own Son SECT 1. THe Person that undertaketh to work out the salvation of a sinner 2. Gods own Son undertaketh to work out the salvation of a sinner who he is Gal. 4. 8. Heb. 1. 3. Rom. 8. 32 1 Joh. 4. 9. Joh. 3. 16. Rev. 1. 8. 22. 13. is Gods own Son The Apostle is expresse God sent his own Son his Son by nature taking the word nature in that sense in which the Apostle taketh it when he saith of Idols thâ—y by nature are no gods His own Son distinguished from all other and dear unto the Father the expresse Image of the Fathers person He spared not his own Sonne his onely begotten Son who was not made nor created but begotten the eternal Son of God who of his grace assumed and took to him a true humane body and soul of the seed of the Virgin Mary and united it to his person even this person the Sonne of the Father this person the own only begotten Sonne of God the Father is he whom God sent he who is by grace of personal union and by conception of the Holy Ghost as he is man the man Jesus of Nazareth the son of Mary the Son of God also But this Son-ship if it may be so called is of grace not of nature and not the thing intended here and because the humane nature of the Sonne of God is of Adam though not by Adam he is also in that respect the Son of God Luk. 3. 38. by Creation But when it is said here expressely God sent his own Sonne this notes out the person who is the Son of God by nature who that he might perform the work of salvation did take to him that humane nature a creature of God and did unite support and Individuate it of his grace by his own person inseparably and for ever The glory of this act is unconceivable but that belongs to the work of salvation and is not of consideration in this saying He is called the Son of his self 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because he is Gods Son not by grace neither of personal union as the humane nature of Christ his Son not of Creation as Angels Adam and all men are Sonnes of God nor of Mal. 2. 10. Communication of beams of Dominion as Magistrates are Sons of God Nor of Psal 82. 5. Ephe. 1. 6. Joh. 1. 11. Adoption or of regeneration as are all the Elect believers No he is one greater than all these Gods own Son This is the undertaker of our salvation And this is the second Medium which produceth that grand conclusion afore delivered A demonstration thereof Divine and Apostolical that is that the salvation by Christ is full and absolute the Alsufficiency of our salvation appears abundantly Joh. 6. 96. Mat. 16. 16 1 Joh. 5. 7 9 10. in the person that undertakes the work the Son of the living God This is a doctrine of faith of necessity to be believed Gods own Sonne see here his glory and from thence the alsufficiency of our salvation SECT 2. Behold his Glory for His glory 1. He is of the same essence and nature with the Father the brightnesse of his Fathers Heb. 1. 3. 5 glory the expresse Image of his person This honour and excellency is above all Angels he is very God of very God as the Nicene Creed hath it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the same substance with God the Father not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of a like substance but the very same not of another substance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not of unlike substance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not of the same kind of substance not of the same species 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of that very essence coessential as the Creed of Athanasius hath it The God-head of the Father and of the Son is one In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and Joh. 1. 1. 1 Joh. 5. 20 Phil. 2. 6. the Word was God and therefore being true God he is Co-equal with the Father and it is no robbery at all He is God of himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though he be not Son of himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but Son of the Father he is life of himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he is righteousnesse it self 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is also between him and the Father a mutual Joh. 14. 11. Joh. 8. 58. In-being the Greek fathers call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Father is in him and he is in the Father He is Eternal before Abraham was saith he I am He is Alpha and Omega the first and the last And this his eternity is the foundation of his eternal Kingdome of whom it is said Thy throne O God is for ever and ever And again Heb. 1. 8. Heb. 1. 10 11 12. Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the works of thine hands they shall perish but thou remainest thou art the same He is Omniscient he knowes all things Joh. 2. 24. 1. 47 48 49. Rev. 2. 23. all men all that is in man neither needs he that any one should testifie of man for he knoweth what is in man all their reasonings all their thoughts all their wayes He searcheth the heart and reines He is Omnipresent he is in every place Lo saith he I am with you to the end of Mat. 28. 20 the world His presence everywhere is that which gives the ground of the promise of his gracious presence with all his Ministers in all their Ministerial performances in all ages and places to the worlds end He is Omnipotent Whatever the Father Joh. 5. 19. doth that doth the Son likewise He is the Creatour of all things visible Joh. 1. 2. and invisible In him all things consist He is the Vpholder of all by his mighty Word of Command Col. 1. 16. He changeth all things at his pleasure Heb. 1. 12. Heb. 1. 3. To him is due from men and Angels Divine honour and worship and Faith Heb. 1. 6. Joh. 14. 1. Psal 2. 12. In him we should believe him we should kisse and do homage unto He is God Rom. 9. 5. Tit. â— 13. blessed for ever the great God our Saviur 2. He is aeternally and only begotten Joh. 1. 1. Pro. 8. 22. Col. 1. 13. Mat. 17. 5. Joh. 1. 18. The word the wisdome of God and therefore he is the Son of Gods love the eternal delights of the eternal Father In whom he is well-pleased He that is in the bosome of the Father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and now he is neither lesser nor lower in the favour of his Father because he hath stooped so low as to become flesh and to be the Messiah SECT 3. 2. From his truth behold the alsufficiency The Alsufficiency of salvation by him in five things 1 Joh.
6. 39 40. again for his sheep 3. To be the Covenant of the people of the Jewes and raise them up and to be salvation to the ends of the earth 4. To see that no believer perish but that he raise every one of them to everlasting life at the last day and to give faith to all that the Father hath given him that the given of the Father may come unto him 5. To speak comfort to the weary soul 6. To bruise and Isa 50. 4. 61 1 2 3. Joh. 4. 34. 5. 30. Psal 2. 8 9. 3. His incarnation Heb. 10. 5. Heb. 2. 16. crush the enemies and to rule all for the good of the Elect. A gracious Commission 3. The third step is his Sonnes incarnation God sent his own Sonne in the likenesse of sinful flesh God fitted him a body the Sonne of God assumed not the nature of Angels but the seed of Abraham he assumed flesh that is a true and very man consisting of an humane soul and an humane body he assumed flesh and blood not only a soul the more noble part of man but flesh even the beginning of our nature growing from infancy Heb. 2. â—4 Mat. 2. 1. to perfection of age and stature and not a full and perfect man grown at his full stature and ripe age when he first assumed our nature flesh weak dying flesh he assumed into the unity of his person the similitude of sinful flesh the similitude of the flesh of sinne such flesh as sinne hath now made it to be in us sinners not sinful flesh for he never knew sinne but such a soul and body as ours is now by sin and not such as Adams was in the state of innocency that had been great love and great condescension and abasement but how great humiliation to take part of the same flesh and blood of which we consist yet further he took to him the likenesse of sinful flesh in a low and abject condition having no form nor beauty Phil. 2. 6 7 in the form of a servant and not in the forme of the rich the honourable the potent not in the form of a King or of Gal. 4. 4. a Monarch he took flesh made of a woman made under the Law he who was the onely Law-giver and might have been a Law to himself is made of a woman of the seed of Abraham as well as of Adam a Jew under the Law of Moses circumcised and therefore a debtor to keep the whole Law thus made under the Law that he might redeem those that were under the Law See then the Sonne of God the Word who was God is incarnate God manifest in the flesh made flesh of the seed of woman a Virgin the Virgin Mary by conception and by birth by conception by the Holy Ghost by his over-shadowing power sanctifying and making her wombe fruitful In this conception there was the plasmation and forming of the childe Jesus 2. The assumption 3. And the personal union of the humane nature of Jesus Christ The Sonne of God became flesh also by birth born of a woman and brought forth into the world Although therefore he was sent in the similitude of sinful flesh true and very man in all things like one of us yet he was without sinne there was no sinne in his conception no sinne in his birth no sinne in him all his life 4. The fourth step is the work alotted to him by his Father he is sent not only 4. His work appointed to dwell among men which had been a great abasing businesse though it had been to dwell with the Saints on earth but he must dwell among beastly men among fat Bulls of Bashan and be with Mark 1. 13 men set on fire he must be with the Beasts of the Wildernesse farre from the estate of man in Paradise he is sent to fight with Divels the sorrows of death must take hold of him he must be compassed with the pains of hell And which is above and beyond all this he must be numbred with transgressours and bear the sinnes of many even of all the millions which shall be saved he that knew no sin is sent to be made sinne for them and he to bear them imputed to him laid on him on his own body as if he had been the sinner 5. The fifth and last step in this way of 5. Condemnation of sin in his flesh God is this The condemnation of sinne in the flesh of Gods own Sonne Now this hath four distinct things in it 1. The Lord layed on him the iniquities Foure things in that of all the Elect Isa 53. 