Egypt and its Bondage and the Law-giver from God to whose Laws they were bound in all ages to yeild obedience till the Messiah should be revealed So also the Son of man was appointed and is made of God the Redeemer and Deliverer of us Mankind from the hands of our Spiritual Enemies and from all that hate us Luk. 1.70 72 73. Especially his followers and obeyers those that believe in him and are made the Seed or Israel of God in and by him He being also as Abraham and Israel was their Father The Everlasting Father of this Spiritual off-spring Isa 9.6 And he is the great Law-giver to the World for whose Laws the Iles or Gentiles are to wait and to them to yeild obedience to the end of the World For the Lord is our Law-giver Isa 33.22 42.1 4. 2. Again as Joshua was a Saviour and the bringer of them into the Inheritance which God had promised to their Fathers delivering them from the Inhabitants of that Land the Cananites utterly destroying them before them and dividing their Land to them by Lot So also Jesus the Son of Man was to be and is exalted and lifted up of God to be the expeller and driver out of Sathan and his Angels the powers of darkness out of their possession and the bringer in of his People the Israel of God that follow him into the heavenly Country and City of God which he hath promised to the spiritual Israel that are subject to him driving out all the power of Sin and Corruption from them Yea and in due time driving out all the Tyrants of the World with their Captains and Ring-leaders into Destruction he shall possess his People of the glorious Kingdom and divide to them their several portions and rewards in giving the Kingdom and Dominion and greatness of the Kingdom to the Saints of the most high God whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and his dominion that that shall have no end Dan. 7.27 3. As they had Judges also to be their helpers and Saviours from their enemies and to judge and avenge them of them and order their Affairs So Christ the Son of Man is raised up and appointed of God to be the great Judge the pleader of the Causes and avenger of Man-kind against Sathan and the Powers of Darkness And more especially of his Israel the Seed and Sons of God through the faith of him against all their Enemies Yea the great Judge of quick and dead who shall raise up all from their Graves and gather them together from all quarters of the World determining all Cases deciding all controversies and finally disposing to every man according to his Works everlasting rewards or punishments in Justice and Righteousness And seeing his Sentences put in execution with great and irresistible Power and Authority Act. 10.42 17.30 31. But perhaps we might as well have reduced these last mentioned offices or honours unto that that follows Viz. That 4. Whereas they had Kings set over them to go in and out before them to be their Captains and Leaders and to appoint Officers under them giving them Laws and Commands fighting their Battels and so to subdue their enemies protect them in peace and quietness in the peaceable possession of their Inheritances and enlarge their borders c. And so Moses also was said to be King in Jesurun So Christ this Son of Man is lifted up of God to that Authority and Sovereign dignity made his King by him set upon his holy hill of Sion Psal 2.1 2 6 7. And Maugre all opposition made by the Heathen and People the Kings and Rulers the Jews and Gentiles Herod and Pontius Pilate and all or any of their Successors that set themselves against him Act. 4.26 29. The King of Nations Jer. 10.7 Yea Of all the Earth Psal 47.7 And the King of Saints Rev. 15.4 5. A Great King above all Gods Psal 95.2 The Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our Judge The Lord is our King and he will save us Isa 33.20 Yea and further 5. Whereas their Priests and Kings and once we find a Prophet was anointed by Gods appointment to their several offices and so designed of God to them upon which also as we sometime find God gave his Spirit to fit them for the discharge of them as thereby also they were seperated from others to attend unto God to serve him and his People therein and receive his help and supplies for the same So also the Son of Man Christ Jesus was to be and is and was anointed of God with the holy Ghost and Power Act. 10.38 To design seperate and authorize him to and furnish him for all those Offices and undertakings to which God appointed and called him As for the discharge of his Prophetick Office and work it is said The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to Preach glad tidings to the poor to bind up the broken hearted c. Isa 61.1 2. With Luk. 4 18 19. for by his word and the Divine force and power of his holy Spirit breathing forth his grace therein He is as a great yea the great and only Phisician of the Soul and his words do good like a Medicine being words of grace words of eternal life pleasant words that are like a honey-comb pleasant to the taste and healing to the bones Prov. 15.14 16.24 Wholsome and sound and healing words are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine that is according to Godliness 1 Tim. 6.3 4 Again it is said Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my soul delighteth I have put my holy Spirit upon him he shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles c. Isa 42.1 And as the great King the Great God and our Governour He is Gods Christ or Anointed whom he hath set upon his holy hill of Sion Psal 2.2 6. And anointed with the Oyl of gladness above his fellows Psal 45.6 7. And as the most holy even the most holy High Priest who is holy harmless undefiled seperated from Sinners He may be understood to be the Anointed or Messiah spoken of by Daniel Dan. 9.24 When he saith To Anoint the most holy And so that he was Consecrated that way also as well as by the word of the Oath Though the former was tipyfied in Aaron and his Sons Sanctified and Consecrated with the holy anointing Oyl powred upon and anointing them Exod. 30.29 30. Levit. 8.12 And the latter exceeded them Heb. 7.20 21 28 To Minister before the Lord for ever Sure it is that Through the Eternal Spirit he offered up himself as the spotless Sacrifice Heb. 9.14 And with reference to this anointing him and furnishing him with the fullness of the holy Ghost The Spirit of wisdom and of understanding the Spirit of counsel and of might the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord that rests and abides upon him and makes him quick
Power and Virtue to life Everlasting in his heavenly Kingdom But this excellent matter worthy to have been conceived in a more pure Womb or Mind and laid in a far better Dress then I have here wrapt it in as conceived and Discoursed of by me partakes of and evidences my great weakeness and as here Imprinted the Printers and Stationers too great Carelessness or Vnfaithfulness both which may gain it disrespect to many and is as here represented far short of that Excellency and Glory that Properly and Originally is its own and appertains to it and may perhaps meet with course Respect Censurings and Sufferings if it fall into some mens hands especially from the Scribes and Pharisees men Learned and of great Zeal for Gods Ordinances and Worship to appearance but yet such as have their Faith and Fear towards God taught them by the Traditions and Traditional Glosses of some Elders of their Party According to which also they Teach it to others and generally from Proud and Malevolent persons But yet if the Superfluity and Fleshliness of its Expressions in any thing being cut off by the judicious Judgment and charitable candid Constructions of the understanding Reader and it being Animated by the holy Spirit and his Presence and Blessing it be duly considered listened to and imbraced it will appear to have something in it of Virtue and Divine force So as that attending to the Truth and Spirit of it in singleness and simplicity of Heart it may be useful for Instructing Helping and Healing thy Soul but if Rejected or Abused it will rise up another day as a Witness and Judg against thee Take heed therefore good Reader to what thou Readest and take heed how thou Readest Hearest and Receivest it not judging of its Truth and Goodness according to the weakness in Phrase and Expression or the too many Mis-spellings and Mis-pointings in its Printing but according to its agreement in Matter and Desiâ—u with the Doctrine and Writings of the holy Apostles and Prophets That so thou mayst not fail of the Grace of God tendered in Christ to thee in and by it Heartily minding and obeying the Truth herein propounded thou shalt find I hope here-with and here-through Gods Blessing with thee and upon thee praying for which upon thee and upon all that hear it and to the same purpose committing thee to God with my self and weak Labours and Indeavours and desiring thy Charitable and Candid construction and kind Acceptance thereof and thy Prayers for me for further Grace and Mercy I leave thee and rest Thy Well-wishing Friend and Servant in and for Christ Jesus J. Horn. Lyn Febr. 6. 1673. REader there is a Passage in page 36. wherein I say the Apostles and Evangelists never call Christ the Son of man in their speaking of him which I should have restrained to the Writings of the Evangelists or also to the Epistles of the Apostles otherwise I must desire a Grain of Allowance because St. Stephen though indeed neither Evangelist nor Apostle yet a Holy man and Inspired by the Holy Ghost called him the Son of man in Acts 7.56 when he said I see Heaven open and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God And the Apostle John imitating or using the phrase of the Prophet Daniel saith of him I saw one like the Son of man Rev. 1.13 with Dan. 7.13 The BRAZEN SERPENT Or GOD'S Grand DESIGN Which is Christ's Exaltation for Man's Salvation in believing on him John 3.14 15. And as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whosoever believeth on him might not perish but have everlasting life CHAP. I. Brief Observations upon Nicodemus and our Saviours Discourse with him OUr Lord Jesus at Ierusalem wrought many Miracles at the Feast of Passover by means whereof many believed on him but he that knew what was in Man and needed not that any should testifie of Man knowing all men did not commit himself to them saith the Evangelist Iohn 2.24 25. But above all the rest who are left unnamed the Evangelist gives us an account in this Chapter of one man by profession a Pharisee the strictest sect of Religion among the Jews by name Nicodemus and by place a Ruler of the Iews and tells us what passed between our Lord and him as that he came to Jesus bâ— night He came to him as bâ—ing moved and drawn by the excellency of the Power of God that appeared in him and attested the truth and divinity of his Doctrine and so much he also tells him in his address to him making this Confession Rabbi or Master We know that thou art a Teacher come from God for no man can do those Miracles which thou dost except God be with him And yet he came by Night either being letted by his other business to come by Day or rather as being not yet so strong in his affection to him as for his sake to be willing to undergo the reproches and rebukes that an open Day-light resort to him and owning of him might have occasioned to him He loved yet it 's likely to retain his honour with his Brethren and to avoid the speech of People about him and yet so much he loved him as come to him he would and acquaint himself with him and therefore chuses to come to him by Night rather then not to come at all Nor doth our Saviour upbraid him with his weakness or brand him as guilty of Cowardliness for so close and hidden an acknowledgment of him but bears therewith till better knowledge of him and more acquaintance with him might put more Courage into him as afterward we find it did for he durst and did plead for him among and against his Enemies Ioh. 7.50 51. Yea and when he was in his lowest abasement Crucified and put to death as a Malefactor and was hanged upon the Cross or Tree in a most shameful and reprochful manner he durst and did own him so far as to joyn with Ioseph of Arimathea in bestowing an honourable burying upon his then dead Body Joh. 19.38 39 40. honouring him when dead whom all the Authority and chiefest of the Priests and Rulers had dishonourably persecuted while alive and ceased not until they had put him to Death yea and then also reputed and blasphemously spake off as a Deceiver yea he then owned him when the rest of the Disciples yea even the Apostles had forsaken and left him Surely our Lord herein set us a good Example verifying the Prophecy that went before of him viz. that he should not cry nor lift up nor cause his voice to be heard in the Streets that he should not break a bruised Reed nor quench the smoking Flax till he bring forth judgment into victory Isa 42.2 3. And also by shewing himself meek and lowly in this case Condemned that Pride and rashness of Spirit too ready to shew it self in others that are too apt to
