Patern or Exemplar of it As we are one The Explicatory Questions are two I. What kind of Unity this is that is prayed for II. Under what respect it is prayed for in this place I. What this Unity is How one One in Judgment or one in Heart or one Body knit together with the same Spirit I answer All these For consider for whom Christ prayeth for the Disciples o◠that Age and principally for the College of the Apostles now saith he Let them be one There is a double Unity Mystical and Moral 1. Mystical Union is the Union of Believers with Christ the Head and with one another with Christ the Head by Faith and with one another by Love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 understand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So it agreeth with the Letter of this Place nay with the Meaning This Union of Believers in the same Body is often compared with the Mystery of the Trinity and it is elswhere expressed by one Body as Col. 2.19 And not holding the Head from which all the Body by Joints and Bands having Nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the Increase of God a place full to this purpose where all Believers in regard of their Union with the Head and with one another are set forth as one Body governed under one Head by one Spirit by which they increase and grow up till they come to such a kind of Unity as is among the Divine Persons I cannot exclude this because where Christ's Prayers are indefinite it is good to interpret them in their full latitude and according to the extent of his Purchase And yet I think this is not principally intended because as I said Christ chiefly prayeth for the Apostles and Disciples of that Age not for the Church Catholick or Universal 2. There is a Moral Union and that is two-fold 1. Consent in Doctrine 2. Mutual Agreement and Concord of Affection As it is said of the Church Acts 4.32 The multitude of them that believed were of one Heart and one Mind One Heart that noteth Agreement in Affection and one Mind Agreement in Judgment for both these doth Christ pray 1. Let them be one in Doctrine and Judgment Christ had intrusted them with the weightiest Affair the Sons of Men are capable of with the promulgation of the Gospel a Doctrine which Christ brought out of the Bosom of the Father and gave it to the Apostles and they to the Church and Christ obtained that which he prayed for There is such an exact consent and harmony between the Doctrine of the Apostles that is a sufficient Foundation for the Faith and Unity of the Church For the Faith of the Church 1 Cor. 15.10 11. I laboured more abudantly than they all yet not I but the Grace of God which was with me Therefore whether it were I or they so we preach and so ye believed We have no cause to stumble and take offence at the Doctrine delivered by the Apostles tho God used several Instruments of different Gifts and Opportunities of Service yet all were conducted by an Infallible Spirit So we preached all of us c. So for Unity and Concord in the Church Ephes. 4.3 4 5. Endeavouring to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace There is one Body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one Hope of your Calling One Lord one Faith one Baptism c. 2. Let them be one in Heart and with joint consent carry on this great Charge that is committed to them So did the Apostles by unanimous consent divide their Labours for the Edification of the World and kept a Fellowship among themselves Gal. 2.9 They gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of Fellowship that we should go unto the Heathen and they to the Circumcision with such Concord and Agreement was this great Work managed between them For all this did Christ pray And this suiteth with the Patern in the Text As we are One. As between the Father and the Son there was a mutual Agreement in the carrying on the Work of Redemption so between the Apostles in carrying on the Doctrine of Redemption II. In what manner doth Christ pray for it Here some take this only as a new Petition different from the former he had prayed for Preservation now for Unity But there is a causal Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and therefore some connexion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be taken specificativè keep them by making them one the Safety of the Church dependeth much upon the Unity of it Or terminativè keep them that they may be one I had intended because of the necessity of the Matter to have spoken of the Union of the Church with Christ and then with one another But because he chiefly prayeth for the Apostles tho others are not excluded and because the Union of the Church as one Body animated with the same Spirit will fall under discussion in Vers. 21 and 23. I shall adjourn it to that place Only now I shall Observe 1. Obs. How much Christ's Heart is set upon the Vnity and Oneness of his Members Here he prayeth for the Apostles in Vers. 21. he prayeth the same for all Believers Upon this Occasion let us see how much it was in the Aim of Christ. 1. Therefore was he Incarnate He united the Divine and Humane Nature in his own Person that he might unite us to God by himself and with one another God and Man had never been one in Covenant if they had not first been one in Person The Hypostatical Union maketh way for the Mystical It was the main End of Christ's coming into the World Ephes. 1.10 That in the fulness of Time he might gather together in one all things in Christ. The Angels and blessed Spirits and the Saints in all Nations have Communion with us in Christ under the same Head He would gather the Elect rational Creatures into a Body one with God in Christ Saints and Angels As all the Heads of a Discourse are summed up in the conclusion so Christ would draw all into one Body He took a Natural Body that he might have a Mystical Body Christ would not only leave us the Relation of Friends and Brethren but Fellow-Members He would gather together all into one not only into one Family but into one Body Brothers that have issued from the same Womb that have been nursed with the same Milk have been divided in Interests and Affections and defaced all feelings of Nature Cain and Abel Jacob and Esau are sad Instances But this Mischief is not found in Members of the same Body there is no Contestation and Disagreement Who would use one Hand to cut off another Or divide those parts which preserve the mutual Correspondence and Welfare of all Again Brothers if they do not hurt one another they do not care for one another each liveth to himself a distinct Life apart and studieth his own Advantage But it is not