1 Pet. 2. 2. Sinne indefinitely is charged on him sinne in all its evil came upon him in its condemning power even the curse due to sinne by the Law of God In its defiling power not defiling him but the imputation of the foulnesse and defiling nature of sinne came upon him he was made sinne In its weakning power weaknesses not culpable but miserable weaknesses attending mans nature since the fall but not such as attend particular persons took hold of him he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief 3. He who was the holy one and the just was made the sinne-offering 4. God condemned sinne in his flesh the Sonne of God bears our sinnes in his own body on the Tree for sinne the Son is condemned and crucified being made a curse for us sinne would have held down the sinner for ever in hell there sinne hath the mastery over the sinner there it is alive in its full poyson and strength but here sinne is destroyed and utterly abolished it is fully and for ever taken away and that in a legal and exact way of justice the sinner is saved and sinne condemned This is the way and the five steps in this way of God coming to us to save us SECT 2. 2. The effectualnesse and sufficiency of The effectualnesse of this way this way appears in two things principally First In the fitnesse of Christ Jesus for the work he is God to treat with and satisfie God and he is man to deal with man he is the Sonne of Gods love to make us sonnes and place us in Gods love and favour by whom we have access into and stand in his grace accepted in the beloved he is the image of the Father in whom we may see the Father and who repaires the image of God in us and to whom we are to be conformed he is the son of man our brother the second Adam in whom we partake of all that is Job 19. 25 in him our kins-man to whom the right to redeem doth belong Secondly In the sutablenesse of every thing to our distresse as for the distresse we were in here we have 1. Man the offendor 2. Sinne the sting of death 3. Flesh that is to say man made by sin weak miserable and mortal 4. Sinful flesh flesh of
is that which is the impossible thing of the Law that which is impossible for the Law to do The Law is the holy Commandements of the Eternal God Maker of all things these discover sinne and condemne the sinner but they deliver not from either That which is of use and is of this nature to shew and sentence for sinne cannot possibly work deliverance to a sinner but it is the Gospel that Law of faith that discovereth a Saviour Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ how a sinner may be made righteous and so be delivered from sinne and how one condemned by the righteous Law may be delivered from that condemning sentence and so be set free from death which sinne deserved God sending his own Sonne c. where it appears that a sinner may be delivered from his sinne and made riâ—hteous and delivered from the Law and not condemned What the Law could not do in that it was weak through â—â—e flesh God sending his own Sonne c. The former Objection may yet be urged for it may be said the Law is righteous and can it not then give righteousnesse and life Answ The Apostle explaineth the Yet the Law is in no fault thing and amplifieth it the Law cannot do it not that there is fault in the Law this impossibility cometh through the weaknesse of mankinde now fallen who are not able to keep the Law The Law is not weak as if not perfectly righteous and holy or as if it had not a promise of life annexed to it but you are weak who are not able to keep it It is through mans weaknesse who is not able to performe the righteousnesse thereof that the Law is become weak the perfect exact holinesse thereof makes through our weaknesse weakning it that none can stand righteous by it nor live by it Hence ariseth the inpossibility of help by the Law Thus the Law is still preserved honourable and is magnified when yet it cannot help us and we are in the fault the fault is wholly ours Again the Apostle displayeth the Gospel 2. By opening the causes of a sinners salvation glory and displayeth the mystery thereof by opening the causes of the salvation of a sinner 1. The outward impulsive cause the impossibility and impotency of the Law to save through the impotency of man who stands bound to keep the Law this is the external impulsive this very thing that the Law cannot help us but condemns our sins and us for our sinnes and curseth us which is not thorough any fault in the Law of it self but only by accident by reason of our corrupt nature this this is that outward thing which moveth God to save sinners that which might move God to come and execute the sentence of the Law that moved God to provide a Saviour That which the Law cannot do through mans default that God doth by sending his own Son 2. The efficient or working cause the first working cause in saving a sinner God God set the accent there it must be noted with emphasis lift up the voice and stay the heart upon that Word write it in great letters It is not my observation that you must not slip over this one syllable but the Apostles divinely inspired as afterwards in this chapter when he saith If GOD be for us and again It is GOD that justifieth God against whom our sins are God whose righteous and eternal Law we have rendred uselesse to an utter impossibility to do us good and that for ever until He put us into another state He is the first agent in the work of our salvation 3. The material cause What course doth God take to save a sinner God sends his own Sonne Gods own Sonne doth take away sin by his passion bearing our sins in his own body his own Son in our flesh in which he was incarnate kept the Law for us and so the righteousnesse of the Law is fulfilled 4. The final cause which is this Redemption is wrought by the Christ of God that the righteousnesse of the Law might be fulfilled in us in us who have made the Law unable to do us any good who have made it to the Law impossible to set us free from sin and death 3. In us may some say in whom lest 3. By describing the persons for whom this salvation is wrought we should be deceived herein to our everlasting undoing while there is such a Gospel such a Saviour we have the persons described for whom all this is done In us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit that is in us that believe in Jesus Christ but because many do deceive themselves in saying we believe and do not believe the Apostle useth not those words but taketh up this description which noteth out a believer by the Spirit he hath received and the Spirit by the rule and dominion he hath now in and over him and this rule of the Spirit over believers by this that sin doth not now reign in them though sinne be in them and the ruling of the Spirit and the dethroning of sinne by their walk it is not ordered by the flesh nor at the will of the flesh but their life is ordered by the Spirit of Jesus Christ through the Word of this his grace dwelling in their hearts Thus we see proved in these words that there â—an be no condemnation to those that are in Christ for though the Law would condemn them because they are sinners and there is sinne in them that deserves condemnation yet their sinnes being condemned in Jesus Christ by a righteous God God may pardon them with the good leave of his justice doing no wrong at all to the holy Law SECT 3. For the further opening of the words here are Three things of special observation three things of special observation 1. The diverse acceptation of the word flesh in the compasse of this Text. First it notes mankinde with all its abilities and excellencies upheld in men of 1. The word flesh taken four wayes here God himself in his long-suffering since the fall in these words weak through the flesh Secondly it notes out the humane nature as corrupted with sinne in the words sinful flesh for the flesh of sinne that is mankinde such as sin hath made it not such as God made it soaked with sin under the power of sin weak frail flesh the soul and its endowments beslaved to the flesh to the senses to the sensual apperite to the things the outward man the flesh desireth insomuch that the whole man may well be called flesh Thirdly It notes the humane nature frail and mortal but not polluted with sin In the words condemned sinne in the flesh that is in the flesh of Jesus Christ Fourthly it notes the corruption or sinfulnesse of mans nature in the words walk not after the flesh Now from these several acceptations of the word flesh we gather Four observations from that
First what man is since the fall of Adam Take him with all abilities in his best estate here out of Christ he is but weak frail mortal and sinful flesh mortal and sinful man he is flesh that is carnal sensual and wholly corrupted with sin he is utterly unable to keep the holy Law of God to fulfill the righteousnesse of the Law to make satisfaction to Gods justice for the least sin by all the righteousnesse he can by himself attain unto And therefore wholly unable to escape condemnation Secondly We may here learn that the flesh that is man consisting of body and soul though frail and mortal even weak dying flesh enfeebled in his abilities and operations both of body and mind is not in that regard sinful for then the Son of God who became flesh who took on him our nature a true humane soul and body and our nature infirme frail and mortal our very flesh and blood must needs have been defiled with sinne but he knew no sinne he was the Lamb without spot and blemish therefore the flesh or body of man is not evil as it is flesh and blood nor the desires appetite or weaknesse frailties and diseases that attend it no more than the minde the top of the soul the will and affections of the soul are in themselves evil God is the former of our bodies as well as the Father of our spirits and God is not the Author of sinne this is diligently to be heeded against the dreams of most Hereticks old and new against the general sayings of Philosophers and the common and usual conceits all men have of the flesh or body as if that were the evil sinning blame-worthy part in them but their souls their hearts their minds the spirit of the minde that they think to be good and holy and to receive its defilement from the body And therefore men place all Religion in some observations of abstinence bodily bodily exercises as Touch not this taste not that and handle not the other or in some neglecting of the body macerating and punishing it and denying satisfaction to the poor flesh in the natural desires thereof unto which weak body there is an honour due whereas all that defiles a man is from within from the heart and soul of man from these good hearts of ours comes all wickednesse as our Lord Jesus teacheth Thirdly here we are taught that there is something in man farre worse than death mortality frailty or any disease or pain even that which brought all this upon him and that is sinne which we make so light of sinne is the worst thing in the world sin is farre worse than affliction than all deaths Fourthly here may be seen how near the Lord Jesus Christ the Sonne of God came unto us he came so near that he took to himself in nearest union not only our souls which are spiritual substances but our very bodies he took to him our flesh and blood he took to him our whole nature and that in the condition which sinne had brought it unto the very likenesse of sinful flesh our infirme nature a soul subject to some kind of ignorance to affections of love anger and sorrow a body subject to hunger thirst nakedness cold wearinesse a frail mortal man he was but wholly without sinne yea tempted as we are like us in all things sin only excepted he became flesh He did not assume our nature as it was in our first Parents in their innocency but as it is now since the fall he came not into the world in the form of a King or some great Monarch or of an honourable person or rich and wealthy no nor of a free-man but of a servant he became Phil. 2. 