them We may and ought then to attend upon Gods Ordinances whatsoever they be and expect his presence and promised blessing in and by them But so we neither may nor can by mens devices and human institutions God or Christ have not forbidden us to set up Golden Wooden Brazen or Silver Crosses to mind us of the Cross of Christ or represent him to us by drawing curious Pictures or making Statues for resembling him to us and therefore in such things or any of no higher Original or greater Authority then so as mens devised holy Bread holy Water Oyl Cream Spittle Crossing c. may we not look for or expect his blessing and presence with us Gods institution command and promise gives any thing to which they are annexed the virtue to be expected and upon those grounds such things are to be used according to his appointment I say according to his appointment because when even such things are otherwise used they may become rather hurts than helps unto us as we have an instance in this Brazen Serpent God commanded it and Moses set it up at his commandment to be a medium of conveying healing to the Israelites that were wounded not to be worshiped or censed either by persons wounded or healed but to be looked to by the wounded in order to their being healed And therefore Hezekiah did well and it s reckoned amongst his good acts that he pulled down this Brazen Serpent and brake it in pieces when the people went a whoring after it and burnt incense to it See 2 Kings 18.4 And surely to bowe down to and worship the mediums or matters of Gods Ordinances appointed only to be mediums of our remembring and worshiping him is a great abuse of them much more to worship such things as have only mans authority and not Gods in their institution and imposing as Crosses Altars Temples c. But as those things be hence observable so also Note That God is good to them that wait upon and follow him though he sometime punish them for their neglects of him and unbelief and distrust in him unthankfulness for his benefits or disobedience to his Commands yet he is both loving to and careful of them in their obeying following him Yea to those also who having moved him to anger and to punish them for their sins are by his punishments awakned to Repentance and brought to humble themselves before him for their offences and that is evident here in that when the people having by their murmurings against him provoked him and he had punished them with fiery Serpents that bit and wounded them yet when they turned again and humbled themselves and got Moses to pray for them upon his praying for them God appoints them this way of preservation He undertook to be their Physitian as well as their feeder to heal them as well as to nourish them And yet its worthy our notâ—ing That God did not grant the very thing they desired but what he see good to grant them and what might be better for them then what they desired The thing which they desired Moses to Pray for was That God would take away the Serpents God takes not away the Serpents but provides a means of preservation in case they were bitten by them He yet continues the chastisement to mind them of their sin and to nurture them to stand in awe of him which probably had he removed the affliction and danger they would soon have ceased from And yet he takes care that in obeying him and his appointment they might in such cases of suffering be kept from perishing thereby and therefore appoints a means to cure and heal them God is gracious to hear the cries of his poor humbled and penitent people though he doth not always grant the very thing they desire of him We are apt to savour the Flesh more then the Spirit and the things of Man more then the things of God in our afflictions desires of help in them But God consults the good and profit of our Souls more then the ease of our Bodies in his gracious answers to us we are too apt to be of this peoples strain in our desires in such cases Lord take away these Serpents Or as Pharaoh pray to God that these Frogs or Locusts may depart from us or that he will take away this pain sickness or the like Being more sensible of the trouble of Gods Chastisements then of the sins that occasioned them or apt to believe the good end of God in ordering them and the profit to us that he aims at in them or then we are desirous to be rid of the sin and to be made pertakers of the profit And truly Gods dear children are too apt to be led by sense in their desires in such cases as we may perceive in the Apostle Paul in what he relates of himself till Christ had better instructed him When God after he had rapt him up into the third Heavens had ordered to him a thorne in the Flesh a messenger of Satan to buffet him least he should be puffed up or be exalted above measure through the abundance of the Revelations given him he was weary of that exercise and therefore prayed thrice to the Lord that it might depart from him But after that Christ had told him that his grace was sufficient for him then he could most gladly rejoyce in tribulations infirmities necessities c. 2 Cor. 12.8 9. Christ dealt with him there in his desires as God dealt with these Israelites here He took not away the thorne in the flesh the grief and exercise that he complained of as he desired of him but he supplied him with his grace to bear it and receive profit by it Even as here he took not away the Serpents but caused a medecine to be prepared for them and proposed to them against the deadly hurt of them because he saw it might be more for their good and profit to be exercised still with them that in such exercise they might more prove his power and the sufficiency of his grace for them learn to hope in him stand in awe of him c. And is it not so with us as with them when God tries us with sickness or pain or bad neighbours or unkindness in and from Relations Oh how fain would we be rid of these troubles we are all for this take away these Serpents These exercises and afflictions but learn we here to know that God is good to us and will do us good in our turning and seeking to him though he answer us not just to our desires He sees afflictions and temptations be they what they will may be needful and behooful to be continued to us 1 Pet. 1.7 They have not yet perhaps had the end and effect in us and produced the good to us he sent them for He may see were they removed we would then grow neglectful or forgetful of him or grow worldly carnal careless
according to the testimony of God by his Holy Spirit concerning him Psal 106.3 and accordingly in their hearts liking loving and desiring after the knowledge and enjoyment of him trusting in and cleaving to him with purpose of heart Psal 31.23 Cant. 1 2 3 4. 2.4 5. 5.7 8. 8.6 7. 1 Cor. 16.22 Isa 26.8 9. Phil. 3.7 8 9 10.1 John 3.23 Acts 11.23 24. 2. In their word speaking nothing but what is high holy and honourable concerning him Holding forth the word of life and blessing and speaking well of his name Psal 47.6 7. 98.1 4. 66.1 2 3. 100.1 2 4 5. 3. In their Life and Conversation for there also he may be lifted up and glorified and magnified of us yea both in life and in death Phil. 1.20 As therein also he may be blasphemed dishonoured and denied as is implied 1 Tim. 6.1 Tit. 2.5 1.16 But surely he ought not to be denied blasphemed or put to reproch by us or by occasion of us He hath not so deserved of any man but to be blessed and highly honoured And that is best done when to a high commendation of him in our words we add also such a conversation and carriage as speaks him excellent in our esteems and experiences of him When we shew that he is upright and that there is no unrighteousness in him Matth. 5.16 2 Thess 1.12 Psal 92.15 1 Pet. 2.9 11 12. Now though the lifting him up by his Father in the acts done to him in his personal body in his calling him to upholding and accepting him in raising him from and rewarding him for and after his Sufferings and the obedience and service done and performed by him for us be the main and most fundamental lifting him up absolutely necessary with respect to us and our Regeneration and Salvation Yet I apprehend That the lifting him up also as to manifestation and commendation of him to and in the eyes of others both by the Spirit of God and by men especially his holy Saints and Servants that desire and are set for his Glory and the good of others is here also with the former way and acts directly included and intended And indeed as to his being lifted up of God both Father Word and Spirit it must be so as we have partly said because it was so purposed and decreed of God It was his purpose and grace given us in Christ Jesus before the world that is made manifest now by his appearance in what God hath wrought by and done to him for us 2 Tim. 1.9 10. And as for mans exalting him and lifting him up in his ministration and service in the Gospel and in heart and life it 's no more then God requires of us and his love and the excellency in and love of Christ to us obliges us to and challengeth of us And therefore so it must and ought to be also Psal 96.3 4. But because that must be lifted up the necessity of his being lifted up hath direct and main respect to the end whereto he is to be lifted up that is That whosoever believeth on him may not perish but have eternal life As also the necessity that he be so lifted up As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness hath reference thereto Therefore I shall not more fully speak to the necessity of his being lifted up and so lifted up till after the speaking to those two following Points The Son of Man must be lifted up that 's the second Point The other two follow in order The manner how and the end to which he must be and must be in such manner lifted up For I shall also leave the Use of all this till we have considered and viewed those Points also they both appertaining to the full view of this which is the main Point CHAP. VIII The third Point That the Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness Where several Analogies and Agreements between them are considered Point 3 HOw the Son of Man is to be lifted is the next Point to be spoken to and that is As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness In which may be implied 1. As verily and certainly as that was done so must this be done also and indeed that lifting up of the Serpent being a type and figure preaching forth this lifting up of the Son of Man must not be made frustrate for then as a type it should have failed and been false Where the shadow goes before the body follows And where the type and figure was fore-ordained to instruct into the truth that was to be revealed there the truth also thereby signified must in its time take place and be accomplished all things written of him in the Law of Moses also whether Prophecy or Type and Figure must be fulfilled Luke 24.46 But not onely so but also 2. As so As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness So even after such a sort and manner must the Son of Man be lifted up There is agreeableness correspondency and answerableness between the one and the other as may be seen in many Particulars As 1. In the occasion of it There the people walking in the Wilderness were disobedient murmured against God despised his mercy bounty and goodness and provoked him in wrath to send fiery serpents among them to bite and kill them and as a remedy there against that Serpent was commanded to be and accordingly was lifted up And so here men in the wilderness of thâ—s world being ransomed by Christ out of that sentence of Condemnation that lay upon us all for our first Fathers Transgression and under a state of much mercy and bounty from God yet not without trials and temptations are found sinning against God and despising the Heavenly Manna Christ Jesus and the knowledge of God in him and discontent with Gods dealings through the temptations of sin and Satan and so fall under his power and are obnoxious to destruction This occasions a necessity of lifting up the Son of Man both in his exaltation by God and unto men for their healing Yea our first Parents and we all in them being tempted though in a Paradise listening to the Tempter and siding with him to a discontent with Gods allowance to us in the Creation because one Fruit was forbidden and to a desire of and coveting after what was unlawful and forbidden us fell under the power of the old Serpent the Devil and Satan So as by him to be stung and wounded to death even a death of our souls and spirits from the life and favour of God and of both body and soul to be exposed to and filled with misery and mischief to destruction and as a remedy against that Bite it was necessary Christ should be lifted up on the Cross and dye for us and be raised up again and exalted to a state of Power and Glory for raising us up and so he is