good Work it is not of your selves but of God Every Act every Degree of Holiness is from God III. For whom he prayeth the Apostles I. That were already holy John 13.10 Ye are clean and in the Verse immediately preceding They are not of the World yet now Sanctify them let their Hearts be more heavenly and their Lives more pure every day Observe Those that are sanctified need to be sanctified more and more Rev. 22 1â— He that is righteous let him be righteous still he that is holy let him be holy still 1. Our inward Sanctification must increase because of the weakness of present Grace and the relicts of Corruption 2 Cor. 4.16 Tho our outward Man perish yet the inward Man is renewed day by day It is not a Work to be done at once 1 Thess. 5.23 And the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit Soul and Body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is perfect in parts at first the New Creature doth not come out maimed but not in degrees there is need of more Sanctification in Spirit in Soul in Body the Kingdom of Heaven increaseth by degrees 2. Our outward Man must be cleansed day by day because of new defilements John 13.10 He that is washed needeth not but to wash his Feet but is clean every whit It is an Allusion to a Man coming from the Bath his Feet contract Soil in the Passage Your Persons are sanctified by the Spirit but when you are never so holy there are new Defilements Vse 1. Be not satisfied with any present degrees of Grace There is an holy Covetousness I count not my self to have attained Phil. 3.14 Christ is so full that we cannot receive all at once 2. It is a strange Conceit in any to think they may be too good When we begin to be unwilling to grow better we begin to wax worse it is a good degree of Grace to know our Defects 3. Therefore let us use Means to persist in Holiness to increase in Holiness especially Prayer which is the Breath which God hath appointed to keep in the Flame II. For the Persons once more They were to preach the Word as a Preparative he prayeth for Sanctification Observe Holiness is a good Preparative to the Ministry and they are inwardly consecrated by the Spirit sanctifying them 1. That they may have experience of the Truth of the Doctrine upon their own Hearts The Apostles were to preach the Truth to others now saith he Sanctify them through thy Truth I believed and therefore have I spoken Psal. 116.10 We speak best when we speak by experience This is the right way of getting Sermons by Heart We are God's Witnesses now we should have sound Experience 1 John 1.1 That which was from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our Eyes which we have looked upon and our Hands have handled of the Word of Life That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you Ezekiel was first to eat the Roll Ezek. 3. 1 2 3. not only to see it and to hear it but to eat it Ministers must first eat themselves then feed others We are not to speak by hear-say to deliver God's Message as a meer Narration but out of a deep Impression on the Heart What cometh from the Heart and from Experience is quick and lively 2. For the Honour of God Carnal Ministers bring a Reproach upon the Ordinances 1 Sam. 2.17 The Sin of the young Men was very great before the Lord for Men abhorred the Offering of the Lord. Who will take Meat out of a Leprous Hand 3. To answer the Types of the Law Aaron and his Sons were sanctified for the Levitical Priesthood Exod. 29.4 To be washed with Blood and Oil to be washed in the great Laver sprinkled with Blood anointed with Oil which denotes Remission of Sins Regeneration the Gifts of the Spirit 1 John 5.8 There are three that bear Witness in Earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood Every Office should have a solemn Consecration Vse 1. Ministers should look to their inward Call They that are designed to serve God in a special manner must look after special Purity It breedeth Atheism when we do not live up to our Doctrine People will say they must say something for their Living 2. Let People look to their choice of Ministers There is a great deal of difference between an Eloquent and an Experienced Pastor Secondly We now come to the Means or Manner how Christ's Request is to be accomplished by thy Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it may be rendred in thy Truth or by thy Truth oâ— through thy Truth as Vers. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without an Article that they may be sanctified through the Truth or as in the Margeâ—t truly sanctified but we better render it by the Truth there is an Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not in Truth but in the Truth and it is presently added thy Word is Truth So that it noteth not the kind of their Sanctification but the Instrument and Means Now these words by thy Truth may be understood either of God's Faithfulness or his revealed Will both which are called his Truth Of God's Faithfulness as Vers. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as keep them by thy Power so sanctify them by or according to thy Truth and Faithfulness But this Exposition tho plausible yet is not so proper because it is presently added thy Word is Truth By Truth then is meant not his Faithfulness but his revealed Will. Now God hath revealed his Will by the Light of Nature or by the Light of his Word That Will of God which is revealed by the Light of Nature is called Truth so the Gentiles are charged Rom. 1.8 With-holding the Truth in Vnrighteousness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which may be known of God Vers. 19. is called Truth How came the Gentiles by the Truth who are strangers to the Covenant of Promise The Apostle answereth much of God was known to them But this Truth that is here spoken of is the Will of God made known in his Word or the Knowledg of things necessary to Salvation concerning God and his Worship first delivered by the Prophets afterwards explained by Christ himself to the Apostles and by them consigned to the Church Now the Truths delivered in the Word may be referred to two Heads Law and Gospel The distinction in Christ's Time was Law and Prophets In this place Christ chiefly intendeth the Gospel the Truth which they were sent to preach to others Christ would have them to have an experience of it themselves And it is notable that in many places of Scripture the Gospel is called Truth not only in opposition to humane Writings but also with respect to the Law and other parts of Scripture because it is the Truth by way of eminency as we call the Plague
can be no true Calling unless you see God in it as well as Men. And the Lord taketh it to be his Prerogative to bestow Officers upon the Church Dabo Evangelistum I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good Tidings Isa. 41.27 He did not only appoint the Office but doth design the Persons Now what is this Inward Call I Answer God calleth us when he maketh us able and willing the Inclination and the Ability is from God The Inclination He thrusts out Labourers into his Harvest Mat. 9.38 And the Ability He makes us able Ministers of the New Testament 2 Cor. 3.6 and both these are required of us Ability there must be Look as Princes count it a point of Honour when they send out Ambassadors to Foreign Nations to employ those that are fit so it is for the Honour of God that all his Messengers should be gifted and fitted Gifts and Abilities are our Letters of Credence that we bring to the World that we are called of God and authorized to this Work Certainly if the Spirit of God fitted Bezaleel and Aholiab for the material Work of the Tabernacle much more doth Spiritual Work require proportionate Abilities It is true there is a Latitude and Difference in the degree of Abilities but all that can look upon themselves as called of God must be able and apt to teach The Apostle took this for a Call 1 Tim. 1.12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who hath enabled me for that he counted me faithful putting me into the Ministry If ever God put us into the Ministry he first enableth us and bestows suitable Gifts and Graces But that is not all a Man must be willing too 