7. poor and destitute of all naked flesh 2 Cor. 8. 9. Behold the grace the great love of the Lord Jesus Christ behold it till thy heart be loose from all that men here admire and doat upon and begin to draw towards this Lord the Son of the most High who disdained not to come so low to seek after and exalt thee 2. Here we have the persons distinct 2. Three distinct persons and works of those persons distinct in a sinners salvation with their distinct workings who are employed in the salvation of the Elect 1. God the Father he is sending his own Son he is condemning sin he is salving and keeping whole and untoucht the righteousnesse of the Law 2. Then the Sonne of God Jesus Christ he is incarnate he becomes flesh he payes the price of Redemption by suffering the damnatory sentence of the Law he fulfills the righteousness required in the commands of the Law And lastly The Spirit he unites to Christ that this might he in us through faith he applies and brings home with power all this that the Father and Son have done he thrusts out the flesh the power of corrupt nature and regenerates sanctifies and rules in them so mightily that they walk after the Spirit In us who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Who 2 Sam. 7. 23 Deut 33. 29 are like unto Gods chosen who are thus saved of the Lord whom God the Father and the Sonne and the Spirit thus redeeme for whom these three yet one God do thus go forth and work and are so employed to deliver from sinne and damnation Blessed and happy art thou O Israel of God whether Jew or Gentile thus saved of the Lord 3. We have also here the summary 3. The two wayes given to mankind in which everlasting life might be obtained comprehension of all the wayes that ever God gave to mankinde to obtaine life by that is the Law and the Gospel We have likewise the onely way by which mankinde fallen can possibly be delivered and obtaine everlasting life which is the Gospel And further how these two the Law and the Gospel mutually do work The Law comes but is found weak unable and the deliverance of a sinner thereby a thing impossible yet this Law takes off the sinner from his great confidence leaves him at a losse shuts him up to Christ and to faith in him when that shall come to help The Doctrine or Law of Faith in Christ Jesus that establsheth the Law every way and doth that for the sinner which the Law could not do By it Gods love and Christ Jesus the Sonne of God the Saviour God in Christ is made known the Spirit is given the flesh oâ— corruption of nature subdued righteousnesse fulfilled sinne condemned and the sinner saved And withal the words are so composed that the summe of the Gospel is briefly orderly plainly practically or as it may and must fall into practice and fully set down here to our edification and consolation abundantly SECT 4. Having thus farre unfolded the words here are four precious and important 4. grand truths truths three in the text and one in the context We have three most glorious and necessary truths
Law might be fulfilled in us In the Law there is the righteousnesse of the commands and the righteous just damnatory sentence of threatnings against the transgressors of those holy commands Now God sent his Sonne and held the fore-mentioned course in laying our sinnes upon him that the whole righteousnesse which the Law requireth of us might be fulfilled in us who are in Christ by faith whiles by Jesus Christ it is fulfilled for us and for our sakes in our roome and stead and so the Law is while fulfilled for us fulfilled in us who are in Christ by faith And then secondly the holinesse and righteousnesse of the precepts is fulfilled in us whiles by this faith which unites us to Christ receiveth his Spirit draweth from Christ sanctifying grace and purifieth the heart a new obedience in all uprightnesse and integrity respecting the whole Law is begun and more and more encreaseth in us in this life is of that growing nature that it will go forwards hold on fight out its way persevere and overcome and at last be perfected in glory thus the righteousnesse of the Law is in us by faith Christs righteousnesse in obedience and sufferings for us reckoned to us as ours and by the same faith holinesse in truth begunne and growing up to perfection in us See here the Gospel fights not against the Law as the Law is not against the Gospel The Gospel acquits those whom the Law pronounceth guilty but not as considered nakedly in their guilt that were against the Jus the right of the Law but by the intervening of and the guilty considered in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the price and satisfaction of the Sonne of God and this is agreeable to the jus the right of the Law The Gospel sets them free from condemnation notwithstanding their sinnes because it brings in God condemning their sinnes in the flesh of his Sonne and the Sonne bearing the condemnation of sinne laid on him of God in his own flesh The Gospel while it acquits from the Law purifieth the sinner and gives him an heart and power to judge himself to love the holinesse and righteousnesse which the Law requireth and in this work upholds him with delight in the inward man till holiness be perfected So the Gospel fulfills the Law every way in Christ and in us fulfills the righteousness of the Law for us and in us and while for us in us 6. The person applying and the manner of application of this salvation even the Spirit the Spirit of Jesus Christ who in all those that are delivered from condemnation by Jesus Christ is uniting them to Christ and regenerating and sanctifying them This Spirit sets himself up in the throne and pulls the flesh out of the throne and he reignes in them and orders their lives This person even the holy Ghost and his work making this salvation to come home with saving efficacy is mentioned implyedly in these words In us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Thus the Apostle hath set out lively the second great Doctrine The third is a description of those for The third whom God sent his Sonne to become flesh to condemn their sin in his flesh and to fulfill the righteousness of the Law in them these persons are plainly and lively described thus they are those who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit They are known by their walks that is by the tenour and course of their lives in which they deliberately set themselves with continuance and progress which course of life is framed after the guidance and rule not of the flesh that is of their corrupted nature but of the Spirit that is the Spirit of Christ which by the Word ingraffed in them dwells in them and orders their conversation 4. We have also a fourth point of excellent worth for the comfort of sin-burdened and mortified souls which the word of connexion for leadeth us unto There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ though there be much sin in them for the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and from him coming into them is as a Law that hath delivered them from the Law of sin and so from the Law of death and all this is most evident for in Christ their sins are condemned and they justified and sanctified for see they as men set at liberty do walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh This then is the precious truth which lyeth in the coherence concerning the riches of their assurance and consolation who are in Jesus Christ The sins of those that walk after the Spâ—râ—t shall never be to their condemnation neither shall hinder from them the benefit of all the salvation that cometh by Christ nor â—et ought they in the least kind to hinder their full assurance their comfortable walking in their obedience their constant combating against the flesh nor their full dedition to the Law of the Spirit of life as to that which will give them full deliverance from the Law of sinne and death CHAP. II Containing the first great truth which is this that there is no salvation for any man by the Law or by any other means save onely by Jesus Christ. SECT 1. Having drawn up four choice truths of saving knowledge absolutely necessary to everlasting blessedness and sound comfort compactly delivered by the holy Apostle in this portion of Scripture I 1. Doct. No salvation but by Christ Gal. 3. 21 22. come now to handle those four truths at large the first of them is this There is no salvation for any man by the Law or by any other meanes whatsoever but onely by Jesus Christ. If there had been a Law given which could have given life Verily righteousnesse should have been by the Law but the Scripture hath concluded all under sinne saith this Apostle that the promise of faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that beleeve These are opposite the Law and the Promise the concluding of all under sin and the giving of life and righteousness the faith of Jesus Christ whereby we believe and the works of the Law the giving of the promise which is a reward reckoned of grace to him that believeth Rom. 4. 3 4 5 and the paying of a debt which is a reward to him that worketh If then the Law could save there had been no need of the Promise the Promise were in vain nevertheless the Law is not against the Promise but it shuts all men up to the Promise where life and righteousness is alone to be had by believing in Iesus Christ But may there not be found some other name besides or together with Iesus Christ by which a sinner may be saved for answer hear the Apostle Peter as the mouth all the rest of the Apostles saâ—ing to all men and to all the people oâ— Israel Jesus Christ Acts 4. 10 11 12 of Nazareth whom ye crucified whom God raised from the dead