upon and for him in observing all his Ordinances and Appointments and him in them all and to receive commands counsels and help from him and waiting patiently upon him for them Whence those expressions of Wait on the Lord and wait I say on the Lord Psal 27.14 37.34 And they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength c. Isa 40.31 Yea and in this waiting a diligent listening to him and observing his sayings and looking for his help Psal 85.8 130.5 6. IV. It 's a dependance or reliance on him as believing him and him onely able willing and faithful to help and save And this includes in it as also the betaking a mans self to him doth 1. A renouncing it self and all confidence in it self it s own power strength wisdom righteousness worth or merit as altogether weak and unprofitable to help save or satisfie it denying a mans self Matth. 26.24 And 2. A rejecting all confidence or dependance on others whether things or persons besides Christ and God in him as believing also an utter insufficiency or unfaithfulness in them and every of them to help save or satisfie us either by way of mediation for obtaining favour or dispensation of favours obtained either as to teaching and counsel or as to power and strength for defence and safety c. that in vain salvation is looked for to the hills or mountains or any thing besides him Jer. 3.23 And also 3. In betaking and yielding up it self to him there is a leaving it self wholly with him to his guidance government dispose and ordering as believing it shall find what it wants or is good for it in and with and from him Psal 62.1 2. 121.1 2. 84.11 12. Rom. 8.32 And 4. Going forth to act and obey bear and suffer what he orders not in its own wisdom and strength or in other creatures but in his light and direction strength and sufficiency expected and given as it was said to Gideon Go forth in this thy strength namely that which God in looking upon him gave him Judg. 6.14 So David saith I will go in the strength of the Lord God and make mention of his righteousness and of his onely Psal 71.16 And they shall walk up and down in the name of the Lord Zech. 10.12 Yielding up themselves to obey and follow him and relying on him for his direction and guideance therein to go before them shewing and leading them in the way and for his strength to enable support and save them harmless therein As Israel did when they followed God in the wilderness through the sea and over Jordan This is also called a staying on the Lord or on his arm or name or a leaning thereon Isa 10.20 50.10 Cant. 8.5 or on the worth and prevalency of his Sacrifice and Mediation for all our acceptance And this with trust or confidence And so V. It 's a committing a mans self and way and all his concernments to the Lord with an hope trust expectation and confidence that he will not fail or forsake him so as to check all arising fears either of Gods failing or of any mans or devils prevailing against him I will trust and not fear for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and song and he also is become my salvation Isa 12. â— We may boldly say The Lord is my helper I will not fear what man can do unto me Psal 56.3 4 10 11. Heb. 13.56 Fears and doubtings though they may be in believers yet they argue want or weakness of faith or of believing on him Mat. 8.26 14.31 Psal 42.5 6. This for the acts of this believing But we have also in this description 5. The extent of the exercise of this faith and that both 1. For matters or cases and that is for all grace and blessing The promises both of the life that is and of that which is to come being all in him and in him yea and in him Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 with 1 Tim. 4.8 We are in our selves empty and destitute of all things and of all ability to help our selves in or unto any thing poor miserable wretched blind and naked Rev. 3.15 16 17. Nor is there help any where else in any thing to purpose for us He onely is the Saviour ordained and perfected of God for us His merit righteousness and worth onely procures all and he onely dispenses all by his Word Spirit and Divine Power and Providence And in his way onely even in listening to his word and obeying his counsels and commandments all good and blessing is to be met with and received of us 2. For duration And so in all this is included continuance or perseverance For in these kind of speeches that is implied As when it is said He that believeth not is damned or the wicked man shall dye it s meant if they persevere to do or be so So it 's here He that continueth to the end shall be saved Matth. 24.13 He that abideth in him sinneth not that is misses not the promised blessing 1 John 3.6 But he that abideth not in him is like a branch that abides not in the Vine that withers and is gathered and is cast into the fire and burned John 15.5 6. And thus much about that believing that is required of us and is needful to our Salvation Now that this believing is both required of us by and is acceptable unto God is also evident 1. That God requires it these following Considerations among divers others make it evident 1. In that God calls to and commands it Look to me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth Isa 45.22 And the same is implied in all those calls and commands to make a joyful noise to the Lord to serve him with gladness c. Psal 47.1 62.1 2. 98.4 100.1 2 4. Yea in 1 John 3.23 it 's expresly said This is his commandment that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another 2. In that he hath given forth his word and raised up a multitude of Preachers of it Psal 68.11 Men and Angels and all creatures in their kinds praising him and preaching forth his excellencies Psal 145.9 10. 148. John heard them do so though few have so good a hearing as he had and therefore perhaps some may deny it Rev. 5.13 Especially his holy ones the holy Apostles and Prophets and their followers out of whose mouth God hath ordained praises Psal 8.2 And this for the obedience of â—aith in all nations Rom. 1.5 16.25 26. 3. In that he gives his holy Spirit to work in and upon men to strive with or judge in them as is implied in his saying My Spirit shall nâ—t always strive with man Gen. 6.3 See also Neh. â— 20 30. 1 Pet. 3.19 1.12 Acts 7.51 And in this Spirit and wisdom it is that Wisdom is said to cry without and call to men yea and to stretch forth
all sins and trespasses through the virtue of his most precious Blood Acts 3.19 Mat. 25.35 36 46. And thus being preserved and saved by him they shall not perish from the way nor in the end but shall have Eternal Life of which we have nextly to consider CHAP XIV Of the second Branch of the fifth observation what Eternal Life is and how the believer on Christ shall have it Qu. 3 THe third Query to be considered under this Observation is what that Eternal Life is which the believer on the Son of man shall have To which I answer briefly that 1. It 's not this natural life for that with all its enjoyments must and will have an end and its good to mind that and the shortness and hiddenness of the time of it and the hiddenness and oft times suddenness of the coming of death that we may not trust to this life or rest in any of its enjoyments but be moved more diligently to seek after and lay hold of that which is indeed Eternal life concerning which I may add that 2. It 's more and hath more in it then can be now either fully expressed or conceived only some hints of it we have in the Scriptures and according to them we may understand something thereof and so we find that it is variously set forth and spoken of in the Scriptures as sometimes 1. By the causes of it or that from whence it springs and issues and so 1. Jesus Christ himself is called Eternal Life the life of the believer when Christ who is our life shall appear Col. 3.4 I am the Way the Truth and the life Joh. 14.6 The bread of life that he that eats shall live by and shall live for ever Joh. 6 51. The resurrection and the life Joh. 11.25 Yea expresly that Eternal life that was with the Father and was manifested to us 1 Joh. 1.2 And we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding heart to know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus christ this is the true God and Eternal life 1 Joh. 5.19 20. And its true to say That he that believeth on the Son of man shall have him as in Heb. 3.14 Now are we partakers of Christ if we hold fast the beginning of our Confidence stedfast to the end we have and shall have him here with us and for us I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine Cant. 2.16 6.3 And he saith I will be with thee I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Deut. 31.6 8. Josh 1.5 with Heb. 13.5 And we shall have him for ever with us and be ever with him in the new Heavens and new Earth and new Jerusalem in the world to come Rev. 21.3 4. with 1 Thes 4.16 17. 2. The favour of God in Christ is life In thy favour is life Psal 30.5 And this he shall have that believeth on Christ the Son of man He that finds him who is the wisdom of God finds life and shall obtain favour of the Lord. Prov. 8.34 And this is such a life as nothing can happen to the believer on him that can extinguish it or prevail against it I am perswaded neither Life nor Death nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor heighth nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.38 39. That we believing on him should not be failed by him or deprived of his favour to us that 's without all peradventure included in it 3. The knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ is Eternal life This is life Eternal that they may know thee the only true God and him whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ Joh. 17.3 And this they who believe on the Son of man shall have for they shall receive the holy Spirit the Spirit of the Father and of the Son that shall teach them all things so as they shall not in the issue need to say one to another Know the Lord for they shall know him from the least to the greatest as is expresly promised in the Covenant or New Testament whereof Jesus Christ is the Mediator and which he hath undertaken to see performed to them that believe on him and depart not from him See Joh. 7.38 39 14.26 16.13 with Heb. 8.11 2. Sometime for the effect of Christ and of the knowledge and favour of God both as enjoyable here through faith and as enjoyable hereafter in the full fruition when those that see now darkly through a Glass stall see as they are seen and know as they are known 1 Cor. 13.12 And that effect is the living joyful happy state of the Soul and so of the whole man for ever as it is said He shall live for ever and he shall never die Joh. 6.51 58. and 11.25 26. Which is spoken of the Spiritual and Heavenly life or state of the Soul here and hereafter joyful and happy never to have end but especially of the state both of the body soul together hereafter and it includes and contains in it both 1. A continual living in a state of forgiveness and acceptance with God which is a truly joyful and happy state in which the Soul hath cause of real joy and gladness as it is said Blessed is the man whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin Psal 32.1 2. Blessed is the man who knows the joyful sound Psal 89.15 And happy is the man who hath the God of Jacob for his help c. Psal 146.5 6. A state in which the Soul is passed from death to life and shall not come into condemnation Joh. 5.24 2. A continual in dwelling of the the Spirit of Life as a Spring of Spiritual Life and motion toward God and for him even the Spirit of God which is the Spirit of life and the operation and efficacy of him in the Soul though not always sensibly felt here as it is said He that drinketh of the water that I shall give him it stall be in him a Spring of living waters springing up in him unto Etetnal life Joh 4.14 So as this Spring shall never fail him that believeth going on and continuing to believe on the Son of man 3. A continual state of safety from all evil so as to its being destructive or hurtful to the Soul or in due time affective and a state of Title to and Interest in yea and injoyment of all that is good in a first-fruits and by Spirit here and fully and actually and for ever hereafter there shall no evil happen to the just Prov. 12.21 All things are the believers 1 Cor 3.21 And all things shall work together for his good Rom. 8.28 Psal 25.10 The Lord God is a Son and a Shield and he will give grace and glory and