1 Tim. 3.1 If a Man desire the Office of a Bishop he desireth a good Work There must be a strong Inclination that carries us out to such a course of Life if the Lord shall give us a Call Yea in some Cases in the Conscience of the Inward Call a Man may offer himself his Gifts to Trial and his Person to Acceptance so it be done modestly and not in a vain-glorious Confidence As Antisthenes said in the Case of Magistracy that a Man should deal with Magistracy as with Fire a Man would not come too near the Fire lest he burn himself nor stand at too great a distance lest he grow stiff with Cold So of the Ministry a Man must not be too forward nor too backward In some Cases it is good to expect the fair Invitation of Providence an Inclination there must be if the Lord vouchsafe a Call In some Cases we may offer our selves to the Acceptation of the Church if the Lord see fit that we be chosen But to return he hath the inward Call who is able and willing I mean upon Spiritual Grounds having first counted the Charges Difficulties Duties Dangers of this Calling Well then if Men be willing but not fit they are not called of God or if fit yet not willing they have not Warrant enough to undergo the Difficulty much more they that are neither fit nor willing but only thrust themselves upon the Office by the carnal Importunity of Friends or corrupt Aims at Honour and secular Advantage Thus you see what the Inward Call is 2. There is an Outward Call The Inward Call is not enough to preserve Order in the Church an Outward Call is necessary As Peter Acts 10. was called of God to go to Cornelius and then besides that he had a Call from Cornelius himself So must we having an Inward Call from the Spirit expect an Outward Calling from the Church otherwise we cannot lawfully be admitted to the Exercise of such an Office and Function As in the Old Testament the Tribe of Levi and House of Aaron were by God appointed to the Service of the Altar yet none could exercise the Calling of a Levite or serve as an High Priest till he was anointed and purified by the Church Exod. 28.3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise-hearted whom I have filled with the Spirit of Wisdom that they may make Aaron 's Garments to consecrate him that he may minister to me in the Priest's Office The like is repeated Numb 3.3 So the Ministers of the Gospel tho called by God must have their External Separation and setting apart to that Work by the Church as the Holy Ghost saith Acts 13.2 Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the Work whereunto I have called them Mark the Spirit of God had chosen them and yet calls upon the Church the Elders of Antioch to separate them for the Work of the Ministry But now in what Order this is to be done and by whom this Separation is to be made is the great Controversy Politicians and with them Erastians make it to be the Magistrates Right the Anabaptists with some others make it the Peoples Right Papists and others give it to the Bishops others to Presbyters and Elders of the Church To examine every Claim at large would take up a great deal of time let us compound the Difference as well as we can In short there are three Pretenders to the Power of the External Call the People the Elders the Magistrate and we may divide it among them and give every one their share and then the Call will be compleat I say there are but three Pretenders for we need not to speak of the Bishops Plea for Bishops and Presbyters or Elders in the Scripture are all one The Apostle writes to the Bishops and Deacons at Philippi Phil. 1.1 The Apostle taketh notice of no other Officer in that Church And Chrysostom's Gloss is of weight What is the Reason the Apostle saith to Bishops were there more than one of one City The Reason is saith he because Bishops and Elders or Presbyters are the same So when the Apostle bids Titus Tit. 1.5 6. Ordain Elders in every City if any be blameless c. He adds Vers. 7. For a Bishop must be blameless as the Steward of God To lay aside this then we shall speak to the Claim of the People the Elders and the Magistrate and give every one its due For in the External Call there are three parts Election Ordination and Confirmation Election that belongeth to the People Ordination which standeth in Examination of Life and Doctrine together with Authoritative Mission that is the Right of the Presbytery and Confirmation that belongs to the Magistrate 1. Election is the Peoples Right This appeareth because their Consent and Suffrage is required in all Offices even in the choice of an Apostle Acts 1.15 26. the 120 nominate Matthias in the room of Judas and God decided it by Lot and in the choice of a Deacon Acts 6.3 Look ye out among you seven Men of honest Report full of the Holy Ghost c. and of an Elder Acts 14.23 And when they had ordained them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Elders in every Church and had prayed with Fasting they commended them to the
other must complement Antiquity at a great rate if himself hath any judgment and doth not say that Multitudes in the last Age have been as to Preaching greater than they In the former are to be found many judicious Explications of Scripture many honest and spiritual Discourses In the latter not these things only but a pleasantness of Wit and Fancy but for plenty of Matter clearness of Iudgment Orderliness of Method and many other things they have not been a little exceeded by men of this last age Nor is it any disparagement to them more than it was to John the Baptist that the least in the Kingdom of Heaven was to be greater than he or to Christ that the Apostles Joh. 14.12 were to do greater things than he had done In the middle Ages of the Church Preaching generally was turn'd into trifling about Scholastick nicetyes and to the very dawning of the Reformation the Priests Texts were out of Scotus or Aquinas and we remember they were not ashamed when Luther Melancton c. restored in some degree the true kind of Preaching to petition Magistrates for the suppression of it and a liberty to trifle still in that great work of God with discourses upon Scotus and Aquinas Thô Luther Zuinglius and others in Germany and Mr. Calvin Farellus and Viret and Beza in France about a hundred and fifty years since mended this matter in a great degree yet we all know how ill their Examples were followed So as Mr. Perkins who began to flourish about the year 1580. is generally judged to have been the first who amongst us restored Preaching to its true use and taught us the true manner of it whose Piety was followed by many but as their Number hath vastly increased since that time especially in the fifty or sixty years last past so God hath seemed to pour out his Spirit upon Ministers as to spiritual Gifts in a more plentiful measure Yet in very different proportions that he might have some to feed his Lambs as well as others to feed his Sheep The Generality of good Preachers have made it their business to preach Christ and the exceeding Riches of his Grace and to study matter rather than words upon Mr. Perkins his old Principle Verba sequentur res But all have not had alike ferâ—ile Invention or solid Judgment or alike Skill and Learning in Languages and Arts c. Some particular Persons have been blessed with them all by which they have made Stars of the first Magnitude in the Church of God Such Reader we take the Reverend