require this the Apostle cals a shew of Religion which is hypocrisie and so at this day among the Fryars they have a shew of Religion they take up worships which God doth dot require of which it may be said Who required those things of you the Galatians did observe dayes and months and years therefore the Apostle is afraid that he hath bestowed his labour in vain upon them Chap. 4.10 11. 3. What was the spirit of their discipline and government they did affect primacy the Apostles were no sooner removed out of the world but this spirit began to spring up yea while some of them lived John 3.9 2. That that spirit did affect and exercise tyranny casting out of the Church such Ministers as were more faithful 3 Epist John 9.10 Diotrephes would not receive John himselfe nor his brethren nor would suffer those that would that spirit hath been in the Church of Rome from that day to this A second part of their tyranny was in imposing upon them unprofitable courses unprofitable they were because they did perish in the using Col. 2.20 to 22. 3. There was a spirit of coveteousnesse in Ministers they did not savour the things of God but did relish wealth and ambition Jude 11. they follow the wayes of sin as Cain did In Cain there was first hypocrisie he offers a sacrifice and when he saw his brothers sacrifice accepted being offered in faith and his not there arose in him a spirit of wrath which ended in bloudshed such was the spirit of Popery in Queen Maries days Some walk in the wayes of Balaam the wayes of coveteousnesse putting stumbling blocks before the people and that for covetousnesse sake Thirdly some have the gainsaying spirit of Korah they gainsay the Ordinances of God like as he rose up against Mâ—ses and Aaron this spirit breathing in Antichristian teachers at this day was hatched in the Apostles time There was a spirit of Schism in the Apostles time some saying I am of Paul and I of Apollo c. 1 Cor. 1.12 and so at this time among the Papists Jude v. 19. Vse 1. See the diligence of Satan to sow tares even in the Apostles times therefore Ministers should watch diligently over their people that no such spirit be sown in their hearts Satan will creep in by dissension the affections being once distempered the judgement will soon be corrupted Wherefore Ministers and people should have a speciall care of dissension for if dissension creep in then soon will you have your worship shut up and then there will be a wofull wast of Religion 2. See the impudence of Heretiques that dare look God in the face and rise up among his many bright and glorious lights in the Apostles times but let no Christians be discouraged by this but rather the more encouraged to contend and strive for the faith of Christ 3. This should teach Schollars not to take any ancient doctrine for truth till they have examined it Though Peter was blessed for the testimony of Christ one part of the day yet he was sharply reproved the same day trust not any doctrine almost in regard of the antiquity of it for it may be Antichristianism though in the Apostles times 4. If we would be growing up in grace from day to day take we heed of the spirit of Antichrist of taking up the worship which God hath not commanded take we heed of hypocrisie a spirit of Popery a shew of devotion Come we to the Sacrament as if we would receive the power of the Lord Jesus vailed in much simplicity take we heed of the spirit of Cain Balaam and Korah gainsaying the Ordinances of God but walk we stedfastly in that Religion we have received 1 JOHN 4.4 Ye are of God little children and have overcome them because greater is he that is in you then he that is in the world AS you had before in the former Verse a sign of the spirit of teachers so in these Verses you have a sign of the spirit of hearers which is double First Sign taken from victory which good hearers have got of bad teachers a good hearer is not overcome of bad teachers but he soon findes them out and overcomes them and this is argued from a double cause First They are of an higher off-spring then corrupt teachers are Secondly From the strength and excellency of their spirits above the spirits of worldly teachers Greater is he that is in you then he that is in the world False Teachers are set forth 1 By their Originall 2 By their false Doctrine He that knoweth God heareth us there is another sign of good hearers they did hear good teachers on the contrary He that is not of God heareth us not You see here First A difference between good and bad teachers good and bad hearers good teachers and good hearers are of God on the contrary bad teachers and bad hearers are of the World Secondly Here is a combat between good and bad teachers and a victory also Good hearers doe overcome bad teachers Thirdly You have the issue of the conflict good hearers overcome Fourthly The cause of the victory is the divine descent and excellency of their Spirit greater is he that is in good hearers then in bad teachers Fifthly Here is a congratulation little children you are of God Doct. That there is in the Church of God two sorts of teachers and two sorts of hearers some of God some of the world Quest Why are good teachers and good hearers said to be of God Answ 1. They are of God because they are of a divine Originall they are born from on high from the seed of the eternall God John 8.23 I am from above saith Christ and such are those that are regenerate they are descended from God whereas those that have no higher off-spring then flesh and blood are of the world 2. They both savour and relish that doctrine Rom. 8.15 They that are of the Spirit of God savour the things of God such as hold forth the mighty power of God veiled in humane frailties they are of God 3. He that is of God hath a place in the Church of God 1 Cor. 12.28 God sets the members of Christ in the Church this is a work of God ver 18. not any member of Christ but the Lord hath set him in that place as all men in the world cannot fit one member to the body but it would be both unprofitable and burthensome except God joyn it to the body so all the men in the world cannot put one member into the spirituall body except God put it in indeed those that are of the world they have a place in the Church too but yet they are not of the Church they are superfluous humors as Christ speaks of the Pharisees Mat 15.13 As it is never well with the body till the noysome humors be purged out so the Church will never be well till those superfluous humors are cut off Vse This