deprive our selves of such unspeakable bliss and happiness as cannot be conceived and plunge our selves into such miseries as cannot be imagined And yet evident it is that such folly and madness the world is greatly guilty of For evident it is that it generally rejects and treads under foot the Lord Jesus and the doctrine that declares him and is left to us by him in which is included our salvation and happiness Deut. 32.46 47. Prov. 4.13 Joh. 12.49 50. That the world generally slights both him and his doctrine the bleatings of the sheep and the lowings of the Oxen testifie that is the general Atheism Prophaneness Disorder and Wickedness the false Religions and Worships generally practised commanded or countenanced do loudly proclaim it Use 3. It may also provoke such as do believe on the Son of Man the Lord Jesus Christ to hold fast the faith and so their believing on him and by no means to suffer themselves to be withdrawn therefrom For let us consider with our selves that Consideration 1. If we turn away and fall from our dependance on him we turn after vain things and things that cannot profit because vain 1 Sam. 12.19 20. and so we deprive our selves of all the good in him and plunge our selves into all the misery that can be incurred by us For this eternal life being in the Son of Man Christ Jesus in departing from him we depart from it and losing him we lose it and he being the Saviour and Salvation in withdrawing from him we withdraw from it and lie open to all the evil that the unbeliever may fall into Nay indeed better never to have known the way or word of truth or the holy commandement or to have had fellowship with him then to turn away again therefrom for the latter end in that case is worse than the beginning 2 Pet. 2.20 Luk. 11.26 27. For as all that are far from him do and shall perish So he doth and will destroy them who go a whoring from him Psal 73.27 The consideration then of the certain danger of loss and misery yea of the greatest loss because of the greatest and longest abiding good and of the greatest misery because of the greatest and longest continued evill may move us all with all earnestness to hold fast the profession of the faith and the exercise thereof And that is one consideration often urged by the Apostles So in Heb. 10.23 24 25 26 29 39. Let us hold fast the profession of the faith without wavering not forsaking the Assembling our selves together as the manner of some is For if we sin wilfully after the knowledge of the truth received there remains no more sacrifice for sin but a certain fearfull looking for of fiery indignation which shall devour the Adversary For if they that sinned against so as they despised Moses Law dyed without mercy under two or three witnesses Of how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy that hath troden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace It is a fearfull or terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God And if any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him As also the Consideration of Consid 2. The exceeding profit and benefit accruing from the holding fast the faith and believing on him and the great incouragements we have thereunto These may more powerfully move us to it What is there better than safety from destruction and the injoyment of Eternal life in which there is an everlasting injoyment of God and Christ and of all that is or can be good and desirable and what have we to incourage to it and assure us of it To that consider Encouragement 1. We have to encourage us to this believing and holding fast the faith all the Trinity for us God the Father gave his Son to that end that we might believe on him and be saved and live for ever Joh. 3.16 And he fills strengthens and upholds his Son in and unto all his undertakings for us in order to the bringing us to that safety and eternal life and happiness Isa 42.1 5 6. Psal 89.20 21 22. And gives his holy Spirit in and through him to strengthen and help us therein against all that would harm us or pull us from it The Son himself or Word is for us in all he hath done and suffered and in all he now doth in heaven or earth in his mediation and intercession with God for us and in his government of the World in the name and power of God about us and his ordering of his providences to us Joh. 14 2 3 18. and 16.33 and dispences his Word and Spirit to that purpose to animate and hearten us thereunto and therein is working in us the works of God for us even what he requires of us Joh. 14.16 17 26. and 16.13 14 15. And the holy spirit encourages us by his word and by his heavenly and powerful working in us therewith and gives us all motives and inducements that may be with exhortations counsells promises c. to perswade and strengthen us And what shall we say to these things If God be for us herein who is he that is against us Or what is there that can be presented to our view that may so much discourage us as the consideration that God both Father Son and Spirit are for us may encourage us and hearten us Rom. 8.31 32 33. 1 Joh 5.6 9. Encour 2. Having God for us we have his creatures the best of them and all that are on Gods side to encourage us too We have the holy Angels to protect and defend us therein Psal 34.7 and 91.11 12. Heb. 1.13 14. This they will do for us while we are here and when we go hence they will carry us up to Christ or into Abrahams bosome to be at rest with Christ and his holy ones Luk. 16.22 We have the holy Apostles and Prophets and so the Spirits of just men made perfect for us both to encourage us by their testimonies instructions provocations and all means used in their writings left on Record for us animating and heartning us in believing on the Son of man and by their own practice and examples in all ages we have in them a cloud of witnesses going before us as a guide to us all witnessing to this That the just shall live by faith and shewing us by their examples how to exercise it and live by it Heb. 10.38 with 11 throughout and 12.1 and we have the living Saints the holy men led by the spirit of God to encourage and hearten us on For whatsoever difference there may be among such in any by-opinions or apprehensions yet they all agree in this That he that believeth on the Son of man the Son of God is in a good and right way in the certain way to happiness and shall in holding
fast and not turning therefrom be sure not to fail of it and we have their prayers for us that we may therefore hold fast and go on to the end with manifold provocations by word writings and examples to it Yea and many of our enemies too though they hate us for the the thing it self as practised by us yet they preach and approve what they hate in their doctrines and declarations even as the Jews approve and magnifie those Scriptures which hold forth what the Christians belieâ—â— though they believe not what is in their own Scriptures Joh 5.45 46. and 10.34 Yea and we have all Gods providences therein working together for us all things working together for good to them that love God all the paths of the Lord mercy and truth to them that keep his Covenant and his Testimonies Psal 25.9 Rom. 8.28 Yea all things ours Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the World or life or death or things present or things to come all are ours if we be Christs as Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3.21 22 Gal. 3.29 and therefore great encouragement have we to hold fast faith and go on believing in the Son of man the Son of God Encour 3. The great profit and benefit proposed to be received and injoyed in beleiving on him both the avoiding and escaping so great misery as perishing and the greatness of the good things contained in the eternal life to be injoyed a great recompence of reward Therefore cast we not away our confidence it 's life a Kingdom yea Eternal life and an everlasting Kingdom the Kingdom and Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ an eternal weight of glory Heb. 10.36 2 Thess 2.14 1 Pet. 5.10 2 Cor. 4.17 18. Yea and Encour 4. All the assurances given us of the certain fulfilling of what is said herein certifying us that we shall not perish but have Eternal life in such believing are strong Encouragements to us worthy to be minded by us As to say 1. We have Gods promise for it God that cannot lye hath promised Eternal life to the believer Tit. 1.2 1 Joh. 2.24 25. And faithfull is he that hath promised and he will perform it Heb. 10.23 And if we would trust an honest man upon his word or promise may we not much more trust God 2. We have the oath of God That by two immutable things in which it is not possible that God should lye namely his promise and his oath we might have strong consolation that flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us seeing therein appears the immutability of his counsel Heb. 6. 17 18. By my self have I sworn saith the Lord to Abraham and in him to his seed them that are Christs Gal. 3.29 that in blessing I will bless thee and in multiplying I will multiply thee Gen. 22.16 Heb. 6.13 And if we believe men upon their solemn oaths shall we not much more believe God when to confirm our faith he adds his oath to his promise ingaging himself thereby to the performance 3. We have manifold evidences of Gods truth and the truth of his Word in which these things are covenanted and promised all that evidences Gods truth and faithfulness in making good his words increases this assurance and that 's much as the casting off the Jews for their Idolatry and unbelief according to what or so far as Moses and the Prophets long since fore-signified Deut. 31.17 18. 32.21 22. 30.1 with Rom. 9 10 11.11 The calling and bringing in us Gentiles to be his people which was prophesied off long before while we were all worshippers of Idols and Devils Yet God hath made good this against all appearing probability even then when that one Nation that had the Oracles of God and boasted themselves to be his people and to have him for their God and he a greater God than all the gods of the Gentiles was for their sins rejected so as to have their City sackt and burnt their Land laid wast their people destroyed by famine pestilence sword and led captive into all lands and that by those who opposed the Lord his word and ways and were ready to attribute all their successes to the strength of their Gods or Idols and the ruine of their enemies to the weakness of their God Judg. 16.23 24. 2 King 18.33 and 19.22 Yet even then by the preaching of the Apostles a few despised persons he got himself the victory over them and brought in the Gentiles against all the malice of the Devils and thier worshippers to confesse him and his oracles the holy Scriptures Many other things might be noted to confirm the truth of the Scriptures as but I shall note it as another ground 4. The raising up Jesus and so sending us his own Son his only begotten according to the promises and prophecies that fore-went of him to be our Saviour the light to lighten us Gentiles and to be his salvation to the ends of the earth Act. 13.32 47. and 26.22 23. with Isai 42.1 6. 49.6 7 8. And he was discovered to be the Son of God by the testimony of the Scriptures of the Prophets by his own miracles and doctrine by the voyce of God and by the Spirit of holiness in the resurrection from the dead Joh. 5.36 37 39 and 20.31 Rom. 1.3 4. He as given of God for us and giving himself to be the ransome of our souls the propitiation for our sins the peace-maker and reconciler of us to God is an evident witness and assurance of the love and faithfulness of God to us and that in our believing on him he will be to us the Author of eternal salvation and everlasting life Isai 55.4 1 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 5.7.9 Having not spared his own Son but delivered him up to death for us all How shall not he with him freely give us all things Rom 8 32. 5. The holy Spirit given us as an earnest of the inheritance both as gifting the Apostles and believers at first with extraordinary and most usefull gifts inabling them to work miracles wonders and signs according to the fore-sayings of the holy Prophets Joel 2.28 29 in the name of Jesus witnessing therein to him and to the truth of his doctrine and also as inlighting the mind renewing the heart and assuring the conscience by his divine and heavenly operations in which we have included those three witnesses on earth mentioned in 1 Joh. 5.7 8. The Spirit inlightning and gifting the water washing and cleansing and the blood pâ—â—ging and pacifying and so the spirit by all assuring the conscience give assurance of Gods truth and faithfulnesse in making good his promises for saving the believer from perishing and giving him Eternall life Having therefore such motives and incouragements to believe and such assurances of welfare therein How should we not be strengthned to believe on him and to follow on to believe yet more and more strongly against all temptations and oppositions using