Author of these Sermons to have been in all whose Writings thou shalt find a quick and fertile Invention governed with a grave and solid Iudgment and the Issue of both expressed in a grave and decent Style so as it is not easie to say what one would desire in a Divine that was wanting in him He had an Heart full of Love and Zeal for God and his Glory and out of the abundance of his Heart his Mouth continually spake So frequent yet so learned and solid Preaching by the same person was little less than miraculous But he was a Scribe fully instructed in the things of the Kingdom of God and like a good Housholder was continually fetching out of the Store-house of his knowing and judicious Soul things both old and new He was no studyer of Words and Phrases he abhorred such a Pedantry and debasing the Authority of Gospel Propositions but a grave and serious Soul fitted with his skill in Arts and Languages neither ever did nor could want Expressions above the scorn of the most wanton Word-dressers thó beneath the expectations of such as can be pleased with the timeableness of Paranomasiaes or the rollings of six-footed words He was a good and learned a grave and judicious person and his Auditory never failed thô he laboured more than the most Preachers his constant course of Preaching being for many years Five times and till near his End three times a Week to hear from him a pious learned and most judicious Discourse This those who never heard him may easily believe by his printed Commentaries and Sermons in which we never met with any that complained for want of any thing fit for a Divine So that he is one of those Authors upon the credit of whose Name not only the plainer and less intelligent sort of people but even Scholars may adventure to buy any Book that was his and be assured they will see no cause to repent of the expence of their Money His late large Folio upon the 119 th Psalm is a plentiful Evidence of this and a great part of our English World hath given their suffrage to this by making it so scarce in so short a time as the Price of it is inhanced above a fifth part We here offer a 2 d Volume of a greater Bulk thô no greater price which contains his Discourses upon the 25 th of Matth. the 17 th Chapt. of John the 6th and 8th Chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Romans and the 5th Chapt. of his 2 d Epistle to the Corinthians five Chapters than which possibly in the whole New Testament there will not be found five others more full of Gospel Doctrine in the Knowledge of which Gods People are more concerned In the first under the Parable of the Ten Virgins five of which were wise five foolish our Lord represents to us the state of the Members of the Church waiting for Christs Second coming to Iudgment Amongst whom some are sincere some are Hypocrites the different actions and issues of whom are excellently represented to us and most worthy to be learned and considered 2. Vnder the Parable of the Talents we are instructed in Gods different dispensation of his Gifts to men their different use of them and the Account they are like to be called to about them To which is subjoyned an Hypotuposis of the day of Judgment fit to be continually in our Eyes and Ears In the second we have our Saviours last Prayer for his Elect as well those that to the end of the World should believe as those who at that time did believe It was our Lords Legacy what good Christian desireth not a full understanding of it that he may know what to hope and pray in Faith for at being first secured to him 〈…〉 Prayer of him whom the Father heareth alwayes In the 6th and 8th of the Romans are contained great Treasuries of Gospel Truth Vpon both the 〈…〉 many learned men have spent their labours to great advantage But the Scripture is such a Book 〈…〉 never know when we fully comprehend it and if he may judge to whose share it fell to peruse some of those 〈…〉 the Reader will find some things here discovered which he will hardly meet with elsewhere His way of 〈…〉 it is rather Dogmatical and Practical than Polemical yet he now and then judiciously resolveth a 〈…〉 But all along in the handling of it
with the Spirit of Christ assisting but not reforming as an Angel sometimes appears in an assumed Body But 't is dangerous to rest in this it maketh our sin and Judgement the greater if after a taste we rest in a common work Historical Faith if not growing into a saving sound Faith 't is a kind of mocking of God and an Hypocrites portion As for instance We profess to believe him Omniscient yet fear not to sin in his presence Omnipotent yet cannot depend upon his Alsufficiency to believe a day of Judgement yet make no preparation for our Account Tit. 1.16 Mens sins and Judgements are aggravated according to the sense they have had of Religion and so their latter end may be worse than their beginning 2 Pet. 2.20 And sad it will be for those that from hopefull beginnings fall off from God I will tell you a man may live and die with a temporary Faith and Affections to God and Holiness without making any visible Apostasie and yet have no sound Faith of the right Constitution Yea if you regard what little rooting Grace hath in mens hearts how weak their Pulse beateth this way how strong their Affections are to the World and the things thereof how little they can vanquish the cares and fears of this world and the temptations that arise from voluptuous living 't is to be feared the far greatest part of Christians are but Temporaries 3. Oh then be sure to get this truth of Grace into your Hearts let your Hearts be effectually subdued to God let there be a Principle of Life set up in them Religion respects our Principles as well as our Performances 2 Tim. 1.5 The end of the Commandment is Charity out of a pure Heart and a good Conscience and Faith unfeigned There must be a renewed Heart as the fountain a well informed Conscience as our guide and Faith unfeigned as our great encouragement And so all acts of Charity to God and men are accepted with God as a piece of Obedience done to him If we will not regard the Manner God will not regard the Matter Oh then get this renewed Heart and a lively Faith and an awakened Conscience This is to get Oyl into your Vessels and if once you get this it will never fail but increase exceedingly like the Sareptan's Oyl But how shall we get it I answer 1. You have this Oyl from Christ. The Unction is from the Holy One 2 Joh. 2.20 As the Precious Oyl was first poured on Aaron's Head and then came down to the Skirts of his Garment so Christ is first possessed of the Spirit and then we have it by our Union with him Joh. 1 16. Of his fulness we receive Grace for Grace We must go to the Fountain every day to seek new supplies Christ was anointed with the Oyl of gladness above his fellows Zech 4. Christ is represented by the Bowl and the two Olive Trees that alwayes poured forth Golden Oyl Christ as Mediator is the Store-house of the Church who is intrusted with all Gifts and Graces for our benefit Oh bring your empty Vessels to this golden Olive-tree The Widdow only brought Casks the Oyl failed not till the Vessels failed 2. If you would have it from Christ you must use the Means of Grace the Word Prayer Sacraments Meditation We need continual supplies must use continual Prayers seek the Grace of the Spirit to keep in our Lamps Luk. 11.13 So the Word God droppeth in something