us so we should cleanse our selves from all sin because it is a remnant of filthinesse Vse 6. It may shew us the wonderfull preciousnesse of the bloud of Christ and the no lesse wonderfull favour and love of God towards us were not Christs bloud of wonderfull efficacy it could not cleanse such base filthy sinfull lusts so Gods favour were it not wonderfull he would not take upon him such an homely office Women if they were not Mothers would not take such homely offices up as to cleanse their Children from their filth why if God were not of the like affection to us he would not cleanse us from our filthinesse we count it an homely office to sweep sincks and scum pots c this is Gods office if he did not sweep the Sinck and scum off the scum of our hearts it would never be done and therefore it shews the tender affection of God towards us in that he is willing to take such an office upon him to cleanse us from our filthinesse he poures clean water upon us all other means will doe no good without him it is with us as it is with young Infants that would lie in their defilements if their Mothers did not make them clean and so would we even wallow in the defilements of sin if God did not cleanse us therefore admire Gods love and mercy towards us Vse 7. It is a good help to mortification if we consider what a loathsome thing sin is and what pure eyes God is of it would be an antidote against sin shall we commit such filthinesse in Gods sight to make our selves so base and loathsome before him Doct. All sin is unrighteousnesse and cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse that is from all sin Sin and unrighteousnesse the one explains the other Rom. 6.13 yeild not your Members weapons of Unrighteousnesse that is weapons of sin sometimes Unrightnesse is properly confined to the sins of the second Table as unholinesse to the first but sometimes righteousnesse comprehends the whole course of a Christian and Unrighteousness comprehends all sins 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reas Because every sin doth either God wrong or others or our selves Righteousnesse gives every one his due if we sin in temperance we debase and defile our selves if we sin in theft or slander we wrong others in their goods or good names if we worship not God as God if we keep not his Sabbaths or prophane his name we wrong God Vse 1. Shews the Error of those who think if they pay every man his own they are righteous men why doe you no wrong are you not sinners yes they will say why then you are not righteous for every sin doth wrong to God our selves or others Others say if they wrong any it is themselves why it is unrighteousnesse to wrong your selves 2. As you love innocency live righteously doe God no wrong others no wrong your selves no wrong otherwise you are unrighteous 3. For Comfort to any that have their souls cleansed by the bloud of Christ from all filthinesse we are holy set at liberty from all filthinesse and all unrighteousnesse Doct. Sin pardoned is ever cleansed sin pardoned is sin cleansed what sin God pardons the same sin he cleanseth Heb. 9.14 The same bloud that pardons cleanseth us from sin Reas From the power of the death of Christ which serves not onely to procure pardon of sin but likewise healing of sin for his bloud is offered up as a ransome for sin well then it is pardoned but it is not onely so but it is a means to kill and mortifie sin Rom. 6.6 there is a destructive power to kill sin as well as meritorious power to pardon sin now his death is said to mortifie sin in us 1. Exemplariter For if Christ be dead we also shall die with him to sin Rom. 6.9 11. 2. It hath a natural Efficacy as it is an object for us to look at as fearful and formidable when sin presents it selfe we look at it as crucifying Christ and shall we look on it without mourning Zech. 12.10 shall we wrong him so much as to crucifie him again 3. His bloud cleanseth sin in obtaining at Gods hand a Spirit of Sanctification which makes the death of the Head reach to the lowest Members of the body as when the head dies all the Members die so the death of Christ having obtained the Spirit of God from him if he our head die then we shall die to sin as the resurrection of Christ procures vivification so the death of Christ mortification Gal. 4.4 5. Obj If sin be always mortified where it is pardoned how comes it to passe that godly men fall so often into the same sin Doth not David confesse that there was a way of lying in him Psal 119.29 Remove from me the way of lying which implies it was not one act but a way a course that he walked in sometimes so Isaac Gen. 26. told the same Lye both to the Philistims and Abimelech so it was with Jonah he was froward before he went to Niniveh and froward afterward how is it then that sin may be cleansed and yet renewed and if renewed how cleansed