Peoples injuries and be sensible of their miseries He that toucheth them toucheth the apple patient bearing Injuries and Evils and going through with his Work so as nothing turned him back Isa 50.5 6. Heb. 12.2 Temperance for the Honours and Preferments Riches and Pleasures of this World could not move him from his course neither when Satan bad for his Service the Kingdoms of the World and their Glory Mat. 4.8 9. Nor when the people would have made him a King John 6.15 Prudence for its fore-testified of him by his Father Behold my Servant shall deal prudently Isa 52.13 And he is the Spring of all these Excellencies to all that listen to and obey his Doctrine giving them to know and understand all things Prov. 28.5 1 John 2.20 27. And to discern the things that differ and approve the things that are excellent Rev. 3.18 Phil. 3.10 11. Makes them to remember him and in him God and his Goodness and what he sees good for them by his Spirit bringing all things to their remembrance John 14.26 Cant. 1.4 Gifts them severally as he pleases with Knowledg Invention and Finding out of Secrets Prov. 1.2 3 4. Renews the Affections to love good and hate evil and in a word through the discoveries of his Glory he changes them into his own Image making them a new man indued with all manly Qualities and Virtues Righteousness Fortitude or Courage in induring Adversities and going on in his ways with all Perseverance Temperance in denying their Lusts and Appetites and living Soberly and Righteously in this present world and prudence in walking wisely yea in all wisdom to all well pleasing 2 Cor. 3.18 Ephes 2.6 and 4.15 16 21 22 23. Col. 1.9 10 11. and 3.10 Tit. 2.11 12. As may be seen in his Worthies who through the Faith of him have loved and wrought Righteousness so as for the sake thereof to suffer and endure all things as may be seen in that Cloud of Witnesses Heb. 11. with 1 Sam. 18.30 Gen. 39 1 2 8 9 21 22 23. Dan. 1.8 9.12.17 and 6.4 5. c. Yea 3. He had not only even in his mortal state too the perfections of the first Man as to matter of Virtue and Integrity of mind but also in that state he managed them far better then the first Adam did For Adam though in a Garden of delight or Paradise free from Infirmities in himself or trouble from without him having the abundance of all Delights or Mercies before his Eyes every one of which might have minded him of Gods Goodness and the good reason he had to love and cleave to him yet merely by the Temptation of a Creature fell from his Obedience at the first on-set Evah by the temptation of the Serpent and Adam by her suggestion But Christ who though in the state before his Incarnation was higher then the first Adam being the Lord in Heaven the Image of the Invisible God and so owned by the Angels as the Lord at his coming into the World before which he also lived with his Father in the height of Glory and Happiness Phil. 2.6 yet now in his Incarnate state had emptied himself of all that for us yet in this State though made in the similitude of sinful Flesh and compassed about with Temptations among Men and Devils though led into a Wilderness where he eat nothing for forty days and forty nights among no pleasant Fruit-trees or Objects of such Content and Delight but among wild Beasts tempted by Satan resisted him all along in manifold assaults and got the Victory over him and kept his Integrity Yea though all his life after he was set upon with diversity of Enemies and Assaults and met with nothing in the world in a manner but Trials and Griefs the worst Rejections Reproaches and Sufferings Yea though tempted both of Men and of Devils and tried to the uttermost by his Father yet held fast his Integrity and was obedient to the Death the Death of the Cross indeed for our sakes though as Innocent in himself as and more perfect in his conforming himself to Gods Will then Adam yet he was not here in the form of the first Adam while Innocent as to his outward man and state He was not so free from Mortality and Infirmity for he was tempted in all points even as we with Hunger Thirst Weariness Grief Torments c. nor had such power in the world over the Creatures as to his visible Form but was in the Form of a Poor-man and a Servant who had not whereon to lay his head Yea he was in all the state of the fallen man made sin and under the Law and bare our Curse in which he shewed forth the exceeding greatness of his Love and Obedience to his Father and Charity to us men Virtues far transcending all that was found in the first Adams acting though made good and upright Yet through Death having satisfied Gods Justice and pacified his Wrath for us overcome Death spoiled Principalities and Powers risen a Conquerour and gone up to the Right-hand of God As he was before much Higher then the first Man being the Lord in Heaven 1 Cor. 15.45.50 So now also he hath restored the Nature of man in himself from under all the Miseries that the first Adams sin occasioned to it and to him in it and hath Exalted it and is Exalted in it to far higher Happiness and so we find in him both as in himself before and as Man now 4. All the perfections of man that he first laid aside in his first appearance for us to suffer in the Flesh Yea all and greater then all Adam had in all the Honour God put upon him and the Provisions he made for him in his Innocent state For as he made himself of exceeding rich through his great charity and grace to us poor that through his poverty we might be made rich so to that end that he might inrich us He is become in the manhood far richer then the first Adam was for the Father loves the Son and hath given all things into his hands Joh. 3.35 So as all that the Father hath is his Joh. 16.15 and he is Lord of all Act. 10.36 He that was in the form of God made himself in the form of a Servant and in the habit of a Man even of an ordinary man for our sake having neither outward form or beauty when we see him that we should desire him nor Authority and Power to command any man but such as voluntarily became his Disciples but now the Sun is not so glorious much less was the body of Adam in his innocency as his body being glorified is Act. 26.13 Philip. 3.21 Nor is there any Authority beside comparable with his Adam indeed had Dominion over Gods works that are visible in Earth and Sea but all Authority both in heaven and earth is now given to him and he doth exercise it over them Adam knew how to call all the names
134.1 2. and Maidens Prov. 9.3 Great possessions of small and great Cattel above all others Heb. 2.6 7 8. with Psal 8.7 8. Yea The Silver and Gold is his Hag. 2.8 And the peculiar delights of Kings Cant. 1.4 and 3.9 10. Yea he hath Men-singers and Women-singers Psal 68.25 And the delights of the Sins of men Eccles 2.4 5 6 7 8. c. Psal 37.4 And all these are comfortable 6. It makes much also for our comfortable Living to have all such Gifts and Offices afforded us or persons indued with and set in them Wise and Faithful to use and discharge them as we stand in need of in their Exercise And he is and affords all such useful Mercies to us as flow from such Gifts and Offices needful for us â—â— to instance First We are foolish and need Instruction and Counsel He is the Counsellor to instruct and counsel us and Counsel even the Spirit of Counsel is with and upon him that he might direct and advise us Isa 9.6 and 11.2 Prov. 8.14 And he is free to counsel us yea calls us to him to hear him and receive his Instruction and is angry with men for nothing so much is because they will not be Counselled and Ruled by him Prov. 8.22 23. and 19.20 and 1.22 24 25 26 27 28 29 c. Secondly We are full of Diseases in our Souls and Spirits full of spiritual Weaknesses and Distempers possessed with evil Spirits or humours c. And he is the great Physitian and the good One going about and doing good and healing tendering healing to and ready to heal all that are oppressed of the Devil not denying or turning away any unhealed what ever be their spiritual Distempers that come unto him will wait upon him and be his Disciples and follow his Counsels Mat. 9.12 Acts 10.38 Yea he is both the Physitian and the Physick Gods salvation and saving health Psal 67.2 The knowledg of him healeth he that abides in him sinneth not he that sinneth hath not seen him nor known him 1 John 3.6 Thirdly We are beset with Enemies and he is the Man of War the Lord of Hosts to vanquish them for us and deliver us from them Exod. 15.3 6. Who hath spoiled Principalities and Powers and by his own Arm and his own Right-hand got himself the Victory and Triumphed over them through his Cross gloriously Col. 2.15 Psal 98.1 2. Exod. 15.2 Hath overcome the world and gives us the Victory through the Faith of him John 16.33 1 John 5.3 4. Fourthly We need Comfort and such to comfort us as know our Disturbances and Troubles and how to apply comfort to us and he hath the Tongue of the Learned and knows how to speak a word in season to the weary soul Isa 50.4 5. Having through Afflictions and Temptations gained all Experience â—he is fit to Sympathize with us comfort and succour us in all our Temptations Heb. 2.17 18. and 4.15 Yea he is the great Master of the Musick that makes and tunes Instruments to sound forth Melodiously his Praises and Plays skilfully upon them to make chearful his Friends and Servants the Prophet Ezekiel was as a Song of such a one Ezek. 33.32 Fifthly We are apt to Inthral our selves and we need a Redeemer and Redemption and he is both the Redeemer of Israel Isa 54.5 And made unto us of God Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 Buying us out from Gods displeasure and bringing us out from Bondage to Sin and Satan 1 Cor. 6.19 John 8.36 Sixthly We are Travellers and need a Conductor and Leader and God hath given him for a Leader to us Isa 55.4 Seventhly We are Souldiers and need a Captain and Commander and God hath given us him for a Commander Isa 55.4 The Author and Captain of our salvation Heb. 2.10 and 5.9 Eightly We are apt to fall out with one another and offend God and he is the Peace-maker the Peace between God and us and us with one another listning to and minding him he will Reconcile us and Unite us together Ephes 2.13 14.16 The Prince of Peace Isa 9.6 Yea the King of Righteousness and King of Peace Heb. 7.1 2. And our Mediatour and Advocate and Interceder with God when we offend him 1 Tim. 2.5 Heb. 7.25 Isa 53.12 1 John 2.2 7. There are many Services and Ministries useful and needful for the Lifes welfare and the comfortable Accomodations of men therein and such is his great Charity and Humility that Took upon himself the form of a Servant and was sound in Fashion as a man that to help us he refuses not to serve us in love setting us an Example of like Love and Humility that we also might serve one another in Love Not out of meanness of Spirit for he needs us not nor is there any more high and lofty then he Isa 57.15 But it 's his Love and great Condescention to us who Came not to be Ministred to but to Minister and to give his Life a Ransome for many Mat. 20.28 And was as one that served while his Disciples were as those that sit at Table Luke 22.27 And so 1. We are stript naked by our sins and our shame is laid open and we can of our selves get nothing but Fig-leaves to cover us and keep us warm now He not only provides us and is our clothing as we have noted but also makes them for us and puts them on us The Lord God made Coats of the skins of Beasts for Adam and his Wife and cloathed them Gen. 3.7 21. Now all things that were made were made by Christ Joh. 1.3 and therefore also those Coats for our first Parents and He hath made and must make our Garments for us and cloth us still Isa 61.10 Though he also requite us in his strength to put them on us putting off and laying aside our own raggs as he helps us Eph. 4.21 22 23. Rom. 13.13 14. 2. We need meat and he not only is it but also prepares it for us and is ready to minister it to us Wisdom hath prepared her feast she hath killed her killing she hath mingled her Wine and furnished her Table and as she useth the Ministry of her Maid-servants to call in her Guests so she also cryeth with them Pro. 9.2 3 4. And he tells his Disciples that if they watch for him and his coming he will make them to sit down to meat and he will gird himself and serve them Luc. 12.37 3. We need Habitations and Tents to dwell in and eat and drink in and he is the builder of the house for us Wisdom hath built her house she hath hewed out her Seven Pillars Prov. 9.1 And he that builds the house is more worthy honour then the house Heb. 3.3 And it s he that builds the house of God laying the foundation and bringing up the Head-stone and so finishing it Zech. 4.7 9. and 6.12 13. So that as he in the flesh was called the Carpenter so also now he disdains
