed of grace there must needs follow a spiritual death unto our souls for when the soul of the soul is gone the soul will be soul-less and dead unto every good and spiritual worke As long as there is life in us though it is infirm and weak yet there is some hopes of recovery but being once dead there is no hopes of Redemption from the grave So as long as we have the Spirit of Christ though it works but faintly and weakly by reason of corruption in us and if it comes but to the first step and lowest degree of spiritual life to wit to be sensible of its dead and carnal condition and to complain under it there are good hopes of recovery unto such a soul and unto such I may boldly say unto its comfort Awake and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to dy Observ 3. Though our graces are but weak and low and ready to dy yet it is our duty to cherish strengthen and confirm them until we bring forth the worke of Christ within our selves unto perfection We are not to contemn the day of small things for he that improves but one Talent well shall be made ruler of many Talents The Beasts in the Prophet always went forward Ezek. 1.11 but grubs that are backward are reckoned among unclean creatures Lev. 11.10 God hath promised that he will not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoaking flax If we cherish the work of grace in us though in never so small a measure God will add a greater and fuller supply unto us God will add unto faith vertue unto vertue patience c. and according to that word in 2 Pet. 1.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they shall all come hand in hand in consort as following one the other as in a chorus or dance Doubtless it would not be labor lost for Sardis to strengthen and revive the remainders of grace that were ready to expire within her though Christ would be at hand to assist her by his grace and spirit yet he would not do it without her motion and improvment as it was once said by Austine Though God made us without us yet he would not save us without us Grace works most kindly when it meets with improving hearts that are ready to say with young Samuel Thy servant heareth Lord speak Though God hath ascertained and decreed the salvation of his Elect yet it does not exclude the duty of creatures and the work of second causes Ezek. 36.37 Jer. 29.11 12. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling we are to worke for life as if life were to be got by working and doubtless the crown will be the more glorious where the greater improvments of grace are made the more grace the Vessel is capable of and filled with here
then what Magistrates as such can take cognizance of 1 Tim. 1.20 Mat. 18.17 1 Cor. 5.4 5. and by those Laws in the Apostles and Primitive times were errors depressed and punished and not by the Laws of Magistrates there was no appealing unto Cesar for this work Object But some Erastianizing or rather sycophantizing Doctors of these days that are willing and ready to gratifie the Magistrate with a boon more then is justly due unto him comes and objects Is not the Magistrate subordinate as unto Christ as Mediator to make Laws for him and to rule next and immediate under him in his church Answ Indeed this objection was of some weight when by Act of Parliament Henry 8. was made Supreme Head of the church and whilst the sound thereof was continued down to his Successors even till ten years since in the constant publique prayers for a blessing on the chief Magistrate under the Title of the Supreme Head of the church next and immediate under Christ Then I say this objection was somwhat but now it is judged to savour of too much levity and ostentation Secondly But to answer more fully I grant that all Magistrates are subordinate unto Christ not only by the law of creation and gubernation by which as God he rules the whole Universe but also by the law of Redemption and his Mediatorship so by him Kings reigne and decree justice If Christ had not died there had been no King or Subject in the whole world There 's a common temporal salvation attain'd for all by the death of Christ all had so died if Christ had not died Many have benefit by the death of Christ this way in a temporal salvation which shall never taste the benefit of Christ's death savingly or eternally Christ is a Saviour of all but especially of those that believe So I say all Soveraign Authorities in the world have a being by vertue of Christ's death and Mediatorship and by vertue of that purchase are subordinate unto him holding their Kingdoms and Principalities as in chief from him for all power is given unto him as a reward of his sufferings and the travels of his soul both in heaven and in earth Matth. 