Ans It is with Sin in this respect as with Sampsons Hair it may be cut but it will grow again Sin may be mortified in some kinde and yet renewed again because Sin in this Life is mortified but in part Pride Wantonnesse Coveteousnesse in part are mortified but in part alive and if we neglect the practise of mortification that sin we had got some mastery of we shall fall into again if Sin break out again it is because we neglect those means we should mortifie Sin by he doth not say the bloud of Christ hath cleansed us but cleanseth Doth cleanse implying that cleansing is a continued Act the bloud of Christ is a notable Medicine to heal Sin and purge from filthinesse but if a man neglect to apply this Plaister to his Soul it may not be so effectuall as it would Vse 1. For tryall whether our Sins be pardoned or no would you know whether your Sin be pardoned why then it is also cleansed if your Sin be not cleansed in some measure it is not pardoned at all therefore look at your Sins if they be healed then they are certainly pardoned for it is the same bloud of Christ that both heals and pardons Sin Hos 14.4 God doth not onely love freely and pardon graciously but he heals them also therefore consider doe you finde your Sins healed that is that they have not that power they had before doe they seem loathsome to you whereas before you delighted in them now in heart you hate them and in practise avoyd them then those Sins are pardoned and if he pardons one Sin he pardons all his pardons are universall but if a man live in Sin still and love it as well and is no more ashamed than formerly he had been but goes on in the same
our reconciliation then it shews us what we are without Christ enemies to God and such enemies then if all the Angells and Saints in heaven should put in for us they could not make propitiation for us it is only Christs Prerogative Col. 1.21 Rom. 5.20 Ephes 2.3 we are enemies and strangers to God and all our imaginations of our hearts wholly evill continually we are ready to delude our selves I hope I am not so farre out with God I am not an enemy but we are all so by nature Vse 3. It should teach us when we doe find and feele that we are sinners to consider of Christs Reconciliation and Propitiation Q. I doe believe that Christ hath made an Attonement for sinners and reconciled all Beleevers but how shall I know that I am of that number or no Ans 1. Hath Christ ever brought you to see Gods face with comfort if you have at any time beheld Gods face with joy and comfort know that this could not be unlesse Christ had been a Propitiation for you Obj. I but that comfort is all gone again Ans No man that is brought into the Kings presence stands alwayes before him but there is a time for the King to sequester himselfe from him so there is no Christian that stands alwayes in the presence of Gods face it is enough if thou hast been brought to kiss Gods hand and taste of his favour Obj. But I have never felt any comfort or joy in Prayer and other Ordinances Ans 1. I would ask you Are you fallen out with your sins if you be you love God and are beloved of him Psal 97.10 2 Doe you finde that you love God much for you have been a great sinner and yet God hath had mercy on you if so it is a sign much is forgiven you 3 Do you finde your hearts compassionate over other mens sins it is a sign yours are forgiven Matth. 17.23 to 33. Eph. 4. ult Vse 4. If we find that we are enemies to God and our peace is not made with him it is our wisdome to pacifie God doe as Adoniah did when he had offended King Solomon he ran and tooke hold of the hornes of the Altar 1 King 1.15 so we should run and lay hold on Christ as he that had any benefit by a Sacrifice was to lay his hands on his head so would you have any benefit by Christ lay hold on him confesse your sins over him intreat him to make your peace with God Q. But how shall I know whether I lay hold on Christ A. 1. No man layes hold on Christ but he takes him for better for worse he takes him to be a Ruler as well as a Saviour you must give up your selves to be guided by his will as well as to receive any benefit by him 2 If you finde your hearts wholly resting on Christ and none but him if this be the frame of your heart that there is none in Heaven or Earth that you desire in comparison of him Psal 73.25 then you have laid hold upon him Vse 5. For Christians that have their sins pardoned and are in Christ though it be thus with you yet you are not to think that you have no need of Christ for were you as St. John and the Apostles Pillars yet you have need of an Advocate and Propitiation still for in many things you sin daily and fall out with God so that if God should fall out with us as often as we with him we should never have peace therefore still goe to Christ intreat him to be your Attonement from day to day Christ is not only a Peace-maker but a Peace-keeper we daily offend God or others or our selves and therefore stand daily in need of Christs mediation We have much need of Christs Spirit to helpe us in our prayers Vse 6. Of consolation to every Christian soul to consider in the midst of our sins that we have Christ for our propitiation to keep our peace with God there is not a day passeth over our heads wherein we fall not out with God and if Christ should not put in what would become of us but here is the comfort Christ is our propitiation and therefore it is certaine and sure that he is more able to keep our peace than we are to breake it and besides he hath taken it upon him he hath made it his Office to be an Attonement between God and us and here is also further comfort that he hath not only been a means of reconciliation