glorious Body according to the working of that glorious Power by which he is able to subdue all things to himself Rom. 8.10 11. Phil. 3.21 Yea The Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty 2 Cor. 3.17 Oh how Excellent a Person then is Christ that is so comprehensive of all Good and Excellency even from the highest to the lowest Who is both Creator and Creature and hath the Nature and Perfections of both And hath had as well the Infirmities of the one sin excepted out of his great Love and Pity to us as the Form and Excellency Majesty and Glory of the other He that is the high and holy One the Great and Mighty God hath also cried out and acknowledged I am a worm and no man the very scorn of men and the out-cast of the people For he hath had the Experiences of Fallen man the Snares and Bitterness of Death and the Pangs of Hell as well as he hath had and hath experience and full injoyment of the infinite Joys and Glorys and inexpressible Satisfactions of Heaven and God no place is there wherein he is not and hath not been He was aâ— man on the Earth and sometimes Walking on the Seas Yea as to his Body he was in the Grave in the heart of the Earth though not left there to see Corruption and as to his Soul he was in though not left in Hell and yet he was Lord in Heaven and is so for ever 1 Cor. 15.45 John â—3 13 Psal 16.11 with Acts 2.31 Able to save us to the utmost while we are on the Earth and from Grave to Hell and to bring us to the Possession of Heaven and happiness For though he was dead to redeem us from thence yet he is now alive for evermore Amen and hath the Keys of hell and death to keep or bring us out from thence Rev. 1.18 and The Keys of the house of David too so to open as no man shall shut and so to shut as no man can open and he can and will admit into his Kingdom all that are faithful to obey and follow him Greatness and Goodness yea all Perfections and Excellencies are compleatly and everlastingly in him Oh therefore how ought we to admire and love him and with all acceptation to receive and cleave to him honour and obey him Surely that 's the way for us also to be made an excellent and precious People in the sight of God and useful to and among men For this also is of the Commendations of Christ that his Excellencies and Preciousness communicate and contribute an Excellency to all in whom he is It 's his Excellency as we noted before that renders the Gospel a more excellent and glorious Doctrine and so it 's his Excellency and Preciousness derived to them that makes his People those that own and believe on him to be a more excellent People then others as it is said The Righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour Prov. 12.26 it is because Christ is in them as it is said again God is in the Generation of the Just Psal 14.5 And the Riches of the Mystery of the Gospel Preached among the Gentiles is Christ in or among them the hope of Glory Col. 1.27 As Christ also prayed for his Disciples that they may be one as the Father and Son are one he Christ in them and the Father in him John 17.23 For as the Comeliness of Jerusalem and her Beauty that was perfect was so through his Beauty and Comeliness put upon her Ezek. 16.14 So the Excellency of his People is his Excellency put upon them who are said to have put on Christ and to be as it were clothed with him Now he being so precious how must they needs be also precious in and by him And indeed others who have not him and much more they who reject and refuse him lifting up themselves or other things and glorying in them are vile persons Psal 15.4 For indeed every thing or person according to the Spirit is to be accounted of as it hath reference to or hath more or less of or conduceth more or less to our injoyment of him And so those things or persons are to be more esteemed or chosen of us and loved by us by whom or by which we are or may be more led to Christ or built up in him or more of him and his excellencies are or may be conveyed to us But I may seem to have insisted too largely upon this Subject and to have made too long a Digression if I may call it a Digression and yet I may too truly say I have spoken nothing in effect to it but rather have but darkned wisdom by words without knowledge his excellencies being indeed such as cannot be so spoken or written of but that all that is spoken and written of them is as far below them as He who would go about to paint the glory and luster of the Sun would necessarily fail and fall short of its proper and native splenâ—or and glory in all his painting Verily though there be very much said of him and of his excellencies in the Scriptures yet it may and will be said when we come to see him and enjoy him if we being found in him shall be accounted worthy thereof as the Queen of Sheba said of Solomon when she saw him and his excellency and glory It was a true report indeed said she which I heard of thee in mine own Land of thy acts and of thy wisdom howbeit I believed not the words till I came and mine eyes have seen and behold the half was not told me thy wisdom and thy prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard So may we say then the Prophets and Apostles knew in part and prophesied in part not in perfection and surely that which is but in part will be found as short of that that is perfect as the capacities of a little child fall below the most perfect capacities of a grown and most accomplished man as the Apostle signifies in 1 Cor. 13.10 12. And surely if they knew and prophesied in part only what then could I do or have I done who have but gleaned some small part of what they have declared Surely I must needs have fallen unspeakably short of his infinite perfections whose Name alone is excellent and whose glory is not only above the earth but above the Heavens also Psal 148.13 For who can declare as I said in the beginning hereof all his mighty acts Who can set forth all his praises Psal 106.2 I should but still fall below him yea and too much darken his glory should I assay to add any thing more hereabout and therefore I shall say no more but rather desire and pray that the spirit of wisdom and revelation may be granted to me in the knowledge of him that the eyes of my understanding being inlightned I may know more distinctly for my self and for the
14.31 and the Love both of God and of Christ to us 1 John 3.16 17. and 4.9 10. able to move our hearts to love him again 1 John 4.19 Yea both his Love to his Disciples John 14. and 15.9 10. as an example and motive to us to love them that are his Disciples and our Brethren John 13.34 35. and 15.12 And his Love to those who were ignorant of him lost and perishing as an example to us to love such and a motive as we our selves were such to love such also with a love of compassion yea such as are strangers from us Eph. 2.11 12 13.19 2 Cor. 8.9 Rom. 5.6 1 Tim. 1.15 1 John 3.16 17. Gal. 6 10. Yea his Love to his Enemies is an Example and Motive to us to love to our capacities our enemies also Rom. 5.10 Mat. 5.44 45. Ephes 5.2 1 Pet. 2.21 Yea in this lifting up this Son of man by his Spirit is also the Presence and Efficacy of his Spirit as a Spirit of love to infuse love into us and frame us to love 2 Tim. 1.7 8. Yea Case 13. Would we be furnished with any Virtue and framed to and directed in any good way Look hither and behold Christ Crucified for us and lifted up there-through for and to us and here we may find Motive Inducement and Spirit to inable and frame the heart thereto Yea in most things if not in all Pattern and Example thereof as to say In Bowels of Mercy behold his mercifulness to us Luke 6.37 and 10.37 In kindness Tit. 3.4 In humbleness of mind Phil. 2.5 6 7. In meekness and lowliness Mat. 11.29 In gentleness 2 Cor. 10.1 In long-suffering 2 Pet. 3.9 and 1 Pet. 2.21 22. In forbearance and forgiveness Col. 3.13.14 In patient putting up of wrongs 1 Pet. 2 21 22 23. In love and obedience to God Phil. 2.8 John 14.31 In submission to Superiours in the World Mat. 17.25 27. Isa 49.7 In giving place to wrath Mat. 12.14 15 16 18 19. Isa 42.2 For mens loving their Wives Ephes 5.25 26 c. And to say no more Case 14. In case of loss of our Friends Brethren Relations Husbands Children c. as we have him for a Pattern of Submission to his Fathers Will in taking out of his hand and drinking the Cup he gave him to propose to our selves and imitate in looking upon him John 18.11 So also looking upon him as lifted up for and before us we shall see cause to be submissive to God therein For was it not more for God to give his Son for us and expose him to such Sufferings and Death then to take away a Son or a Daughter a Wife or a Husband or a Friend from us Seeing also by his Sons death he hath made a way through Death to better injoyments and greater happiness then they could have here in this life and hath given to his Son through his death the Keys of hell and death to bring or keep out from Death as he pleases Yea He is the Resurrection and the Life so as the Dead in him shall Live again Yea they do in their spirits live in his Presence and have a fuller Injoyment of him then we have while here Phil. 1.21.23 Rev. 1.18 19. John 11.25 26. And he is the Lawful and Sovereign Lord of all and so of us and ours a Just Righteous Holy Merciful and Good Lord whose Work is perfect and all his Ways judgment Deut. 32.4 Psal 145.8 9. and therefore doth us no wrong in any thing yea aims at our good and profit in all things Heb. 10.8 9 10. And if we believe that Jesus Christ Died and Rose again so we believe that them who sleep in Jesus God will bring With him for the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the Voice of the Archangel and the Trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first and then we that are alive and remain shall be caught up together in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air and so we shall be for ever with the Lord These words minded and these things looked to will be for comfort to us 1 Thes 4.14.17 As also that in the mean time the Lord is nigh at hand to us to help us and this Son of man as a Child born to and for us and a Son given us is also an Everlasting Father the Wonderful the Counsellor the Mighty God the Prince of Peace And he will be a Counsellor a Comforter a Provider for and Protector of us and better to us then many Fathers or Mothers Sons or Daughters Friends or Relations Isa 9.6 Yea in a word 〈◊〉 The looking to him is the way to have our understandings inlightned into all Truth our minds renewed our hearts cleansed comforted healed filled with peace joy hope and every good fruit our Souls saved from all evil of sin both guilt filth snare and punishment and from the pollutions of the World and power of Satan and so from every evil thing and our whole Conversation rightly ordered In a word it s the way to be saved from perishing out of the way and much more from perishing in the end and to have and injoy Eternal life Oh therefore let us in all cases and at all times look to him and wistly behold and view him and to that purpose Oh let us with David make it the one thing desired by us That we may dwell in his house and be always beholding the fair Beauty of the Lord and inquiring in his holy Temple Psal 27.4 Seeing also Motive 3. There is nothing else that we can turn to or look upon that can or will do any of these things for and in us no Law or Doctrine if this be rejected and put away or that is beside or swarveth from this no work frame or device of our own or others no Plaister Medicine or Course we can take will heal us in any thing so as to better our conditions For sure if Moses Law will not do it which was given from God himself the exactest and best that ever was given beside then much less will any humane Laws or Injunctions Impositions Works Ceremonies Practices of our own or others but if we turn from this Object we must needs go after vain things and things that cannot profit us because they are vain And though we may kindle fires to our selves and compass our selves with sparks and walk in the light of our own fire yet we must perish and lie down in sorrow 1 Sam. 12.19 20 21. Isa 50.11 Yea though we set any Precepts or Ordinances of Christ before us to observe and practise yet if we observe and practise them without seeing and looking to him and so believing and depending on him for wisdom Strength and Blessing we shall deceive our selves and do like them that made the Word of the Lord to themselves Precept upon precept Precept upon precept Line upon line Line upon line here a little and