to the Soul that waiteth on him Mark 4.24 Take heed how you hear for with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again If we be earnest and diligent in waiting upon God God will abound to us in blessing his Word to us So for Meditation Mat. 13.19 The High-way Ground did not bring the Word to their minds again doth not revolve it mindeth it not heedeth it not So for the Lords Supper 't is a means to root us in the Love of God when we so often renew our Oath of Allegiance to him to excite our Faith in Christ. All these are a price put into our hands to get Oyl in our Lamps and prepare for his Coming 3. Keep your Vessels clean The Spirit dwelleth not but in a clean Heart Doves build not their Habitations on Dung-hills He cometh as an efficient Cause as a Spirit assisting before he comes as a Spirit inhabiting and purifieth our Hearts by Faith 4. After you have gotten this Oyl cherish it that it may not decay Of its own nature it would do so witness that stock of Original Righteousness which Adam had Gods Promise by which it is secured supposeth our endeavours to waste it Luk. 8.18 Whosoever hath to him shall be given but whosoever hath not from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have 5. Do not only cherish and keep it from decay but see that you encrease it 2 Pet. 1.5 Add to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge 1 Thes. 3.10 Perfect what is lacking 1 Thes. 4.1 That as you have received of us how you ought to walk and please God so you should abound therein A little Faith will be as no Faith not honourable to God nor comfortable to you nor useful to others All our doubts perplexities uncertainties come from the smallness of our Graces 'T will not make an Evidence therefore give diligence No endeavour labour pursuit after God but hath its recompense not an earnest thought an earnest Prayer or time spent What shall I say They whose Hearts are upon the wayes thereof go on from strength to strength You are almost at home nearer than when you first believed Then you thought all your pains too much now all too little Let me apply all to the Sacrament 1. There we come to meet the Bridegroom in a way of Grace The Marriage Covenant between God Incarnate and his espoused Ones is here celebrated and solemnized The Sacrament is a Transfiguration of the last Marriage Supper to ascertain us what entertainment we shall have at the Day of Judgment when the Bride the Lamb's Wife shall be made ready and cloathed with fine Linnen Rev. 19.23 and then be received in to the Nuptial Feast Blessed are they that are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. All is now prepared in this Duty 2. In some respect there should be a Serious Preparation for the one as for the other as we would prepare to dye or prepare to meet Christ the Judge Christ did not wash his Disciples feet when he took them with him to Tabor to his Transfiguration but when he took them with him at his last Supper Joh. 13.7 Surely to rush upon the presence of the Bridegroom with a perfunctory careless common frame of spirit is a dangerous thing When a People come hand over head prepare themselves slightly pray slightly before they come and live carelesly and negligently they slight the Bridegroom and wrong themselves strengthen themselves in sin rather than
is opposite to the Feast these two Places Matth. 8.12 and Matth. 22.13 shew And here when the good Servants enter into the Masters Joy or sit down and feast with him then is the naughty Servant cast into utter Darkness that is shut out of the Communion of the blessed Spirits who in the Place of Happiness have Eternal Joy and cast into the Dungeon of Hell Secondly Let us consider it as 't is doleful Where shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Their Estate shall be sad and they shall have a bitter Apprehension of it Their Apprehension is expressed by two things their Sorow and Indignation 1. Their desperate tormenting Sorrow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Weeping This Dolour shall arise from the inexplicable Torments of Body and Soul 2. Their Indignation or Vexation Gnashing of Teeth 'T is a Token of Indignation and Impatience as Act. 7.54 When they heard these things they were cut at the Heart and gnashed on him with their Teeth I shall explain it more by and by Two Points will arise hence 1. Doct. That Hell is a Place and State of unexpressible Torments 2. Doct. That Vnprofitableness is a damning Sin The Vnprofitable Servant is condemned though he did not waste his Master's Goods yet because he did not increase them There is no Treachery laid to his Charge no Riot and wasteful Profusion no Opposition to his Fellow Servants to vex or hinder them in their Work We hear nothing of this laid to his Charge but he neglected to do that which is good For the first Point That Hell is a Place and State of unexpressible Torment The Argument may seem harsh and ingrate but this is part of the Doctrine that we must unfold See the Commission of the Ministers of the Gospel Mark 16.16 He that believeth shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be damned 'T is Gospel-Preaching to warn Men of Damnation we must curse as well as bless And this Part of Doctrine hath its Profit as well as the more comfortable 1. To those that are Carnal to rouse them out of their Security If Men did believe the Torments of Hell they would not sin as they do Sermons of Hell may keep many out of Hell Ne fugiamus Sermones de Gehenna ut Gehennam fugiamus John startled many by pressing them to flee from Wrath to come And 't is God's usual course to bring to Heaven by the Gates of Hell 2. To God's Children Partly that they may know what they have escaped to be the more thankful to their Redeemer We were all involved in this Condemnation and 't is the Lord's Mercy that we are as Brands plucked out of the burning Zech. 3.2 A Child of God is a Fire-brand of Hell quenched Ephes. 2.3 'T was the Pity of our Lord Jesus to rescue us 1 Thess. 1.10 'T is a Part of a Christians Heaven to think of Hell The Miseries of this Life commend Heaven to us much more the Torments of Hell We know Good the better by the opposite Evil As the Israelites when they looked back and saw the Egyptians tumbling in the Waters it heightned the Deliverance and made them the more sensible of their own Safety And partly to warn them and quicken them to their Duty This Motive alone would beget slavish Fear and compulsory Obedience but mixed with others it doth Good We need this Discipline as long as we are in the World We are Flesh as well as Spirit Adam in Innocency needed to be threatned and told of Death Paul saith 1 Cor. 9.27 I keep under my Body and bring it into subjection lest that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should be a Cast-away If so sanctified a Man as Paul much more we And Rom. 8.13 If ye live after the Flesh ye shall die but ye through the Spirit do mortifie the Deeds of the Body ye shall live 'T is one of the Saints Motives And partly because they that cannot endure to hear of such Discourses discover much of the Guilt and Security of their own Hearts As Ahab said of Michaiah He prophesieth nothing but Evil So Men say of many of the Preachers of the Gospel that yet speak with Tenderness and Compassion He preacheth nothing but Hell and Damnation Presumption is a Coward and a Run-away but Faith meeteth its Enemy