28.18 In heaven over the Saints militant and tryumphant and in earth over all Powers and principalities thereof So that Christ hath at present a two-fold kingdom and people to govern and rule the one is of the world and the Nations thereof which now he governs and rules only providentially by placing Kings and Princes over them to rule and reigne next and immediate under him by laws which the Legislators conceive most conducing to the well-being of their States and Kingdoms and herein Christ's concurrence is no more but in common providence and preservation which he exercises equally towards all the works of his creation and redemption But he hath another Kingdom and people to rule and govern which are a spiritual people his church which were the main and principal purchase of his death Christ hath another eye a more distinguishing respect to those then to the others and therefore more especially he provides for them to reigne and rule over them with special and peculiar Laws suiting to their spiritual conditions not that Christ exempts them from the wholsome temporal laws of Magistrates but that he suits them laws and ordinances fit for his own body whereof he himself is Head influendo infundendo And for this spiritual body and oeconomy Christ hath his Laws his Ordinances and his subordinate Officers which are for the perfecting of the body till all come to the unity of the faith unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.12 And amongst the whole catalogue of Christ's Officers we can find no mention of King Prince or Parliament that are ordained to such a work and therefore sure their work is another work then to make Laws for so spiritual a people as Christ's church is they are to hear no other voice but their masters nor to derogate so far from their spiritual Head Lord and Soveraign as to suffer any to reigne and rule over them in this spiritual oeconomy but him alone who hath his Laws his Ordinances his Officers to which they must obey and he substitutes none next and immediate under him in this his dispensatory Kingdom of Grace but his Vicar general the holy Spirit which doth virtuate all his holy Laws and Ordinances unto their ends And therefore such Powers of the world as go about as subordinate to Christ to make and impose Laws on the church of Christ should as soon attempt to give Laws and Ordinances to the Stars of heaven for though they are creatures of this world yet too high for their laws to reach so are the other Stars God's churches for they are from heaven and born from above neither are they of this world and therefore how vain and absurd it is for the Magistracy of this world to make laws and rules for them that have their conversation in heaven and live in another world they live in heaven and by heavenly laws they are governed their life is hid with God in Christ and Christ's Edicts they only hear and follow They live in a spiritual blessed state and nothing but spiritual Laws will they hearken to Their lot is fallen into an Utopia and none but Utopian laws shall be their rules But if they fall as men let the laws of men take hold upon them Though man cannot make Laws sutable to the Saints conditions yet it the Saints transgress the wholesom Ordinances of man they shall justly suffer as men and not as Saints for in things honest and indifferent the canon is universal Let every soul be subject to the higher Powers whether Saint or other Therefore give God his due and Cesar his Vers 8. I know thy works behold I have set before thee an open door and no man can shut it for thou hast a little strength and hast kept my Word and hast not denyed my Name Christ comes to a narration of the gracious works of the church of Philadelphia and first tolls what he hath done for her Behold I have set before thee an open door and no man can shut it As if Christ had said Behold I have given thee a fair opportunity and access to the knowledg of my Gospel and to preach the same to others and none shall be ever able to bereave or hide the same from thee any more for an open door is either put for the power of preaching the Gospel Col. 4.13 as the Apostle Paul would have the Colossians to pray earnestly to God for him That God would open a door of speech unto him Or secondly For a readiness of the reception of the Gospel as Paul in 1. Cor. 16.9 A great and effectual door is opened unto me and 2 Cor. 2.12 And this door is opened when mens hearts are opened as was Lidias ready to
death and passion he powred out his soul unto death for us that he might have power to heal our souls of all their infirmities therefore he is made unto us both wisedom justification sanctification and all in all The manner of seeking this gold is by bargain and sale I counsel thee to buy of me I shall inquire how this bargain is made up First Understand in all legal contracts there is an agreement of both parties or else it cannot be a bargain Secondly In some bargains and contracts ther is a legal consideration given for the thing bargained for either to the full valew or somwhat equitably proportionable thereunto or Lastly There are other absolute bargains and sales of lands and goods disposed therein freely only on the consideration of the donors or granters of love affection and preferment to the parties beloved and so given freely to them and to their heirs for ever without so much as paying a peny by way of legal retribution for it yea the donor often is so free in his deed of gift that the donee is freed of all fear of forfeiture of his Estate for there is not reserved so much as a Rose or Pepper corn by way of Rent that for non payment thereof the State should be become forfeited And that party that would not be