there a little neglecting the vision of All the Foundation and Rest wherewith the weary should be caused to rest Isa 28.12 13 16. and 29.11 They that so do are so far from being healed and saved in and by such ways that they fall under reproof as taking the wrong course for themselves because not looking to yea are under greater misery and judgment for neglecting and despising this healing Object These things then being considered let us be exhorted to look off from other things as vain and unprofitable as being neither Crucified for us nor having a Name Power and Virtue able to afford Relief to us Yea oftentimes bewitching of and destructive to us as the Tree of Knowledg of Good and Evil was to Evah and the Wedg of Gold and Babylonish Garment proved to Achan and to look to Jesus the Author and Finisher of the Faith c. Yea let us look to him in all cases for all things in all means at all times and with all diligence and perseverance I say First Let us look to him in all cases for all Grace and Blessing needful for us As to say 1. For pardon of our sins for in him is forgiveness of sin Preached to us and to him give all the Prophets witness c. as we noted before in speaking to the believing on him to be exercised by us It is not for us to pore upon our selves and sins and think that way to get rid of them without looking to him in believing on him Nor is it for us to run to other Means or Medicines or trust to any Popes or Priests to pardon us but look to him directly as our only Saviour that having Suffered and Died for our sins hath there-through both Power and Readiness to forgive them and so we shall receive it of and in him 2. Let us look to him for cleansing from the filth of our sins For he is filled with Spirit and Power to that purpose the Spirit of the fear of the Lord is upon him to inable and furnish him to frame our hearts to fear him and in his Mediating and Ministring the New Testament or Covenant he puts the fear of God into the heart which is clean and leads to cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit and to perfect holiness before him Jer. 32.39 40. with Heb. 8.6.10 Psal 19.9 2 Cor. 7.1 And to that purpose look we to him 3. For Light and Direction in the Truth of God as it is in him and to receive from him that Unction by which we may know all things and be lead into all truth That Light that will guide our feet into the Paths of Peace at all times and in all cases for He is come a Light into the World that whosoever believeth on him might not abide in darkness John 12.46 And he Will bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles and cause his Judgment to rest for a Light to the people Isa 42.1 and 51.4 They looked to him and were enlightned and their faces were not ashamed Psal 34.5 All others are vanity and their works wind and confusion none of them where he is not can answer any thing Isa 41.28 29. Let us look to him for direction in our ways as well as for instruction to our minds that we may know and understand his will concerning us in what he requires of us as well as what he is and hath done for us for he is the Counsellor to Action and Practice as well as the Teacher of us in Faith and Doctrine and he will teach us his ways that we may walk in his paths Isa 2.3 It 's good to seek to him both in matters of Faith and Practice and not to lean to our own understandings nor take things on trust from men simply on the account of their Authority or Wisdom 4. For Spirit and Grace to incline our hearts to believe on him and walk in his ways For the Spirit is put upon him and he is the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost John 1.33 which he gives to them that obey him Acts 5.32 Thus we find David looking to him for by Lord he oft-times signified the Son see Psal 97.1.5.7 and 68.17 18 19. and 102.12.25 with Heb. 1.6.10 11. Ephes 4.8.11 for the holy Spirit and for its inclining his heart to his fear and way Witness these and the like Expressions Uphold me with thy free Spirit Psal 51.11 Thy Spirit is good lead me into the Land of uprightness Psal 143.10 Make me to go in the path of thy Commandments incline my heart unto thy Testimonies and not to Covetousness turn away mine eyes from beholding Vanity quicken me in thy ways Psal 119.35 36 37. 5. Look we also to him For strength to strengthen us unto every good way and work and to uphold us in all difficulties and against all oppositions for the Spirit that is upon him is as well a Spirit of Might as of Vnderstanding and Counsel Isa 11.2 And the holy Men of God have looked to him for strength both unto all good so David In the day when I cried unto thee thou strengthnedst me with strength in my soul Psal 138.3 Strengthen me according to thy word Psal 119.28 And against all evil and opposition as Vphold me according to thy word that I may live and let me not be ashamed of my hope hold thou me up and I shall be safe c. Psal 119.116 117. And so it s promised that they who wait on the Lord the Lord will strengthen their hearts and they shall renew their strength they shall mount up as with wings like Eagles they shall run and not be a weary walk and not faint Psal 27.14 and 31.24 Isa 40.29 30 31. 6. For comfort in Distresses Troubles and Temptations For it s he that prays the Father for and obtains and sends the Comforter even the Spirit of Truth John 14.16 17. and 15.26 And in his seeing his people or visiting them with his Salvation he makes their hearts rejoyce so as their joy shall no man take from them John 16.22 Thus David looked up to the Lord for comfort When wilt thou comfort me Psal 119.82 and When wilt thou come to me Psal 101.2 And Rejoyce the soul of thy Servant for unto thee do I lift up my soul O Lord Psal 86.4 But in looking to him for this and all other things take we heed to love him and keep his Commandments as our Saviour instructs us John 14.15 16 21. 7. For help and succour in dangers and deliverance from evils and from all enemies whether they be men or Devils For all Power and Authority in Heaven and upon Earth is his and he stands and feeds or rules in the strength of the Lord and in the Majesty of his Name and is both mighty to save his Servants and to destroy his and their enemies Mat. 28.18 Mich. 5.4 Isa 63.1 James 4.12 Thus David Mine eyes are evermore to the Lord for he
co-workers with and under him we are subject to his Spirit and sowing thereto we shall reap a good reward even life everlasting Gal. 6.8 Rom. 6.19 And indeed God will accept of no praises or commendations of him from us in which we neglect and lay by his Son the Son of man according to the measures of the Revelation given us of him seem our praises and commendations of him never so glorious The Pharisees would have had the blind man give the glory of his seeing to God so as to detract it from the Son of man as a sinner out of envy and opposition to him Joh. 9.24 But were they accepted think you in such a pretended glorifying of God Surely no Nor yet those zealous Pharisees and Jews who being zealous of God but not according to knowledge through ignorance of Gods righteousness went about to establish their own righteousness and submitted not to the righteousness of God which is Christ Jesus the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believes Rom. 10.1 2 3 4. and no better but rather worse be those Antichristian spirits who taking offence at the Cross of Christ and lifting up themselves above it not holding the head do talk of God and Spirit but so as they confess not Christ come in the Flesh but through their knowledge of him after the flesh and ignorance of him according to the spirit of God lay him by as an unprofitable thing or thing out of date as much as the Ceremonies of Moses Law Joh. 4.2 3. Motive 2. Herein we shall be profitable to men to whom we lift him up that being the way to do them good and bring them in to believe and so to be saved from destruction and be made partakers of eternal life And what can we do better for them then to be Instruments of so great good to them Indeed this is the way to be profitable to them in every thing for if we be means of bringing them to Christ and planting them into him then are we means of their being made apt and fit for doing that which is good and well-pleasing in the sight of God in all things It being the only thing that puts Men into a sound and right plight both towards God and men and then we are means too of their being made able to bear and endure all kinds of tryals and exercises profitably which may befall them Yea this is the way to make them live both comfortably and acceptably to God and to dy in the favour of God and so to be happy for ever There is nothing then wherein we can be more friends to men or more beneficial to them then in a due lifting up the Son of man before them in word and conversation therefore it is that God calls upon us so frequently to praise bless exalt and magnify the Lord even Jehovah which Title or Name is attributed to the Lord Jesus also And he must needs be included in the object of that act inasmuch as God accepts not of our praises to him but in and through him as was shewed before especially the Servants of the Lord who stand in the House or Courts of the Lord they are called upon to exalt lift up or praise the Lord or the Name of the Lord Psal 134.1 2. and 135.1 2 3. And they are they that are chiefly set in the World to be Instruments of good to and in it and this is the way in which they are directed to do Men good even by praising and commending the Lord to them as we might consider in viewing particulars how all their service in the House of the Lord and in the World is to be done with this Engine or Instrument the praising or lifting up the Lord the Son of man As for instance Instance 1. Would we convince the World of Sin for not believing on Christ the way of the Holy Spirit is to do it by witnessing of him lifting him up and setting him forth as the object to be believed on the Christ the Saviour the Son of God that hath dyed for them and is risen again this presently pricks them at the heart as it did those in Act. 2.36 37. at the Apostle Peter's Preaching and till Men see and be convinced that He is such a one they think not themselves guilty in rejecting him seeking safety and happiness in the works of the Law or some other things till Paul see that Jesus of Nazareth was such a Person He was so far from thinking that He sinned in not believing on him that He thought He ought to do many things against his name Act. 26.9 But when he came to perceive who he was then he was convinced of sin in that and judged himself for it ever after as unworthy therefore of such mercy as was conferred upon him 1 Tim. 1.12 13 14. 1 Cor. 15.9 Eph. 3.8 This then is our way to convince men of sin for their unbelief on Christ let them see that He is anointed and appointed of God to be their Saviour their only Saviour that He hath dyed for them and is risen again and is every way able and ready to save them and therefore is to be looked to and to be believed on for all grace and blessing and then they who thought before that they might not believe on and hope in him they are so bad and unworthy will see it s their sin not to believe on him and that that is a greater evil then all their sins besides as binding them all upon them and hindering them from receiving the pardon of them they may be convinced of other sins by the Law as Murther Adultery Theft c. But not of this that they sin in not coming to Christ and depending on him for all grace and blessing but in his being lifted up and evidenced to be so excellent and glorious an one Joh 16.8 9. And again Instance 2. Would we shew men the odiousness of all other sins how hateful they are to God and how needful it is that they turn from them to Christ to receive forgiveness of them and washing and cleansing from them The way is not so much to tell them of the Law and what that saith as to let them know what Christ suffered for them and that through his death and sufferings only there is forgiveness and cleansing of them that way will do it if men in hearing hear and in seeing see and perceive what is set before them as we shewed before Thus the Apostle saw and judged all to be dead and in an utterly lost state in themselves in this that One died for all 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Instance 3. Would we convince the most seemingly righteous and just man in his own righteous walking and working that He is a sinner lost in himself and needs to believe on Christ and seek Justification and Righteousness in him the way is to set forth Christ and lift him up as the Son of