but he hath manifested it unto us he hath brought us to see Gods face with comfort But this is not all but here is matter of further comfort in that he being made a propitiation for the whole world the whole World shall be at peace with us there is a reconciliation betwixt me and all the Creatures I have comfort from every blessing from Christs Propitiation Job 5.19 and 23. so that whatsoever a Christian meets with whether good deeds or bad persecution c. why this is his comfort that the whole world shall be for his good though I meet with crosses and afflictions it shall be for my good from this ground that Christ is a propitiation for the whole world Vse 7. Seeing God hath made so large an Attonement for all let us draw one another to take heed of sin to run to Christ make use of Christs Attonement and take heâ—d of sin this use old Eli made 1 Sam. 2.25 If one man sin against another tâ—â— Judge shall judge it but if a man sin against the Lord who shall plead for him If you fall out with God and walke in sin who shall make your peace with him that is a work no friend you have can doe no meanes you can procure can make up that breach none but Christ and you must not presume upon Christs mediation he will not be a baud to any ones sin that is a sign of Reprobation to turn Gods grace into wantonnesse Jude 4. and take heed we doe not offend Christ it is notable counsell God gives to Moses to deliver to the people Exod. 23.20 21.22 Behold I send an Angel before thee that is Christ the Angell of the Covenant beware of him provoke him not he will not spare your misdeeds for my name is in him if you doe willingly sin against him he will not pardon you therefore encourage all the friends you have to make use of Christs Reconciliation he is a propitiation for little children vers 1. for young men for old men in the following verses for all that are willing to lay hold on him this use Paul makes 2 Cor. 5.19 20 21. this is the chiefe point of the Gospel that God hath made Christ a propitiation for sin therefore we beseech you to make use of it take not Christs blood in vain beware to offend his grace and mercy and labour to bring on all to Christ since the propitiation is so generall seeing there
God was fore-warned of Antichrists aforehand Q. When or by whom were they fore-warned A. Our Saviour forewarns them of Antichrists and false Teachers Matth. 24.24 25. unto which words Saint John seems to have reference so also the Apostles were careful in fore-warning them 2 Thes 2. from the third Verse to the tenth 1 Tim. 2.3 4. 2 Pet. 2.2 3. which was expresly spoken of Rome Rev. 18.13 so we see by the mouth of two or three witnesses this truth was confirmed Reas 1. To prevent the mis-conceit that the people had that the Day of the Lord was near at hand and thereupon began to think it was no time to settle to their Callings but to give themselves to vigilancy and prayer 2 Thes 2.1 2 3. to prevent this conceit he tells them expresly Antichrist must first come 2 That they might be the better fore-armed against such false Teachers for there should be damnable Herisies 2 Pet. 2.2 and not as points of curiosity only but contra dogmata fidei therefore that they might prepare themselves against such heresies Christ and his Apostles were carefull to fore-warn them Mat. 24.24 25. 2 Pet. 3.17 18. unlesse you be well established in the truth they will carry you away into errour 3 That they might quicken the Pastors of the Church to lay sound foundations that they might establish them in sound Doctrine Acts 20.28 29 30. Vse 1. Shews the great faithfulnesse of the great Shepheard of our Souls Christ Jesus in fore-telling himselfe of Wolves coming and stirring up his Apostles to doe the like Vse 2. It may teach both christian Ministers and people to practise such duties for which end he writes these things one main end is to establish them in sound Doctrine that so whatsoever false Teachers say yet christians may not be seduced for if they gave warning so long before much more now we know this to be come to passe therefore let not Women or little Children excuse themselves for God looks that you should be so grounded in the truth that no Seducers may carry you away Doct. 3 In the days when St. John wrote this Epistle many Antichrists were then come into the World 1 Joh. 4.1 2 3. This is the first place that mentions Antichrist expresly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies first opposition as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 secondly substitution as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pro consul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thirdly it signifies equality 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now Antichristos includes all as one that is opposite to Christ so he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 secondly he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is substitute or vicar of Christ hence the beast that came out of the Sea had the horn of a Lamb as if he had the power of Christ thirdly he is Antichrist that is one that carries himself as equal to Christ therefore he dispenseth with those laws which no mortal may dispence withall as incestuous marriage and he binds the consciences of men Jam. 4.20 now it is proper to the law of Christ to sit in the conscience therefore he may well be called Antichrist but yet of these he is properly called Antichrist in the former sense that is one that opposeth himself against God and Christ and all Emperors and Kings Bellarmine excuses the Pope from coming to the Nicene Council saying indignum est caput membra sequi Secondly lest he should sit beneath