thankful to such a free giver is worse then an Infidel Now to our heavenly bargain and to apply If we will buy of Christ gold and heavenly Treasure we must first come unto him and strike up the bargain with him he will not sell unto us against our wills though he himself must make us first willing and therefore he cries Isa 55.1 Come unto the waters come ye buy and eat and Rev. 22.17 Christ is very willing to sell us freely and we must be ready to buy it and accept it freely all that he expects at our hands is to agree with him on his own tearms and that is to accept it and receive it freely beleive that he can and will do it and it is done Secondly He ties us up to no legal consideration or conditions on our part that on nonperformance thereof be they ever so small we should forfeit the State of our Inheritance he hath paid and performed fully all our dues and legal conditions unto the Father for us and in our stead and he hath taken the possession of the whole Inheritance into his own hand and therefore in the third place he is upon a free deed of gift with us and if we will buy at his hands we are to come and buy wine and milk without money without price Isa 55.1 and Christ calls in Rev. 22.17 to him that is athirst Come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely and they now that will not be obedient to the commands and laws of this gracious donor by way of gratitude and thankfulness for so glorious and free an Inheritance bestowed upon them are not worthy of the least mercy in his Kingdome if this Inheritance were entailed on us on condition of payment or performance of a small petty grain of corn or the like as is the mite of our faith or obedience c. as the Arminians would have it we should be in bondage fear and danger all our life long if not at least forfeit all by our non-payment and performance therefore blessed be God that hath not left our salvation in our own hands but founded it on the rock Christ which cannot be removed Quest But why doth Christ here counsel us to buy gold of him I answer He that goes about to buy a great Treasure is very careful diligent and his affections intense upon it that none put him out of his bargain So it must be here for this heavenly Treasure we must be earnest with Christ to strike up this bargain we must not let him alone by our prayers until we have obtained this pretious pearl at his hands 'T is true Christ will sell us this pearâ— freely yet we must agree with him for it though we have nothing to give him in the least by way of legal compensation for it yet we must buy it receive it in its own way and method If you will buy any gods that you want you must repair to the Fair or place where it is to be bought So if you want tryed gold to enrich you or garments to cover you or eye-salve to enlighten you you must come to Christ who is the Merchant of these heavenly wares upon his Fair days when such pretious wares are set to sale and to his Ordinances in his Assemblies on the publique days of his heauenly Bartering if you will attain unto this heavenly Treasure But to proceed And that you may the better know the nature of this heavenly Treasure it is here called Gold tryed in the fire You formerly heard that the church of Laodicea was an outside golden candlestick yea she boasted and pretended high to true riches yet for all her vaunting she was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mendicus a poor beggerly church but here is gold that will enrich her to purpose it is gold tryed in the fire it is not sophisticate or hipocritical gold but real tryed gold Hence Note Observ That the graces that come from Christ are the only true and real graces The church of Laodicea doubtless was rich enough in some respects yet she was a beggerly one because her riches was not from Christ If we in those days come to our Ecclesiastical Functions Livings and Benefices not by a callâ— from Christ but by our own struglings beginnings strivings and endeavours thereunto though thereby we may become outwardly rich yet at best we are but basely beggerly rich but the tryed gold that comes from Christ is such that makes the souls truly gratious where it is It is not gotten by begging at the dores of the great ones of the world but at the gates of the Temple in that holy way and order of calling chusing ordaining which Christ himself hath ordained in his word this is truly refined gold because it is the wisdom and way of God which is as gold refined Prov. 8.10 and Psal 12.7 This is tryed and therefore will hold water It is true we may become rich in the eye of the world in parts abilities and humane learning and they may shine like gold in the eyes of the injudicious simple and ignorant but alas if Christ doth not sanctifie them to us they may make us the worse not the better for them Major Cleriâ—us major Hereticus If Christ gives us hearts to seek after his refined gold then surely we shall no longer be so beggerly base as to set up our own guilded parts in the room of Christ's true wisedom which is as gold thrice refined neither shall we any longer set up our own church ways and orders according to our own prudential dictates but shall come into the truly golden way of Christ