contain this doctrine The way God took to save a sinner by Christ is a sweet and sound demonstration of the alsufficiency of the salvation in Christ Jesus and the way was this to condemn sinne in the flesh of his Sonne whom he sent in the flesh and that of purpose to take away sinne Two things are to be unfolded here 1. The way which God taketh 2. The effectualness of that way 1. The way of God is this while he saveth the sinner he will condeme his sin to the low â— Hell and lower by farre and that in the very same nature that hath sinned even in humane flesh That this may be done he sets out his own Sonne to be made flesh he sends him in the similâ—tude of sinful flesh in a true humane soul and body such as sinne had made frail miserable and mortal such a one as ours is He thus sends him for sin that he may bear all their sins charged on him And then in this flesh of his own Son their sinnes shall be condemned the Son of God condemned for their sin and so in that condemnation sin for ever condemned for this end he sends him as one that hath taken upon him the Office of a Saviour by mediation by suretiship and by redemption and as he whom God had designed to this office Consider every step in this way they are Five steps in this way of God 1 His Sons preordination 1 Pet. 1. 20. Ephes 1. 9 five the first step is 1. Gods preordination of the Sonne to be the Mediatour that he in our nature should execute the office of a Mediatour of Priest Prophet and King in a state of humiliation This preordination is Gods eternal fore-knowledge counsel purpose and decree out of his infinite good pleasure within himself appointing his Son to be the Christ to bring the Elect to glory Christ Jesus as God-man is the means of election to be executed he is the cause of our salvation but not of our election In this preordination there was a Councel held between the Father the Son and the holy Spirit In this councel all that concerns mans salvation was determined Act. 2. 23. 4. 28. The Son is set out and by a free voluntary dispensation he yieldeth to be ordained and appointed Rom. 3. 25. And with him an Agreement is made that he should give his soul an offering for sinne and then according to promise in that agreement he should see the fruit of that his travel of soul to his own hearts full satisfaction Isa 53. 10. All that ever shall be saved were given to him before all worlds John 10. 29. 17. 6 9 6. 37 39. Life eternal is promised before the worlds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grace that Tit. 1. 2. 2 Tim. 1. 10. is free love and favour with the effects of it was given the Elect in Christ before the world began A book of all is written the Records the most High's Parliament Rev. 20. 15 21. 27. 13. 8. Roles called the book of life the Lambs book of life And accordingly he before he was sent was Preached in Gen. 3. 15. promised to Abraham in Gen. 22. 18. and to David in Psal 132. was prophesied of * Isa 7. 4. 9. 6 7. 53. Jer. 23. 5. was Typified in the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant Heb. 9. and in Melchizedech Heb. 7. 3. was seen in fore-shewes in a humane shape in which of old he appeared frequently to the Fathers as the holy Angels also used to do 2. Gods mission of his Sonne is the second 2. His mission step of this way of God The work thus 1. The Father and the holy Ghost do send and the Son voluntarily condescends to be sent All stoops nothing too dear for the salvation of a sinner The Sonne is brought in speaking thus I have not spoken in secret from the beginning from the Isa 48. 16. A cleare old Testament proof of the Trinity Joh. 7. 28 29. time that it was there am I and now the Lord God and his Spirit hath sent me 2. The Son came not of himself he took nothing on him of his own head apart from the Father in the whole businesse of Redemption 3. The Father gave him out of his bosome he sent him on this great errand he parted with him spared him not but he delivered him up 4. He sent him in his Incarnation in the fulnesse of time but of this Act in the next step 5. He sent him into the world into this miserable vain sinful place he dwelt among men and was found in fashion as a man he sent him not Isa 61. 1. to delight and glory in the world 6. He sent him furnished with gifts he sanctified him separated him from all other as Joh. 10. 36. Joh. 5. 3â— 9. 4. only able and fit for such a work as to save the world and filled him with the Spirit not by measure as he is man and having thus sanctified him he sent him 7. He sent him and gave him work to do and finish and set him a day a season to do Joh. 7. 6. 8 8. 28. 12. 49. 14. 24. Joh. 17. 1 4. it in he neither did nor spake of himself but as the Father which sent him gave him Commandment what he should say and what he should speak he did nothing of himself he doth what he seeth the Father do and spake what he heard and learn't of his father he did all in the very hour of the allotted day and finished his work in the hour of the day set him the work some of it was none of the easiest or fairest work he was not only to preach the doctrine of the Kingdome and to confirm it by Miracles to keep the law and to fulfill all righteousnesse but to be a pattern in doing and suffering yea to be a Ransome a Price a Sacrifice for sinne to suffer a cursed death and to be made sin and a curse for us and this Heb. 10. 8 9. â—oh 3. 17. Act. 3. 26 1 Joh. 4. 9. 10. Joh. 8. 29. Joh. 16. 32 hard and foul work he delighted to perform 8. He sent him not to condemn but to save the world to blesse his people to be a propitiation that in him we might have life 9. He sent him and was with him he never left him alone because he doth alwayes those things that please his Father he never did his own will or sought his own glory but his glory who sent him and when all his Apostles left him alone and forsook him then the Father was with him 10. He sent him with Commission what was that surely most worthy the perusing by us his Commission he opens and reads it was this 1. His Commission was and is to seek and to save that which was lost 2. To dye and rise Luk. 19. 10. Joh. 10. 28. Isa 49. 6. Joh.
and revive the broken in heart he must create the fruit of the lips of Ministers to be peace the believing and revived souls how soon would they lose their graces and comforts were not the Holy Ghost the Comforter given unto them to dwell in them for ever here here is our safety 5. By the Word which the Spirit ingrafts the Spirit comes in his communion that the believer might have the witnesse within him and then can nothing deprive him of the comfort of his salvation SECT 10. The Vse of this Doctrine is first for Information This truth that the Holy Ghost maketh The use of this 1. Information the application of the salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ is for singular use for Information and for Exhortation First for Iâ—formation it informs us of four things first of the excellency of the Word of God the Scripture and in special of the Word of the New Testament it is the Chariot of the Spirit in which the Spirit of truth cometh into our hearts the Spirit breathed it at first and in it still the Spirit breaths It is never without the movings and workings of the Holy Ghost in strivings in convictions upon all men to whom it comes and in conversion to the chosen of God It is the power of God to salvation to all that believe whether Jews or Gentiles Secondly of the excellency of the Ministery of the New Testament which ministers or 3. â— the spirit and is the Ministery of the Spirit which makes the receivers of the Gospel to be the Epistles of Christ written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of stone but in fleshly Tables of the heart and all this ministred by the Ministers of Christ by which God maketh manifest the savour 2 Cor. 2. 14 15 16. of the knowledge of Christ unto God a sweet savour in them that are saved to whom ir is the savour of life unto life and in them that perish to whom it is the savour of death unto death but in both a sweet savour unto God and by it he perfumes the world Thirdly of the worth of a true Christian the Spirit of God and of Christ dwelleth in him he hath the witnesse in himself he hath this anointing Fourthly of the excellency of the work of grace in the Convert above all that is found of vertue praise or worth in any other people in the world The Gospel Convert is the spiritual man he is one in the Spirit one after the Spirit he is one â—pirit with the Lord Christ their very bodies are the consecrated Temples of the Holy Ghost this makes one a good man this makes a difference among men some have the Spirit some though they may pretend to it yet seeing they are not delivered from sensuality nor from self-conceitednesse Jude 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which sheweth it self in removing all the bounds which God hath set between his Church and the world and in setting no bounds or in setting bounds of their own they have not the Spirit There are other spirits besides the Spirit of God and there are who have the Spirit of God and yet they have not the Spirit in that sense of which we speak here There are five sorts of spirits which are not the Spirit of God and they have a Five sorts of spirits that have much power on men which are not the Spirit of God great stroak upon men 1. The spirit of man which knoweth what is in this man this is the soul which animates the body which is endued with reason which hath understanding and will which hath conscience that is a power to reflect upon himself and upon all within him to view and know his own thoughts and counsels and all his desires and actions and then to make up a judgment upon it for God with or against the man the soul in respect of this power 1 Cor. 2. 