in open Field Psal. 13.4 Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death yet I will fear no Evil. It supposeth the worst it can encounter the greatest Terrors but a false unsound Peace is a tender thing loath to be touched cannot endure a few sad and sober Thoughts of the World to come as sore Eyes cannot endure the Light I shall only speak of this dreadful Place and Estate as it cometh under the View of this Text leaving a more full Discussion of this Point to the 41. Verse of this Chapter First That there is an Hell or Everlasting Torments prepared for the Wicked 'T is good to prove an hated Truth strongly Now 't is so that there is an Hell if God or Man or Devils be competent Witnesses in the Case God hath ever told the World of it and his Witness is true In the Old Testament but sparingly because the State of the World to come was reserved as a Discovery fit for the Times of the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.10 yet there God speaketh Deut. 32.22 of a Fire kindled in his Ange◠that shall burn to the lowest Hell God's Wrath is represented by Fire which is an active Instrument of Destruction and the Seat and Residence of it is in the lowest Hell So Psal. 11.6 Vpon the Wicked shall he rain Snares Fire and Brimstone See more Verse 41. Secondly Let us see it described here I. As a dismal State Cast them out into utter Darkness That is 1. Shut them out of the Feast And 2. Cast them into the Dungeon of Hell There they shall be deprived of all Consolation and Joy and Happiness As 1. Of the Sight of God the Company of the good Angels and Blessed Spirits To which Loss there is added the most inexplicable Torments of Body and Soul which is exceeding great And 't is a dreadful thing to be deprived of the Light of God's Countenance to be banished out of his Presence The Disciples wept when Paul said Ye shall see my Face no more Act. 20.38 What will the Damned do when he shall say Depart ye cursed as 't is in the 41. Verse Here in the Loss all are equal but not in the Pain all alike depart from God they all lose Heavens Joyes the favourable Presence of God and the Sight of Christ the Company of the Blessed and their Abode in those happy Mansions in Christ's Fathers House Hell is a deep Dungeon where the Sun shine of God's Presence never cometh God is summum Bonum the chiefest Good and in the other World omne Bonum All in All All things there are immediately from God Rewards and Punishments
those that have only a washy weak Knowledg not a living Light and Knowledg that is rooted in their own Hearts they talk like Parrots like the Moon they are dark themselves though from others they shine to others like Vintners that keep Wine not for use but for sale The Cellar may be better stored but it is for others 2 Pet. 1.8 For if these things be in you and abound they make you that you shall be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a disparagement to know Christ and never be the better for him These are like the Noble-man of Samaria that saw the plenty of Samaria but could not taste of it Surely there are not greater Atheists in the World than Carnal Scholars that have a great deal of Light but no Grace It is sad to hear of such a Christ and feel nothing John 17.17 Sanctify them through thy Truth thy Word is Truth They who are able to understand the Word but to no purpose must needs doubt of the Truth of it Vse 2. To press Christians to grow in Knowledg that they may enter upon Eternal Life by degrees Hos. 6.3 Follow on to know the Lord. There is a growth in Knowledg as well as Grace it is not so sensible in the very increase and progress as that of Grace is because growth in Grace is always cum luctû with some strife but the Work upon the Understanding is more still and silent Draw away the Curtain and the Light cometh in and our Ignorance vanisheth silently and without such strife as goeth to the taming of Lusts and vile Affections yet afterwards it is sensible that we have grown Ye were Darkness but now are ye Light in the Lord Ephes. 5.8 as a Plant increaseth in length and stature though we do not see the Progress We read of Jesus Christ that he grew in Knowledg we do not read that he grew in Grace he received the Spirit without measure and nothing could be added to the perfection of his Innocence yet it is said Luke 2.40 The Child grew and Vers. 52. Jesus increased in Wisdom and in Stature and in favour with God and Man The Godhead made out it self to him by degrees Oh let us increase It is notable that Moses his first Request to God was Tell me thy Name and afterward shew me thy Glory a more full manifestation of God We should not always keep to our Milk our Infant-Notions and Apprehensions but go on to a greater Increase it much advanceth your Spiritual Life and will be an advantage to your Eternal Life They have the highest Visions of God hereafter that know most of him here upon Earth they are Vessels of a larger capacity and though all be perfect yet with a difference Now for Means and Directions take these 1. Wait upon the preaching of the Word God appointed it and hath given Gifts to the Church for this end and purpose We should quicken one another Isa. 2.3 Come and let us go up to the House of the Lord and he will teach us his Ways God's Grace is given in his own way When Men neglect and despise God's solemn Institutions they either grow brutish or fanatical as we see by daily experience Light as well as Flame is kept in by the breath of Preaching By long attention you grow skilful in the Word of Righteousness Men that despise the Word may be more full of Crotchets and Curiosities but that Light is Darkness It is disputed which is the sense of Learning Hearing or Seeing By the Eye we see things but must by reason of innate Ignorance be taught how to judg of them 2. You must read the Word with diligence That is every Man's Work that hath a Soul to be saved They that busy themselves in other Books will not have such lively Impressions Psal. 1.2 His delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and night that must be our Exercise not Play-Books Stories and idle Sonnets How many Sacrilegious Hours do many spend this way Castae deliciae meae sunt scripturae tuae Aug. Nay good Books should not keep from the Scriptures Luther in Gen. cap. 19. saith Ego odi libros meos saepe opto eos interire ne morentur lectores abducant a lectione ipsius scripturae We should go to the Fountain 2 Tim. 3.15 And that from a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation We put a disparagement upon the Word when we savour and relish Humane Writings though never so good and excellent better than the Word of God it self This is the standing Rule by which all Doctrines must be confirmed and you do not know what sweet fresh and savory Thoughts the Spirit of God may stir up in your own Minds for Word-representations are not so taking as our own inward Thoughts and Discourses these like a draught of Wine from the Tap are more fresh and lively It is necessary as I said before to wait upon Preaching to hear what others can say out of the Scriptures but it is good to read too that we may preach to our selves Every Man is fittest to commune with his own Heart and that Conviction which doth immediately arise out of the Word is more prevalent A Man can be angry with any Preacher but Conscience In another when a Matter is expressed to our Case we