dispensing to us his grace and blessing and so remaining as a perpetual High Priest for us and Mediator of God and us through whom we are to have all our access to and dependance on God in all things but as if Christ was gone out of the Flesh or Beeing of a Man again Or else or also 6. Talk of waiting upon God or the Spirit without use of or attending to the Means and Ordinances appointed by Him and the gifts given by him for our helpfulness dissolving Jesus at it were and loosing or dividing the Spirit from the Flesh or Humanity of Christ and so from the Means and Mediums appointed in liew of the Personal Presence of his Flesh in the World the Apostles Prophets Evangelists and other Ordinances given and appointed by him Eph. 4.8 11 12 13 14 c. Or whether He 7. Mock at or deny the glorious appearance of the Person of Christ as the Son of man sitting on the right hand of God and coming in the power and glory of God with all the Angels of his might to raise the Dead in Body out of their Graves and to judge them all according to their works condemning the wicked to everlasting misery for their obstinacy in their wickedness and giving an everlasting Kingdom and glory to all that have here believed in and obeyed him for these deny him a great part of the glory given him of his Father and so do not lift Him up but cast him down from his excellency Act. 10.42 and 17.30 31. Matth. 26.64 Luc. 22.69 c. Take we heed of all these Principles and Spirits as erring and not lifting up the Son of man and therefore not of Gods sending and owning CHAP. XXVII The second Branch of the use of Reproof viz. Of those who look not to Christ as lifted up of God his Spirit and Servants Use 6 Reproof 2 ANd as they are worthy of Reprehension and Reproof who lift not up the Son of man in their Doctrine or make not that their great design in order to the glorifying of God and doing good to others What ever or who ever else they lift up yea though they lift up as some do humane Virtues yea or Gods Gifts and Graces which are lift up out of their places when men lift them up neglecting him the right Spring of all truly good Works and the Author and Infuser of all real and right Virtues as discovered to and looked to by us So again many are greatly faulty too in not looking to and believing on him when lifted up as he is rightly lifted up in the Scriptures And indeed as the former sort are reproveable exceedingly as dishonouring God and Christ abrogating Gods Grace and obscuring Christs Glory so as men may not clearly see it and so are also very injurious and destructive to men hindring them of what is prepared of God for their Welfare and Happiness as was noted before And thereby also procure a woe and curse against themselves for how shall they escape the damnation of Hell who stand so cross and opposite to God in his grand Design and to Christ in the Honour due to him and to his Name and to the good of all men if they repent not Surely wrath is likely to and without Repentance will come upon them to the utmost 1 Thes 2.16 So also are they enemies to their own good and go contrary to Gods Ordinance Will and Command and by their evil examples are also at least prejudicial and injurious to others who when he is rightly lifted up of God and of his Spirit and his holy Apostles and Prophets as all their liftings of him up are right and by his Servants Ministers and Disciples yet refuse to behold and look to him and to seek their help and healing in and by him But either First Neglect him looking after and upon other things As the World and Flesh going in their hearts after their Covetousness their Oxen Farms Wives that I say not worse things as Hawks Hounds Whores Wine and Belly-chear Sports Pastimes c. like those in Mat. 22.5 6. Luke 14.19 20 21. and as those that look to their gain from their quarters neither sensible of their Wounds nor seeking to be healed of them they look rather on the Wine when its red or on Women or the Wedg of Gold c. Prov. 6.25 and 23.5.31 Josh 7. Or Secondly In case they be sensible that they be as it were bitten and punished for their sins If Afflictions Dangers Fears Poverty Pains or the like come upon them yet they look not to the Son of man for help or healing They turn not to him that smites them neither seek the Lord of Hosts but look to other things as their Policies and Contrivances for themselves saying In the pride and stoutness of their hearts the Bricks are fallen down but we will build with hewen stones The Sycamore Trees are cut down but we will build with Cedars Isa 9.10 13. Or else looking to those that smite them as instruments of their troubles thinking by complying with them and getting their favour and friendship and making them on their side shall be safe saying A confederacy to them that say a confederacy and staying upon them Isa 8.12 and 10.20 Or else looking to Humane helps and Carnal ways of defence and safety as when God brought War upon and discovered the Covering of Judah the weakness and nakedness of their Covering or else that Covering of his Spirit wherewith they should have covered themselves Isa 30.1 Even Christ as held forth to them in the Law and Prophets the true Propitiatory or covering Mercy-seat Rom. 3.25 then they not looking to that true Covering looked to the Armour of the house of the Forest and and saw the breaches of the City of David that they were many and gathered together the Waters of the lower Pool and numbred the houses and made a Ditch c. Such like Humane courses for safety they took But they looked not to the Maker thereof nor had respect to him that Fashioned it long ago looked not to the Lord the Maker Advancer and Blesser of their City nor to him that Fashioned it or made and fashioned the Covering wherewith they should have covered long ago Isa 22.8.11 Or they looked to Egypt and their Horses and Chariots Isa 30.1 2. but looked not to the holy One of Israel Isa 31.1 2 3. As men in a danger or fright that look hither and thither for help but look not to the true place for help So are men apt to look to Hills and Mountains in times of War in times of Sickness to the Physician as Asa 2 Chron. 16 12. and the like But seeing God hath set up and exalted such a one as is mighty to save the Son of man one chosen out of the People one who is one with us our Brother and Kinsman and so one compassionate of us as acquainted with our Temptations and Troubles And one that
upbraid the weakness and timerousness of new beginners Let us learn to follow his good Example and entertain any that come to seek Christ with us though they come trembling at the first and shew some fearfulness to be known by others to do so well It s an evidence of an hearty love when men will venture after Christ notwithstanding they know they therein go cross to the worlds opinion and do that which they would turn upon them as a reproch though yet its a symptome of weakness to be afraid or ashamed it should be taken notice of Let us incourage what is good and bear with and overlook the weakness cleaving to men therein So did our Saviour here taking occasion meekly to instruct Nicodemus into that which concerned both him and us to know viz. the necessity of Regeneration without upbraiding his weakness in the time of his coming for Jesus answered and said unto him Verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born again or from above he cannot see the kingdom of God There is an heavenly Kingdom or Kingdom of Heaven or of God spoken of by the holy Prophets chiefly by Daniel which was believed and looked for of the Iews though they mistook many things about it as to the spiritualness of it and the way to it Nicodemus therefore makes no question of that as to its being for indeed both the Baptist and our Saviour had preached its nighness and thereupon exhorted the people to repentance Mat. 3.2 and 4.17 yea the Pharisees afterward inquired of him of the time of its coming as taking it for granted that it would certainly come in its time Luk. 17.20 And the people thought it should shortly be manifested Luk. 19.11 And doubtless Nicodemus desired to see and enter it and therefore our Saviour here instructed and informed him what is requisite and necessary thereto affirming his Doctrine with a double asseveration Verily verily I say unto thee that except a man be born again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or from above he cannot see the Kingdom of God That happy state in which God more immediately ruling and bearing sway fills those that are subject and obedient to his Government with Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost here and with Life and Glory Everlasting in Soul and Body for ever hereafter is not to be seen known or injoyed but by new Creatures those that are born from above This earthly and carnal birth is so much defiled and ushers in such pollution of sin and mortality because of sin that we are not fit without another higher birth for the priviledges of Gods Kingdom into which no unclean or unrighteous thing as we all are by nature may find admission In this natural birth we descend of the first Adam as fallen from God and begetting in his own sinful and mortal likeness but its necessary to our injoyment of Gods Kingdom that we be born of the second Adam who begets Children in his image and likeness holy and heavenly ones Birth of Abraham Isaac and Jacob might suffice to give admission into the outward form and court of the Church and unto the Land of Canaan but to Heaven and the joys and glory thereof nothing but a birth from Heaven Nicodemus stounding at this Doctrine and yet believing Christ to be a Teacher come from God doth not reject it as false but inquires further into it of him who taught him it and who he thought also was fittest to inform him further about it and therefore asked him how it could be How can a man be born saith he when he is old as probably he himself was can he enter into his Mothers Womb the second time and be born in which he shews the grosness of his understanding as not being yet acquainted with our Saviours manner of teaching He its likely-thought and not amiss that our Saviour meant it of some more unwonted thing then were the legal observations or any thing they could confer on men and whether it might be some strange birth over again in the Flesh and perhaps in the Resurrection according to some fancies of the Platonists of all things after some long periods of time to be acted over again as before he might not know nor could conceive how a man could be born again but by such a reduction to his first entrance into the world again But it s better to shew our grosness of understanding and inquire into truths proposed to us of those that teach us them though we speak like fools therein then by an over-bashfulness or a desire to be thought wiser then we are to conceal our doubts and to pretend that we do apprehend what we are ignorant off for by so doing we deprive our selves of the help and instruction which by propounding our doubts however gross and ignorant our proposing of them may make us appear might be received and sure as the Apostle Thomas his doubting and expressing his hardness to believe occasioned a more full demonstration of the reality and verity of Christs Resurrection to the great benefit and advantage not only of himself but also of the whole Church in the present and following ages So Nicodemus his proposing his doubt here tho therein shewing the grosness of his understanding occasioned and received such further instruction into the nature and necessity of Regeneration as tended not only to his but also to our greater helpfulness and advantage For in ver 5.6 Jesus answered verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God That which is born of the Flesh is Flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit In which our Saviour shews that his words are not to be grosly taken as if he spake of a fleshly birth from the Mothers Womb but of a Spiritual and Divine birth the Principles whereof are Water and Spirit By Water signifying that knowledge of God that is often in the Scriptures compared to Water as Psal 1.2 3. Ezek. 47.3 4 5 c. Isa 11.9 Hab. 2.14 Or the free grace and love of God held forth and declared in the said knowledge word or doctrine The Water in the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 5.26 Grace being powred into the lips of Christ Psal 45.2 Or else also a submission to Christ in receiving him and his word and ordinances in being baptized into his name may also be implied and then the Spirit is that holy breath inspiration and working of the holy Spirit of God in and with the Doctrine of Christ which is afforded in his name working effectually upon the heart to the framing it unto the Faith and into the likeness of Christ and so effecting therein a new man a new mind judgment heart affection confidence and frame of Spirit Created after God in righteousness and holiness of truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Could a man be born never so often of the Flesh