11 14. called the conscience is the spirit of man but this animal man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God nor can know them they are far above out of their reach 2. The spirit of the world this is the wisdome of the world wherewith Philosophers Princes wise States-men and Politicians learned men Inventers of arts trades and manufactures Merchants Rich men Navigators warlike Heroes Renowned men have excelled whose power and force lyeth within the compasse of humane reason and is accounted the perfection of the minde This spirit the world is proud of this saith Paul we leave to the world to the men of the 1 Cor. 2. 12. world this spirit is not sinful in it self 3. The spirit of lust that dwelleth in Jam. 45. â—â—oh 5. 19. 2. 15 16 us this is the spirit of that world which is placed in wickednesse of that world which is the lust of the flesh the lust of the eye and the pride of life this is a sinful spirit and it reigneth in all men by nature and beslaveth the two former spirits the wisdome of the world and the very soul and conscience of man this is the impulse of the former spirit of the world the life and power of it the malignity and wickednesse of it And this spirit is the spirit of envy pride ambition revenge self-love atheisme profanesse and superstition it is the spirit of timidity or base pusillanimous fear and of tyrannical domineering oppression The more basely fearful the more proudly tyrannical 4. The spirit Satan who works effectually in all men by nature he is the 1 John 4. 2 3 6. 1 Tim. 4. 1 2. Zach. 13. 2 Rev. 16. 14 father of lusts and the father of lies and in that regard he is the spirit of errour the spirit of Apostasie and of the doctrine of Devils we read of unclean spirits the spirits of Devils which come out of the mouth of the Dragon as well as out of the mouth of the Beast and our of the mouth of the false Prophet these are those men who love to broach such lies in Religion coloured over with hypocrisie Rom. 11. 8 Isa 29. 10 14. 6. 9. 5. The spirit of slumber which is sent of God in his righteous judgment for hardnings and rebellion against the light of his Word and for gain-saying of unbelief under the Gospel This is a stupid sottish heart hard and hardened benummed aston'd as with a lethargy that feels not nor understands divine and spiritual things although it be never so much rouzed punched and gored so that they startle but presently nod and fall fast asleep again And here not only the heart is so secure but there is also a force and impulse of Satan sent of God as a righteous judge which carrieth them mightily and beyond what is ordinarily found in things which men do alone as men this is called a spirit of slumber the like reason is to be held in the fore-named spirits Errour is
ought to strive and wrestle taking the Gospels part against the adversaries thereof and this we should do together with all the Saints and faithful especially with those with whom we live and with them let us stand fast in one Spirit The unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God in his Gospel which is but one and the same word of truth should unite us in love and bind us to the peace with lowlinesse and forbearance and with due respect to the variety of the gifts of the Spirit which are the Spirits rich embroidery the ornament of the Church no way of themselves hindering unity and orderly employed and improved are to the singular profit and benefit of all and every one of the members of Christs mystical body 4. Sow to the Spirit lay out your substance Gal. 6. 8. and your worldly goods to spiritual uses to the maintenance of Christs Ministery and Ordinances to the promoting of the Gospel the Church all grace and holinesse and the hopes of glory Seek first Gods Kingdome and righteousnesse Mat. 6. 33. buy the truth and sell it not say not I must provide estates for my children maintain my family raise my posterity God cannot be mocked if thou honour not the Lord with thy substance thou doest but sow to the flesh and of the flesh thou shalt reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting Say not I have already done this and that good work hast thou an opportunity do still more with thy wealth and temporals be not weary of well-doing the reaping time will come in due season Faint not therefore neither flag in the sowing time there is now the seed time the harvest day is to come in another world 5. Lastly as it is in this Text Walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh this duty makes up the description of the spirituals of the true Christian the person whom God hath loved to life everlasting and for whom the Sonne of God came into the world and gave himself to the death This is the second Consideration of the words of the Apostle which now cometh to be perused and that as they give us the third Doctrine which is the more necessary the more excellent than the two former are and the more desirable the more searching and differencing the children of God from the men of the world CHAP. X. Treating of the third great truth The lively description of the persons that shall be saved and do partake of this salvation by Jesus Christ viz. They are such who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit SECT 1. Doctrin 3. The persons for whom God gave his Son and the Son came into the world and gave himself are those that walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit THe third great doctrine delivered by our Apostle in these verses this They that walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit these are they for whom God sent his own Sonne to become flesh in the likenesse of sinful flesh to be a sacrifice for their sinnes and whose sinnes God condemned in the flesh of his Son that in and for them the righteousnesse of the Law might be fulfilled or take it thus Those in whom the Spirit dwels applying savingly the love of the Father and the grace of the Sonne in them he so mightily rules that they walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit That we may not be deceived in a matter of such importance as this is of let us 1. Understand the force of the words 2. Take them asunder in particular Opened in six particulars doctrines 3. And then Consider the Regency of the flesh 4. The Regency of the Spirit 5. The walk after the flesh 6. The walk after the Spirit And seventhly the uses of the whole First for the meaning of the words By flesh is meant the unregenerate part 1. The meaning and force of the words Col. 2. 18. Mat. 15. 19 20. in the sanctified believer the man as defiled with sinne the nature of man of man corrupted by sinne By flesh is not meant 1. Flesh in the substance of it the body opposed to the soul but both body and soul made flesh and carnal as carnal is opposed to spiritual there is the fleshly mind the soul as well as the body is defiled with sinne and depraved the soul defiles the body out of the heart cometh that which defiles the man by flesh therefore we must not understand the substance of flesh which is Gods Creature and therefore good and hath no cause of sinne in it for God is not the Author of sin neither may his workmanship be blamed without committing that great wickednesse of casting reproach upon our Maker This is to be held firm against the vile and pernicious opinions of all ancient Heretiques and our newly up-start erroneous spirits and against the received sayings of Philosophers and the dangerous tenets and expressions of some Divines as if the mind and soul were pure and receiveth its defilement from the body By flesh is not meant 2. Flesh in the natural desires of food sleep generation rayment recreation motion rest and if there be any thing else that accompanies the life of man in this world These are not evil in themselves it is inordinacy that makes them evil faulty and sinful Nor doth flesh note out 3. Humane wisdome and reason and the moral actings and projectings thereof All which kept within their own sphere and acting regularly are most useful to societies commendable among all and serviceable to the Kingdome of Jesus Christ Nor much lesse by flesh may be understood 4. The sparkles of the light that is born with us and in us or the reliques of Gods Image in body or soul or in the whole man Nor yet under the word flesh may we understand 5. The necessary helps of this present life as lands money friends with the like subsidiary ayds Nor 6. Natural diseases infirmities or defects of body or mind In this sense there is an honour due to the flesh and a lawful satisfying of its desires and needs and to deny them to it though Col. 2. 23. upon devout pretence is sinful and falls under that Commandment Thou shalt not kill But by flesh is meant the sinful disposition and this is called flesh not as if this sinfulnesse were first in the body for the soul the fairest part of it the top of it the mind is polluted we are strangers from God in our mindes the spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 4. 23. Col. 1. 21. of the mind must be renewed ere ever it will be good Quest Why then may it be said Is corruption of nature which is first and most notably in the chiefest faculties of the soul called flesh Answ First Because the very soul is flesh that is it is defiled with sinne and tyed down to