the Emperor which hee thought unmeet therefore he may well be said to exalt himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Thes 2.4 above every Cesar and yet here is the misery that he carries himself as a Vicar of Christ yet can oppose himself against Christ Q. But how were many Antichrists then come A. In ecclesiastical Histories we shall find that St. John lived about an hundred years after Christ and was born about the same time with Christ now about the year 26 after Christ Histories report there was Simon Magus who seemed to be the great power of God and to be he that gave the Law in Mount Sinai 2 He gave out that it was he that was crucified under Tiberius Cesar here was an Antichristian spirit and I was saith he that Holy Ghost that descended on the Apostles so that he denyed both the Father and the Son after him sprang up Menander that affirmed that it was he that died for the World and that all that believed on him should be saved In those times Ebion taught that Christ was but a meer man and held circumcision necessary and in his time lived Cerinthus who retained all the Judicall Law and denyed Christ to be God Act. 15.1 and he is held to be one of those that held the World to be made by Angells and he was the root of the error of the Chiliasts all these lived in Johns time Vse 1 It shews us the marvelous enmity of that wicked one that as soon as ever Christ had sowed good seed that evil one sowed tares this was the subtilty of that old Serpent to sow errors before the truth could take firm rooting Vse 2. Hence we see the impudency of Heresie especially when opposition is set on fire of Hell that such monstrous opinions should be broached in St. Johns time that envied against them and wrote against them and therefore we must not wonder if Heresies sine pudore broach themselves in the Church for even in St. Johns time a sâ—n of thunder that shook them down mightily yet even against him were these Darts shot it must therefore stir up Christians to ground themselves in the whole Counsel of God do you think if such Heretiques did not blush before St. John they will blush before us Hence wee see the truth of God is of more power than the spirit of Error for though there were so many heads of Error yet they all fell down before the Doctrine of St. John so that this writing remained when all they were lost magna est veritas prevalebit therefore such is the power of truth that it dispells all Errors 3 It confutes boasting of Antiquity every ancient thing is not true for then these false Heresies had been true but yet there is Antiquity which springs from the first institution and that is prevalent there is a secondary antiquity that is Tares that are presently sowen after the good Seed yet though they were sowen the very same day yet secondary antiquity will not justifie their Doctrin but that which comes from the institution by God Doct. In the coming of these many Antichrists that which was told aforehand of the coming of Antichrist is in some measure fulfilled For otherwise St. Johns discourse would be somewhat impertinent to what end doth he say Ye have heard that Antichrist shall come and that Antichrists are come already And again he doth argue from the last times to Antichrist and from Antichrist to the last times reciprocally which reason were not of strength unlesse it were
gives them such unfeigned humiliation and broken-heartednesse and such castisements that they recover themselves that all the World may see neither doth the church allow it nor God but as they were patterns of sin so they shall be patterns of Repentance 2 Sam. 12 11 if David doe fall into scandalous sins God will follow him with such chastisements that God will manifest he is no approver of such courses and David himself shall proclaim that he repents unfeignedly so that he was not so carefull before to cover it as he is now to divulge it and declare that it was the cause of bitter anguish to him so that neither God nor the church nor themselves approve of their sin but are against it Vse 3. It may teach Gods servants to make an holy use of other mens falls Dost thou see Professors fall into loose wicked courses and give no testimony of their repentance why God hereby would manifest that thou art sincere and upright God hereby prevents thy mis-leading by their evill counsell or practise blesse God that hereby he purifies his Ordinances and wipes away the soyle of his church he wipes their face by casting out such and especially make this use Be not high minded but fear fear that God that is able to cast men from one sin into another Isa 6.2 3. Why did the Angel there sing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Holy Holy Holy c. why because he was to send the Prophet on a Message to harden the wicked and make their hearts fat Vse 4. To exhort all in a speciall manner to take heed of Hypocrisie if we take up a course of Religion and good duties at home and abroad we think that God will be mercifull to us but let us see that what we doe we doe in spirit and in truth Heb. 12.13 Lev. 10.3 God will certainly discover us scarce ever any lived that dyed in Hypocrisie but he was uncased before his death there is nothing so secret but it shall be revealed Hypocrisie must be manifest to all men though there were good hopes of them yet God washes off the spots of his church and not only at the last day but in this World therefore let it not suffice you to live in the church for you may be as ill Humours and so annoy the church of God and it will be well that you be cast out or at the best though you be ornaments and supporters to the church yet you are but as glasse eyes and wooden