are apt to suspect the mixture of Passion and private Aims but read thy self and what thoughts are stirred up upon thy reading will be most advantagious to thee Besides those that are studious of the Word have this sensible advantage that they have the Promises the Doctrines the Examples of the Word more familiar and ready with them upon all Cases It is said of one that he was a living Bible and a walking Library 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such a Christian is a walking Concordance And whereas other Christians are weak unsetled in Comfort or Opinion these have always Scriptures ready And let me tell you in the whole Work of Grace you will find no Weapon so effectual as the Sword of the Spirit as Scriptures readily and seasonably urged Therefore no diligence here is too much if you would not be barren and sapless in Discourse with others if you would not be weak and comfortless in your self read the Scriptures that you may bring sic scriptum est upon every Temptation and urge the solid grounds of our Comfort I speak the more in so plain a Point because I would make Men more conscionable both in their Closets and Families in this Point that they may not only have recourse to learned Helps and Books of an humane Original but to the Word it self 3. The Scriptures must be read with Prayer We must plow with God's Heifer if we would understand his Riddle we must beg the Spirit 's help The Spirit is the best Interpreter bene
unacquainted with Pain or Pleasure it had been much but we have not only a Ransom but an Inheritance instead of Horrors and Howlings everlasting Joys Again many are called Saviours either because of their subordinate subserviency to Christ Instruments in inward and outward Salvation but these Saviours needed a Saviour Christ is the True Jesus who saveth as an Author of Grace not as an Instrument and Means of Conveyance Now Christ is a Saviour partly by Merit partly by Efficacy and Power he doth something for us and something in us for us he prevaileth by the Merit of his Death in us by the efficacy of his Spirit all his Work is not done on the Cross. Both are necessary partly in regard of the difference of the Enemies God and the Law are in a distinct Rank from Sin and Death Satan and the World God was an Enemy he cannot be overcome but must be reconciled the Law an Enemy that could not be disannulled but must be satisfied Sin the World and Satan assault us out of Malice they make themselves our Enemies the Law and God are made Enemies out of our Rebellion therefore Christ must satisfy as well as overcome To reconcile God he shed his Blood on the Cross Justice must have a Sacrifice and the Law Satisfaction the Curses of the Law are not to fall to the ground some Body must be made a Curse to keep up the Authority of the Law the Law was an Innocent Enemy and therefore not to be relaxed or repealed Partly in regard of the different Fight of the other Enemies that are Enemies out of Malice Satan is not only a Tempter but an Accuser as a Tempter so Christ was to overcome him by his Power as an Accuser by his Merit when Satan condemneth Christ is to intercede and represent his own Merit the Plaister must be as broad as the Sore so far as Satan is an Enemy so far must Christ be a Saviour and Redeemer by his Power against the Temptations by his Merit against the Accusations of Satan as the Devil is an Accuser Christ is an Advocate Partly because Satan hath a double Power over a Sinner Legal and Usurped Legal as God's Executioner by the ordination of God's Justice Heb. 2.14 That through Death he might destroy him that had the Power of Death that is the Devil Christ is to die to put Satan out of Office Usurped as the God of this World God made him an Executioner we a Prince John 12.31 Now shall the Prince of this World be cast out Christ rescueth Prisoners Isa. 49.9 That thou mayest say to the Prisoners Go forth He will rescue and recover the Elect when by their own default they put themselves in Satan's hands Partly for our Comfort by his own Obedience and Merit Christ giveth us a Right and Title but by his Efficacy and Power he giveth us Possession He is to buy our Peace Grace Comfort and then to see that we are possessed of it Well then own him as Jesus as the only Saviour Acts 4.17 The Apostles were charged not to preach any more in the Name of Jesus Rest upon his Merit and wait for his Power 1. Rest upon his Merit Troubled Consciences that think to help themselves by their own Care and Resolution are like Men that are like to perish in the Waters and when a Boat is sent out to help them think to swim to shore by their own strength You would be a Saviour to your selves your own Jesus and your own Christ. God is very jealous of the Creature 's Trust and Christ saith Isa. 45.5 I am the Lord and there is none else there is no Saviour besides me You would purchase your Peace conquer your own Enemies and then come to Christ. No Mony of yours is currant in Heaven the Jewels of the Covenant are not sold for any price but Christ's Blood and Christ's Obedience God saith Isa. 55.1 He that hath no Mony let him come and buy Wine and Milk without Mony and without Price He sold to Christ but he giveth to you he asketh nothing of you but Acceptance Will you take it They that refuse Christ and refuse Comfort till they be holy in themselves they have a shew of Humility they would wear their own Garments spend their own Mony but the Spirit is never more proud than when under a legal Dejection we scorn to put on Christ's Robes and are better contented with our own spotted Garments as in outward things we prefer a Russet Coat of our own before a Velvet Coat of another's This is peevish Pride 2. Wait for his Power and Efficacy in the use of Means It is bestowed on us by virtue of his Intercession We are saved by his Life Rom. 5.10 If when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled shall we be saved by his Life We are reconciled by his Merit but saved by his Life He liveth in Heaven and procureth Influences of his Grace Therefore he is said to be able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God through him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for us Heb. 7.25 In Heaven he accomplisheth the other part of his Priesthood He doth not work out a part of Man's Salvation and leave the rest to our free Will the sacrificing part is ended and by his Intercession we get the Merit applied to us But we must not be idle we must come with Supplications and present the Case to Christ that Christ may present it to God Our Groans must answer to the earnestness of his Intercession and then we shall receive Supplies The Word is called The Power of God to Salvation Rom. 1.16 Those that conscionably use Prayer and wait for Christ in the Word will find him to be a Saviour indeed The Word is the effectual Means to save Men how foolish and despicable soever it seem in the World God would work with us rationally We cannot expect a brutish bent c. Thirdly The next thing is That he is Christ an anointed Saviour This fitly followeth the former Jesus signifies his Divinity and Christ his Humanity We are not only to know his Person but his Office John 1.41 We have found the Messias which is being interpreted the Christ or Anointed This is often expressed in Scripture Psal. 45.8 He is anointed with the Oil of Gladness above his Fellows Isa. 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good Tidings unto the Meek So Acts 4.27 Against thy Holy Child Jesus whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the People of Israel were gathered together So Acts 10.38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with Power Out of all which places we see that Christ's anointing is not to be understood properly but by a Trope the Sign is put for the Thing signified 1. Who was anointed Among