the senses Secondly this pollution is innate and connate it is born in us and born with us It is as old as we are It was in us in our very conception it is bred up with us It discovers it self as we discover the use of our reason and it will be in us while we are in this frame and building Thirdly because we are as tender of it as we are of our very flesh Fourthly because there is a body of it a whole consisting of many members joynted together and ministring nourishment to every part for the encrease of the whole A whole composed heap not only spreading it self through the whole man and discovering it self in every member of the body but having also all the several wickednesses which ever were committed in it in the seed and spawn of them It is not some one transgression but many as the body is not one member but many and these many are knit together in an hellish order Fifthly because this is propagated as our bodies and flesh is propagated but our souls are not God is the Father of our spirits but men the fathers of our bodies therefore it may well be called flesh Sixthly because the motions of this original pollution are in the members of our bodies By spirit is meant not the soul nor the mind or understanding faculty the highest that is in man nor conscience the Character of the reasonable creature But by spirit is meant the Spirit of Christ sanctifying the man and dwelling in him through the Word of God engraffed and the regenerate part the Divine nature or disposition wrought by the Spirit of God the holy Ghost and conformable to the Image of Jesus Christ Iâ— this work there is the seed first of all grace and that under the New Testament in a largenesse Secondly it is in the whole man in soul spirit and body Thirdly and that too in truth or sincerity Fourthly it is of God in Christ for its original And fifthly for its continuance it is of incorruptible seed and abideth for ever Sixthly for its piercing effectualnesse in operation it leavens the whole man It is deepest and chiefest in the soul It is spreading and thorow in what it works It is active according to its own sphere which is supernatural and celestial yea supercelestial and according to its rise which is from the Spirit for whatsoever is of the Spirit is Spirit After notes the rule and guide and from that rule the force which swaies and carries out the man in his actions Walking notes 1. The course taken upon choice and 2. The progresse in that course or way with 3. Pressing on still forwards and 4. With perseverance and constancy till we come to the end Not after the flesh but after the Spirit That is refusing that and choosing this for guide and removing from the wayes and walks of the flesh to go in these that are after the Spirit Walking after the flesh is mentioned to shew that Original sinne is the sinne that reigns every actual sinne hath its strength in the corruption of nature Thither we must ascend in the work of mortification if we would kill sinne dead the root Crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof The lopping of a tree destroyes not the tree he that would not serve any sinne must destroy the body of sinne and not some one or two members only and he that would destroy the body of sinne must crucifie the old man Walking after the Spirit sheweth that all grace is brought into us from without from above from the holy Ghost It is not from a seed in us which is born with us and lyeth as the seed of Corn doth awhile buried in the earth It is not from any power or spirit that is in the Creature or in this visible Globe or in the Creatures Angelical It is from the Spirit of the Father and of the Sonne Again this sheweth that all grace is yet truely in us from the holy Ghost dwelling in us through the Word engraffed or the revealed truth of the Gospel from the holy Ghost thus dwelling in us and renewing sanctifying acting and leading of us And lastly that we are born anew of the Spirit are in the Spirit do live in the Spirit and are after the Spirit and then we walk after the Spirit We must first be and live and afterwards walk Thus you have the force of the words SECT 2. The particular truths or doctrines which 2. The words taken asunderin nine doctrines are wrapped in this description are these 1. In those that are in Christ in them there is the Spirit of Christ The Spirit in renewing unites to Christ their union with Christ is spiritual not physical not moral alone not personal at all The Spirit of Christ is in them and uniteth them to Christ and Christ and they are one Spirit as Man and Wife are one flesh this truth ariseth from this description as it is referred to the words before in ver 1. of this Chapter To them that are in Christ there is no condemnation Now this is to be understood of the holy Ghost as he is the Anointing wherewith Christ is anointed even Jesus Christ not considered as he is the Sonne of God simply and absolutely but as he is the Christ God-man and wherewith from Christ that Holy One they are anointed the work is the work of the third Person but not a work that makes a personal union of them to the Holy Ghost 2. Where the Spirit of Christ is in any there is also flesh whiles they are in this life where there is grace there is corruption though it holds not on the contrary where ever there is corruption there is grace also Nay it is far otherwise untill regeneration there is nothing but corruption in any or all the men in the world no not in the elect of God but where the Spirit is there is flesh although not walked after This is gathered from the description as made up of a negative first and then of an affirmative which sheweth a nature or disposition in the described here which is declining and renouncing one principle and cleaving to and following sweetly another principle Therefore with the regenerate it is thus their works are mixed their actings of their graces are mixt and maimed All their best duties smell strong of the flesh therefore the Regenerate ought to be watchful and jealous over themselves humble to God-ward meek towards man and making use of Christ and faith in him in all doing all in his name or mediation and looking for acceptation of all in him alone 3. That flesh even in the regenerate and spiritual is so sinful that if it were followed it would destroy them therefore it is sinne in it self and in the lusts of it even in the regenerate for if it were not sinful why should it be renounced why should it not at some times and in some cases be allowed 4.
under bondage and subjected to vanity vanity and vexation of Spirit is attending man in the enjoyment of all things under the Sun Fourthly The harmlesse jollities of the Eccl. 11. 9. flesh shall be brought into judgment Fifthly A conscience checking galling and gnawing for the flesh's ryots Sixthly The flesh's naughtinesse is discovered in the Word of God 2 Cor. 10. 4 5 6. Ro. 8. 13. Seventhly powerful means are given of God to crucifie it The Ministery the Spirit the crucifyings of the Sonne of God and exceeding great and precious promises which present to us a draught of better things than the flesh can propose Eightly In the Word commands and directions are given how to use the flesh such are these be temperate be sober beat down your bodies bring them into subjection Accuse and condemn the flesh silence her reasonings lay-in distinguishing and mortifying principles they are such as these The belly for meat and meat for the belly but God shall destroy them both The body is for the Lord not for lust The body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost The body shall be raised out of the grave but not as it is sowen both soul and body are the more excellent as they are lesse fleshly All the things of this life are such as perish in the using The scheme or fashion of this world passeth away All that is in the world and is of the world as the lust of the flesh the lust of the eye and the pride of life is not of the Father All these things that are of this lower world shall be dissolved Ninthly A judgment day is appointed and it shall as surely come as it is sure that men dye then this whole visible Creation which the flesh abuseth shall be burnt with fire The heavens shall shrivel together as a scrole and the earth with the works thereon shall be burnt up Tenthly in the mean time bitters are cast into all our earthly sweets and wasting judgments are abroad in the visible Church at this day Meditate often upon these things inlarge your thoughts upon each of them All these will eat down proud-flesh Thus of the three grand doctrines more expressely delivered in this text the last of which concerns the lively description of the believer by his walks the fourth doctrine followeth CHAP. XI Containeth the fourth and last great truth which is The fulnesse of the assurance and of the Consolation of those who are in Christ and walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit SECT 1. The fourth doctrine ariseth from the The fourth doctrine coherence of these two verses with the words before and following when we observe how they are placed in the frame of the Apostles discourse and it is full of consolation for it concernes the full assurance and the safe estate of all those who are actually in Christ notwithstanding their sinnes They have flesh a corrupt How raised nature dwelling with them and many sinnes the issues of that flesh but walking not in them they are in Christ and therefore there is no condemnation to them as the 1. verse with these verses affirmes and proves for their sinnes God hath condemned in the flesh or body and soul of his own Sonne the benefit of the salvarion wrought by Jesus Christ cometh home to them for all that their flesh that body of death can do so that they may and ought to say I thank God through Jâ—sus Christ who hath and doth and will deliver me from the same this is evident by comparing these verses with the 25. ver of Chap. 7. They should also rest assured of their blessed estate when there is no condemnation to them and when the strength of this evidence of their interest in Christ from their spiritual-mindednesse and savour influencing their walk is life and peace as these words looking backwards to the 1. ver of this Chapter and forward to the 5. and 6. verses do plentifully shew And since the scope of the whole discourse from ver 1. to ver 17. of this chapter is to support and encourage these spiritual holy walkers in their way the burden and workings of sin in them should not break their spirits or discourage them in the course of their holy living the miserable conflicting toyle of a gracious heart with the sinne dwelling in him is the thing treated of in the person of holy Paul representing all the regenerate in chap. 7. the latter part of it and the 8. chapter to ver 17. thereof is on purpose adjoyned to back on those Combitants in their warre against the flesh their sinne must not dishearten them in the combate this is the force of that word Now it is a word of encouragement as if he said therefore since Christ is your deliverer for and through whom ye may blesse God and rejoyce with thankfulnesse in the very heat and worst of the battel with your sinnes since flesh and you who are under the Law of your minds and are regenerate are two Now Now therefore stand to it and fight it out there is no condemnation to such as you And let this word for in these verses of my Text be carried to the ver immediately going before it and then they perswade these holy walkers to give up