leggs why God may stay long for the good of his church but certainly he will lay you open to some corrupt Doctrine or way that you shall be manifest 2 Tim. 3.9 why vers fifth he tells you what they were They had a form of godlinesse c implying it is a mad course to be an Hypocrite for by his outward profession he gets the ill will of wicked men and for want of sincerity he gets the ill will of God There are sundry signs of this Hypocrisie 1 If thou findest in thy self an hatred of admonition Mat. 14.4 Herod was impatient of admonition therefore he put John in prison and thereby manifested his hypocrisie 2 If thou beest given to praise wicked men and accompany with them Prov. 13.20 Prov. 28.4 that is a fore-runner of forsaking of the Law 3 When a man makes no conscience of his tongue but lets his tongue run at random to passion oc rayling or slandering Jam. 1.26 4. If you see any man living in any known sin and delighting in it it is such a link as the Devil will chain him fast by 5 When a man shall make use of Religon to any other end than for Gods glory if you make Religion a stalking-horse to your own ends certainly you will fall off Joh. 6.26.60.66 those that followed Christ for the Loaves not one of them continued with him 2 King 10.29 Acts 8.17 to 23. When Simon Magus would make use of Spiritual gifts to get money he was in the gall of bitternesse and bond of iniquity his heart was not right therefore as you desire to have fellowship with God be sincere and upright 1 JOHN 2.20 But ye have an Vnction from the holy one and know all things THe Apostle having instructed little Children that Antichrist would come and described him vers 18 19. in this verse and the next he propounds some means to help them 1 An Unction within themselves whereby they know all their seducements and snares vers 20 21. 2 The second means is from the corrupt and false doctrin of these Teachers who is Antichrist but he that denies the Son whose doctrin perverted that unction which they had received vers 22 23. In the first means observe 1 A benefit received an Unction 2 The Author from Christ 3 The vertue of it whereby you know all things you know the truth and that no lye is of the truth To begin with the first the benefit Ye have an Vnction Doct. There is not the least of the Children of God but they are partakers of an Oyntment of Christ you little Children have it Vers 27. There were three sorts of Functions in the Old Testament into which they were instituted by Oyntment Kings Priests and Prophets Kings 1 Sam. 13.10 11. so Priests Exod. 29.7 so Prophets 1 King 19.16 now Christ being ordained to be King Priest and Prophet therefore he is called the Anoynted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joh. 12.15 Luke 1.32 33. Heb. 6.20 Heb. 7.24 Acts 3.22 23. all other Unctions were but types of him therefore he is said to be annoynted with the oyl of gladnesse above his fellows Psal 45.7 he was not only gladded himselfe but all the ends of the earth were made glad by him therefore he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now because he was not a type but the person typified he was not anyonted with material oyl but with the Spirit of God which is the true Unction Acts 10.38 Luke 4.18 Dan. 9.24 hence called Messiah in Hebrew the same with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek from this Oyntment of Christ we are annoynted by the same Unction as Psal 133. so that spirit which was poured on his head descended to his lowest members 2 Corinth 1.21 22. yea to the skirts of his garments so then we are annoynted by the Spirit Now fitly are we laid to be annoynted by the Spirit as it were by Oyl in a Four fold respect 1 As Oyl hath been used for healing Wounds Luke 10.34 so when the Spirits of men are wounded by the sence of sin God poures in such an Oyl of his Spirit that he heals and binds them up 2 Oyl hath a suppleing softning and lithniâ—g power so Gods Spirit makes us nimble and agile to every good work in the East Countries they used to annoynt Wrestlers and Runners to make them more nimble and quick such use is the Spirit of to make us quick and ready to run the wayes of Gods Commandements Ezek. 36.27
the whole man the understanding will and affections 2 Cor. 7.1 1 Thess 5.23 Well then may it be called a lively fruitfull hope Reas Hope comes to all the ordinances of God with expectation that it shall finde benefit from the Word prayer and good company Hope waits on God for good in every ordinance and then it never goes away empty it strive before it comes to prepare the heart and to cleanse it from all filthinesse Vse 1. This may discover unto us the wonderfull loathsomnesse of sin If sin were not an excrement why should we purge it out We purge out nothing but filthy loathsome things and therefore when hope is said to purge it implyes that sin is loathsome 2. Hence discern the soundnesse of our hope Do you finde your hearts daily striving to â—leanse your selves if not thy hope will make thee ashamed If thy hope do not set thee on work every day to cleanse thy heart truly thy hope is nothing but a vain delusion and nothing will more sting thee at the last day when thou shalt hope for heaven thou shalt be cast out of Gods presence 3. Let it teach all Christians as they would not be ashamed of their hopes to make their calling and election sure Let their hopes make them purge and cleanse themselves And let not Christians think it is enough to purge themselves but they must purge their families A Christian must suffer none in his family to be uncircumcised God would have killed Moses because he had one uncircumcised Magistrates must cleanse their Towns and places