themselves fully chearfully and without fear of miscarrying to the Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus which will certainly carry through without peril from the Law of sin and death which threatens them Having shewed the coherence take the fourth doctrine in this proposition The sinnes of those that walk after the Spirit shall never be to their condemnation neither shall they hinder to them the benefit of all the salvation that cometh by Christ nor ought in the least kind to hinder their assurance or their comfortable walking in their obedience their constant combating against the flesh or their full dedition to the Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus as to that which will deliver from the Law of sin and death For explication of this truth observe The explication 1. What is granted 4. things here in the first place what is granted 1. It is granted that the sinnes of those that walk after the Spirit are sinnes they are transgressions of Gods holy Commandments they are filthy and do make them guilty they are against God and against Christ and are repugnant to the holy Ghost they deserve condemnation though they redound not unto condemnation they redound to their fault and to their guilt though not to their châ—rge for they are not imputed nor to malediction these Christ hath borne nor to eternal punishment for Christ hath made full satisfaction That their sinnes condemne them not is not from any lesse desert they also strike at the life of grace though they cannot destroy the life of grace 2. It is granted that there is flesh in them the seed and spawne of all sin that
is tempted God is a Father who is so far from being angry Psa 103. 13 Mal. 3. 17. with his children for these meer infirmities that he pities them spares them and makes them up as his Jewels but as for their gâ—osse sinnes they are they for which their Father is angry with-holds his comforts his Spirit and their joy and no consolation to them in sinnes they indulge untill they be humbled deeply Again understand this aright These sins condemn not not as if lesser sinnes were not displeasing unto God their Father to Christ their Lord and to the Spirit their Leader nor as if they might not be so committed that they may become great sinnes through carelessenesse and security and so as they may be circumstanced Nay A failing may be so allowed so customary so malapertly and frowardly excused and pleaded for that it may have too much of presumption in it and so have much wickednesse in it and have much of the nature of a great transgression and therefore may have in it much provocation and that which calls for great humiliation before any comfort can flow into the soul of such a one Secondly these sinnes of infirmity ought not to hinder assurance that is the assurance of faith and the assâ—rance of evidence There is the assurance of faith Sins of infirmity hinder not assurance which is our duâ—y and ought to be held fast and maintained whiles uprightnesse is kept up in its constant course without interruptions although God do desert us although God do kill us There is the assurance of evidence which is not alone to have the promises for us and we rest thereon but to have our evidences of our interest in the promises speaking fully and our spirits clearely reading them and giving in their witnesse and thence the heart assured this also as the help of the assurance of faith is belonging to our duty but there is the assurance of feeling and of the Tâ—stimonâ— of the holy Spâ—rit of promise this is a blessing wholely this is in Gods hand and not in ours And it cannot be in a better hand Quâ—st If any say How can the assurance of faith be held fast How can we have our evidences fair and full when there is such quick sense of sinne in the sincere believer None so tender of Conscience none indeed truly affected with sinnes filthinesse and burden but he When also there is no lesse apprehension of Gods wrath and displeasure and of his forsasakings and withdrawings of the comforts of his Presence he only knowes what the shining of Gods face in Christ reconciled means and he only knows what the hiding away of his face means I answer Answ Understand well these six things in the Covenant of Grace which answer all the fears of the upright First That in this Covenant uprightnesse Gen. 17. 1. Pro. 11. 6 5. is required and not perfection The righteousnesse of the upright is the righteousnesse which God accepteth and he calls it the righteousnesse of the perfect that is of the sincere and entire who are sanctified throughout and in every part though they be not perfect already in any part in soul in spirit or in body they have in no part the perfection of degrees but they Phil. 3. 12. Phil. 3. 11 12 13 14. say with the Apostle I have not attained I am not already perfect Uprightnesse is the reaching forth to that which is before as not having yet attained as not already perfect untill we attain unto the blessed resurrection of the dead It is not to account ones self to have apprehended but to follow after and to be upon the pursuit if that we may apprehend that for which also we are apprehended of Christ Jesus It is forgetting what is behind and which we are brought to through grace to presse toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus that we may come to the Goale and receive the Crown of righteousnesse and consummate holinesse and glory 2 Cor. 7. 2. which is the hope of our calling It is to be on clensing from all filthinesse of flesh 2 Cor. 7. 1. and spirit of body and soul inward and outward and on perfecting our holinesse in the fear of God The Lord knoweth that thou believest but in part thou knowest but in part and thou doest all duties but in part Why sayest thou as one dejected Oh I have many failings many sinnes are upon me Say the same for it is very true say it as one deeply humbled and spare not say it as one confessing with godly sorrow with a spirit without guile My sinnes are more in number Psa 40. 12 than the haires of my head when I think on them they encrease and come so fast on that I am not able to look up my very heart faileth me Art thou kept in this frame to be a purifying to be a clensing to be a perfecting to be pressing on forwards still thou art upright Châ—ist is thy righteousnesse thou art absolutely perfect and compleat in him for it is in the first Psa 40. 12 with 6. 7 8 verses place spoken of him thy Mediatour and surety It is most true of him who came to bear the sâ—nnes of all the Elect Innumerable evils dâ—d câ—mpasse him about thy sinnes since calling and all thy sinnes before calling and all the sinnes of all that ever shall be saved were charged upon thy Lord Jesus Christ so that he saith Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up they are moe thâ—n the hairs of mine head therefore my heart faileth me Why sayest thou should I be of the number of Phil. 3. 15. the secure and luke-warme which my soul fears and hates hold fast the former frame and while thus minded art thou not minded as all the perfect are as the perfect in the Gospel-sense and in the language of the holy Ghost who ever gives right names to things Secondly that perseverance is promised and given to believers as well as required Jer. 32 40. 1 Joh. 2. 27 of them I will put my feare into their hearts that they shall not depart from me this is a Branch of Gods everlasting Covenant with his people in Christ The anointing which ye have received of Christ abideth in you and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him A precious promise Why then doest thou say I shall never hold out I shall one day fall by the hands of Saul by this or tother temptation or corruption Remember these promises and stay thy soul on them thy perseverance is from preservation even as thy spiritual life is from Regeneration Thirdly The Law of this Covenant which thou art under is the Law of fâ—â—th Rom 3. 27 28. Rom. 10. â— 6 8 9. Rom. 4. 5. Rom. 3. 24 25. Rom. 1. 17 and not the Law of works The unâ—odly and sinner at
awake arise and live he is the Spirit of life the righteousnesse of Christ declared and set forth by God in the Gospel and brought home to the soul of an humbled sinner by the word attended with the Spirit and the Spirit is life because of this righteousnesse life from the death of condemnation which sin deserved life from the death of sin life true and joyful 3. He circumcises the heart with a circumcision made without Rom. 2. 29 Col. 2. 11. hands In this work the word is the circumcising knife this knife is taken into the hand of the Spirit the heart is the part that is to suffer and not the flesh or body of the sinner the fore-skin is the superfluity of maliciousnesse and wickednesse Jam. 1. 21. Deut. 30. 6. the skin upon the heart the skin of other loves which oppose the love of God as self-love the love of the world the love which is called lust and the love of superstitious vanities and mens inventions in Religion and worship and the cutting off this fore-skinnesse is when the word in the hand of the Spirit and by it skilfully used getting between our hearts and them it makes the heart to see them to be such as the word sayes of them and to judge it self for them and to cast them away as unprofitable and destructive even because of Christ circumcised and made under the Law for us and for our deliverance from the same Law Untill this work be done no love of God can be wrought in us strange loves have the heart and when this work is done it reacheth to the circumcision of the ears and of the lips and of the whole man Insomuch that the body of the sinnes of the flesh the whole frame of sinful flesh suffers and is destroyed 4. He gives us spiritual senses and a sagacity and quicknesse of sente whereby he makes us savour spiritual things and to smell out and delight to pursue spiritual wayes this work is so eminent that the Rom. 8. 5. Isa 11. 2 3 newborn babe can taste distinguishingly the sincere milk of the Word fit to feed batten and make to grow from all adulterate stuffe and can see and discern judiciously the things of the Spirit of God from all other things and make up a right judgement concerning them and can in hearing try the words of doctrine delivered and try the spirits in the teachers the Spirit of Christ and the spirit of Antichrist the Spirit of God and the spirit which is of the world the spirit of truth and the spirit of errour In ordering his Conversation he can sente and smell the wayes of holinesse from those of profanenesse so that he is of quick understanding in the feare of the Lord and is sensible and hath his feeling of spiritual mercies and plagues of sin that annoyes spiritual life and of the power and spiritualnesse of Ordinances and Administrations from ordinances of men in will-worship and formal out-sidednesse and shews and florishes in administrations All this the new born babe is able to do by a naturalnesse like an instinct though for want of Art or of strength of the reasoning ability or not yet having the wits the senses exercised in the word of righteousnesse he cannot shew to his own or others satisfaction where the fault lyeth much lesse is able to dispute it and by arguing convince the evil doers the opposer and the pleader for the evil the quicknesse of spiritual senses doth grow as age in Christ cometh on the Spirit in this work rested upon Jesus Christ as he was man in all fulnesse as became our head and it is on every living member of his mystical body according to his place of membership as becomes such a Member 5. He writes his law in our hearts The Law 2 Cor. 3. 2 3 Rom. 8. 2 that is the summe of revealed truth both of the Law strictly so called the Law of the ten Commandments and of the Gospel this is that which is written the writing is such an engraving of the truth with love of the truth upon our hearts made soft tender and fleshy as that it cannot be blotted out The soul may be torn from the body but the truth cannot be torn out of the heart And this impression of the truth is such that now it is the Law of the mind which Laws the man It is the Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus as the Head and in them as the members this is an heavenly edition of the Bible so imprinted upon the soul that the man becomes a living walking Bible which print comes off so fair in the life of the regenerate and sanctified that they are the Epistles of Christ to be seen and read of all men 6. He gives liberty he sets us free from the law of sinne and death the title the dominion of sin is taken away that we may 2 Cor. 3. 17. Rom. 8. 2. Joh. 7. 37 38. 4. 14 become servants of righteousnesse 7. He is a spring and rivers of lâ—ving waters in our bellies flowing up within us unto eternal life Our hearts by nature are as a dry and barren howling Wildernesse not fit for habitation nor bearing any good plants untilled and horrid to the sight It is the Spirits work to be in us whom the Lord will save changing the very will breaking open springs and causing Rivers of sweet wholesome and healing waters of the blessings of the Gospel of all gifts and graces and grounds of comfort to flow within us even in the very heart and conscience in the belly of the man and there these waters to be not as standing lakes and ditch-water but ever streaming out and fed from the hid well-head of the holy Spirit When this work is in us then of Wildernesses we become fruitful Fields then we have within us Isa 44. 3. 49. 10. Joel 3. 18. Zach. 14. 8 that which will satisfie and will allay and quench our thirsts our souls will be as a well-watered garden whose waters never fail 8. He causeth all the fruits of graces fructifying to be in us and to abound in us all his fruits he maketh to break Ephes 5. 9 Gal. 5. 22 23. 2 Cor. 3. 18. 2 Cor. 4. 13. forth all goodnesse righteousnesse and truth love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance against which and such like there is no Law 9. He transforms us into the image of God from glory to glory 10. He enableth us to believe and Eph. 2. 18. Jude 20. Gal. 4. 6. to speak by confession to pray to the Father through Christ with gracious and fervent desires crying Abba Father to mortifie the deeds of the body our members that are on the earth and to be crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts Rom. 8. 13 Gal. 5. 24. thereof that old bel-dame original sin the sinfulnesse of our natures in which we
were conceived and born with all the cursed brats thereof inward and outward in which actual transgressions she hath been and is prodigiously fruitful To be purifying the soul in obeying the truth unto more and more unfeignednesse in faith love meeknesse patience and in every other 1 Pet. 1. 22 Ezek. 36. 27. 2 Tim. 1. 14 grace to walk in Gods statutes to keep his judgments and to do them and to keep the faith committed to our trust as a thing deposited In all these the actions are ours the ability is the Spirits these are the works of the Spirit sanctifying us 3. Manuduction or leading by the Rom. 8. 14. hand the new born and sanctified are at first weak as children and ever after in this life stand in need of a guide such a guide as might inwardly act sweetly and powerfully draw graciously support and gently lead all this the Spirit doth for the children of God this work is accompanied with familiar sense of love and faithfulnesse taking and holding us by the right hand that our souls might follow hard after him these mighty dawnings Psal 63. 8. and sustentations the more they are felt the more are they prayed for that they might run after Christ and the more the soul is powerfully enabled in these pursuits the right hand and dexrous power of the Holy Ghost is put forth to uphold us so much the more and this work is expressed further with counsel as David Ps 73. 23 24. said thou wilt guide me with thy counsel and with inward prompting and whisprings as of a voyce behind them saying this is the way walk in it when ye turn to the Isa 30. 21. right hand and when ye turn to the left 4. Teachings as the anointing this teaching is with sweet and piercing efficacy as oyle that suppleth and entereth soakingly into flesh and bone and it is 1 â—oh 2. 20 27. with the perfume of the aromatical spicery of graces like the holy anointing oyle under the Law mentioned Exod. 30. 23 24 25. It is also with great establishment in our Royal Priest-hood and in the truth of the Gospel which we learn by this teaching therefore the Apostle John saith we have an unction from the holy one 2 Cor. 1. 21. we know all things the effect hereof is great peace of heart as it is said in prophecy concerning the true Church especially under the New Testament Ministry All thy children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy Isa 54. 13. children 5. Consolation he is the Comforter by leading into all truth by bringing all things unto our remembrance by filling Joh. 16. 13. 6. 14. 2 us with joy and peace in believing by making us to abound in hope of glory through his power for the work is of Rom. 13. 13. 8. 15 16. 1 Joh. 5. 6. Rom. 8. 26. 2 Cor. 1. 22. 5. 5. Eph. 1. 13. 4. 30. great and infinite power to set the heart of earthy man of sinful clay and keep it up stedfast so high as eternal life in the world to come and in the third heaven by being in us the Spirit of Adoption in his work upon the heart by witnesse-bearing by making intercession in us and for us by being the earnest in our bosomes and by sealing us up to the day of Redemption 6. Direction inward a most secret 2 Thes 3. 5. work which hath two branches or parts first the directing of the heart renewed and sanctified into every particular acting of every grace received especially of love and hope Secondly the directing of the heart into a very sensible taste and experience of comfort The words of the Apostle when he saith The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God this love of God may be understood actively of the love wherewith we love God or passively of the love wherewith God loveth us 7. Corroboration this renders the sanctifyed mighty in doing and in suffering enlarged to receive and hold the strong wine of Gospel mysteries and to walk at liberty in the wayes of Gods Commandments making their way through all impediments and oppositions confirmed in the truth and enabled to stand fight and overcome in the spiritual warfare This strengthens with might in the inner man the regenerate and no other have an inner man this is from the gracious free-gift of God as the Father of Christ according to riches of glory according to his Ephes 3. 14 16 20 19. Col. 1. 11. glorious power and from the energy the effectual working of the power of God working in us exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think and this work is unto the dwelling of Christ in the heart by faith unto our rooting and grounding in love unto capacious comprehensions of the every way unmeasurable measures of the love of God and of Christ unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse in the profession of Christs name and Gospel and unto the filling with all the fulness of God even the fulnesse of his image 8. The giving of supplies which for the manner of the work is by influence from Phil. 1. 19 Eph. 4. 16. Col. 2. 19. Christ the head to believers as his members for measure it is in a proportion agreeable to the measure of every part for the things ministred grace and life spiritual and for the next end nourishment more firm knitting to the head and to every fellow-member and increase with the increase of God that is with a mighty increase an increase which beareth before it the work and blessing of no lesse nor of any other than of God himself 9. The shedding abroad of Gods love in Christ even the sense of that love in Rom. 5. 5. with the context from ver 1. to the 11. ver and upon the heart that lieth now next the heart nothing comes between this love and the heart it is plentifully poured on it this work strengtheneth hope patience experience joy in tribulations even unto glorying and holy humble boasting peace of conscience faith in Jesus Christ liberty of accesse into the favour and free-grace of God and standing in the same so that we joy in God against whom we have sinned this causeth all gladnesse more than that gladnesse of Psal 4. 7 8 corne and wine abounding more than all the comforts of this earthly Creation and it setleth the soul in holy safety and security 10. Assistance in persecutions this appears by special teachings of the Spirit to Mat. 10. 20 wisdome power and utterance which the Adversaries cannot gain-say or resist and by the resting of the Spirit on us as the Spirit of glory against the shame and as the Spirit of God against the pain of the Crosse by delivering also from the spirit of fear even a low pusillanimous slavish 1 Pet. 4. 14. base fearful perplexed selfish revengeful giddy turn-coat unsound