where they live Good Josiah when he was to celebrate the Passover he set himselfe with all his heart to purge Jerusalem and Judah Doct. 3. The purity of Christ is the pattern of every Christians purity Or thus Every hopefull Christian makes Christs purity the pattern of his 1 Cor. 11.1 Heb. 12.12 Be ye followers of me as I am of Christ Set before you a pattern of a cloud of witnesses 1 John 2.6 He that abides in Christ ought to walk as he hath walked Why should every Christian make Christ the pattern of his purity 1. From the end of Gods predestination He hath predestinated us to be conformed to the image of his Son Rom. 8.29 And God in all things requires that we should grow up to the fellowship of the stature of Jesus Christ 2. From the perfection of the pattern All other patterns of godly men will fail us in some things but Christ is a perfect pattern he will fail us in nothing Vse 1. This should teach us to reject the society of such men as inwardly loath the name of Puritans alas if they cannot endure the name of purity in poor weak Christians how would they hate the purity of Christ If they cannot endure the brightnesse of a candle how will they endure the brightness of the Sun and yet they say they love Christ But if they have not purity how can they love Christ and if they love not Christ they are accursed for ever 2. This reproves those who though they do not hate purity yet they think themselves very well if they exceed the worst sort of men they are no whore-mongers nor theeves nor deceivers Alas if there be no more then morall honesty they shall come far short of Heaven 3. This reproves the Romish Church that think ordinary Christians are not bound to so strict a pattern as their regular Christians Did ever any of them reach higher then Christ and is not every Christian exhorted to set Christ as a pattern 4. This reproves another sort of Christians who if they have got but such a measure of grace as they are assured to be in a state of grace they never look further but now they look out for themselves in the world as if they might rest in what is behinde and never presse forward to what is before them contrary to Paul Know O Christian it is not enough to get truth of grace nor some purity but you must grow pure as Christ is pure Vse 2. This may exhort us all as we would maintain our hope to be made like Christ hereafter so to strive to this exactnesse of purity to purifie our selves as he is pure If you would be hopefull Christians you must be growing Christians growing up to the measure of the purity of Christ decay in growing and you decay in hope No Christian so full of joy and hope as he that is every day getting something and growing up to perfection 1 John 2.6 Phil. 3.12 13 14. Motives to stir us up to grow in grace 1. So soon as you slack this care your hope faith and grace waxeth weak If we see our bodies do not voyd excrements for many dayes we think our bodies are not in a good state but some diseases lye on us How can we have an healthfull soul when we purge not our corruption many a day 2. From the great uncomelinesse that is in us if we do not strive to be pure Is it not an uncomely thing to see the head to be of gold and the members partly brasse partly clay and dirt 3. It 's very grievous to the Spirit of God that we should be no better for all it hath dwelt so long in us When Christ had been long with his Disciples and they were not bettered by him he up braids them O foolish and slow of heart to believe how long shall I be with you It was a griefe to Christ that he should be long with his Disciples and they not to grow up to strength of grace Obj. But doth not virtue consist in a golden mean Ans Virtue consists not in a mean between two degrees but in a mean between two extreams You may exceed the bounds of righteousnesse and so be unrighteous but you cannot exceed the degrees of righteousnesse Christ saith Be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect Can you then be too pure and holy No you cannot though you were as full of gâ—ace and holinesse as Christ himselfe 4. As ever you desire to be worthy partakers of the Sacrament then labour to purifie your selves The reason why many a christian comes to the Sacrament and finds no comfort is because they grieved the Spirit of God before they came by neglecting to cast out those obstructions which hinder the influence of the head to the members 1 Cor. 11.30 31. Means to help us to purifie our selves 1. Be perswaded that you are not in a safe estate till you are grown up to some good measure of purity You would think him in a poor case that should live 200 years and yet for want of evacuation should live in sicknesse and weaknesse And so a christian is in an uncomfortable estate unlesse he purge himselfe 2. Be very watchfull over thy wayes 3. Use the ordinances of God constantly Say not after conversion It is no matter whether we be alwayes conversant in Gods ordinances but at some times when the
And how dare any appear that dare claime grace and glory of merit In the continuance of his faithfull obedience who dare claim the least mercy ex condigno how much lesse eternall life Whereas è contra Gods servants doe not think God beholding to them for their service but they never think themselves more engaged and beholding to God then when he inables them to most service they say with David Who are we that we should be able to offer thus willingly 1 Chron. 29.14 they know every jo◠of mercy is free grace every sin pardoned is free grace No Malefactor on earth but if the King send him a pardon he acknowledgeth it to be of the Kings free grace and Royall compassion but yet the Synagogue of Rome will not acknowledge Gods pardon to be of free grace but Gods people acknowledge they are 〈◊〉 but as dead dogs before God and were at not for the free grace of God they had never seen life Vse 2. Of exhortation to all the sons of men that never look after Christ why as ever you desire to see me and that life for ever look up to God for it to derive it from him it is his free gift Every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts Prov. 19.6 Shall we respect Princes so that have but earthly honours and profits to giue that we think it our happinesse to doe them any service and shall we neglect God that hath such great gifts to give even eternall life and a Kingdome of glory it is God that gives us these naturall lives and that gives us power to get wealth Deut. 8.18 nay it s he that gives life of comfort and the life of justification and holinesse and also the life of glory and shall we neglect this great gift and more respect the poor comforts of the world then him in whose hands is our breath and life Skin for skin and all that a man hath will he give for his life he means for his naturall life and shall eternall life lie by like a refuse thing that no man looks after Vse 3. Of tryall whether God hath given us this life or no and this we may discern for the eternity of the gift consider whether there be any eternall life shed abroad in thy heart or not hast thou found any pardon of sins that whereas thou sawest thy soul as a dead dog for want of this life now God hath justified thee from thy sins Why the life of justification is eternall life if he hath once pardoned thy sins he will remember them no more Jer. 31.33 Secondly Hast thou found a spirit of life in thee to obey and serve the Lord Rom. 8.2 Why this is eternall life that will never decay John 17.3 hath God shed abroad the comfort of his Spirit and the joy of the holy Ghost into thy heart which is better then life Psal 63.3 this is eternall life which though it may be sometimes overwhelmed yet it shall spring up again as trees after winter if thou finde none of these works in thee then thou hast no life Vse 4. Of consolation to all those that have received this life if we have found the life of justification in the pardon of our sins the life of holinesse in our Christian obedience if we have found the lively comforts of Gods Spirit Why know this is a life that will never decay this is the record of God himself that the life which he hath given us is eternall life it was given us before we were born and will he take it away when we are born that which he gave us before there was a world he will not take away when the world shall be no more it comes from everlasting principles 3rd therefore it cannot decay if therefore we finde this life in us we may be assured that God hath given us this life will preserve it to eternity if it be eternall how can it decay Therefore let us walk worthy of this eternall life and pray with David Consider me Lord if there be any way of wickednesse in me and lead me in the way everlasting Psal 139. ult Sinfull lusts are dead lusts and what hath eternall life to doe with dead lusts keep your hands off from a sinfull carnall life but lay fast hold on eternall life 1 Tim. 6.12 get sure possession of it and let neither Satan not the world wrest it out of your hands 1 JOHN 5 11. the latter part And this life is in his Son Doct. THe Eternall life that God hath given us is laid up for us in Jesus Christ John 11.25 26. Col. 3.3 John 14.6 This life is fourfold of Justification Sanctification Consolation and Glorification All these are laid up in Christ Jer. 23.6 He is the Lord our righteousnesse Psal 4.1 2. For them altogether see 1 Cor. 1.30 He is made our Wisdome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption Our Redemption not onely from the guilt eternall and punishment of sin but from all the afflictions both inward and outward that Gods servants he exposed unto as for inward temptation in sicknesse and griefs c. Col. 3.3 Your life is hid with Christ in God It s sometimes under a veil of corruptions sometimes of affliction but yet laid up in Christ Quest How is our life said to be laid up in him Answ 1. Because he hath received it for us from God the Father to give unto us John 5.21 26. 1 Thes 5.9 10. He hath appointed us to salvation through Jesus Christ that so whether we remain alive or die yet we may live in Christ 2. Christ hath purchased this life for us 1 Thes 5.9 10. the Father hath not onely appointed us life but he hath appointed it through the death of Christ John 10.10 I am come that my sheep may have life and that they may have it in abundance and this is by giving his life for us 3. It s laid up in Christ as one that prepares it for us and us for it Col. 1.12 it s he that makes us meet to be made partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in light that whereas before we were unfit now he hath adorned us and made us fit Spouses for himselfe which he doth by turning us from darknesse to light by giving us of his Spirit by dispensing himselfe to us in his Sacraments and Christian communion wherein all the members receive nourishment from the head Eph. 4.16 and as he thus prepares us for eternall life so likewise he prepares a place for us John 14.2 3. 4. It s reserved for us principally in himselfe notwithstanding the communication of it dayly to us Jude 1. we are said to be preserved in Jesus Christ to life all our life of grace here and of glory hereafter is preserved in Christ First Because all the claim of eternall life is laid up onely in him we neither desire nor beg any pardon of sin or any grace or comfort or glory but through Jesus Christ