Grace and Authority Mat. 7.29 The People were astonished at his Doctrine for he taught them as one having Authority and not as the Scribes All he did was with Heavenly Majesty and Authority a Soveraign Majesty was to be seen in Christ's teaching proper to himself Besides his Faithfulness as a Minister with such Clearness Evidence and Demonstration there was sufficient Declaration to the World at his Baptism Mat. 3.17 Lo a Voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased agreeing with the Prophecy of him Isa. 42.1 Behold my Servant whom I uphold my Elect in whom my Soul delighteth At his Transfiguration before three Persons that for the Holiness of their Lives were of great Credit Mat. 17.5 Before all his Disciples John 12.28 Father glorify thy Name Then came there a Voice from Heaven saying I have both glorified it and will glorify it again To the World at his Resurrection Acts 17 31. Whereof he hath given assurance unto all Men in that he hath raised him from the dead To which Resurrection the Jews were conscious Those that reported it wrought Miracles these Men sought not themselves had no Advantage but visible Hazards their Witness was agreeable to the Writings of the Prophets the Doctrine built on it very satisfactory there is in it what every Religion pretendeth to tho in a higher way tho Miracles are now ceased yet it is confirmed by the Truth of the Word God continually confirmeth it by the Seal of the Spirit and there is an inward Certioration whereby Believers are satisfied John 18.37 For this cause came I into the World that I should bear witness unto the Truth Every one that is of the Truth heareth my Voice that is enlightned by the Holy-Ghost receiveth and believeth it but those that have a mind to wrangle God will not satisfy And then for his Miracles they were not Miracles of Pomp and Ostentation not destructive Miracles but Actions of Relief When the Pharisees said He casteth out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils Mat. 12.24 He proveth that his main aim was to cast out Satan ver 26. If Satan cast out Satan he is divided against himself Would Satan consent that his Kingdom should fall He would not go to dispossess himself All his aim was to promote Holiness and the Kingdom of God I note this 1. That you may know that the Apostles had sufficient Means to convince the World of the certainty of the Christian Doctrine The inward Testimony of the Spirit the Apostles would not alledg it by Miracles and rational Probabilities they were fitted to deal with the World and to appear as Witnesses for him when they were to give an Account Acts 5.32 And we are Witnesses of these things and so is the Holy-Ghost whom God hath given to them that obey him This inward Witness is proper to Believers the other may be alledged to Infidels By the Spirit is meant there a Power to work Miracles 2. That you may know the way of God's working with Men Usually all these three concur to the working of Faith there is the Light of the Spirit external Confirmation and the use of fit Instruments 1. The Light of the Spirit without which there can be no Grace nor Faith 1 John 5.6 It is the Spirit that beareth Witness because the Spirit is true That is That Word which the Spirit himself hath revealed is Truth for he is not only the Author and Inditer of the Word but the Witness he worketh in the Hearts of the Faithful so that he persuadeth them of the Truth of the Word 2. There is external Confirmation Tho Miracles cease yet we have the Testimony and Consent of the Church who by undoubted and authentick Rolls hath communicated her Experience to us which is visibly confirmed by the Providence of God not suffering the Truth to be oppressed 3. There is the use of fit Instruments specially gifted for this Purpose Tho the Effect of the Word doth mainly depend on the Spirit yet there is a Ministerial Efficacy in the Messengers Acts 14.1 They so spake that a multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed Not that the Faith of the Hearers doth meerly depend upon the excellency of the Preacher Yet certain it is that one way of preaching may be more fit to convert than another both in regard of Matter and Form Pure Doctrine for the Matter is more apt to convert than that which is mixed with Falshood as pure Water cleanseth better than foul and good Food nourisheth better than that which is in part tainted He that can divide the Word aright and prudently apply it is more powerful to work than he that seeth by an half Light or presseth Truth loosly and not with Judgment and Solidity Not as if they could infallibly convert but they are more likely they do not carry the Grace of Conversion in their Mouths Then for the Form with more plainness clearness strength of Argument God hath given to some Gifts above others not to bind himself to them but in the way of Instruments they are more powerful tho the weakest Gifts are not to be despised And in the quality of the Persons Holy Persons are more polished Shafts in God's Quiver 3. I observe it to press you to regard all these things 1. The Power of the Spirit if you would profit in Christ's School The watering-Pot will do nothing without the Sun nor the Word without his Testimony 1 Cor. 3.7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing neither he that watereth but God that giveth the Increase The Spirit is to confirm Truth to you by way of Witness and Argument By way of Witness 1 John 5.7 For there are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy-Ghost There is a secret Persuasion especially when you are reading and hearing that insinuateth it self with your Thoughts doubtless this is the Word of God Acts 16.14 Whose Heart the Lord opened that she attended to those things that were spoken by Paul By way of Argument working such things from whence you may conclude it is God's Word John 8.32 Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make ye free When ye are freed from the bondage of Sin then ye are enlightned to see the Truth of the Gospel by experience ye shall know the Truth 2. Take in the advantage of external Confirmation By Miracles Christ's Testimony was made valuable to the Apostles You have not only authentick Records wherein these Miracles are recorded which as an History may be believed but the Testimony of the Church which hath experience of the Truth and Power of the Gospel for many Ages The Lives of the Godly who are called God's Witnesses 1 Cor. 14.26 The Providences of God in delivering his Church in their miraculous Preservations Psal. 58.11 Verily there is a God that judgeth in the Earth Answers of Prayers grounded on the Word Upon all these
our Sins This had its rise from the Grace and Mercy of the Father But let us see what the Father doth in the Business of our Redemption that we may with comfort look upon Christ as a constituted authorised Mediator by the Decree and Counsel of Heaven 1. As the Supream Author it was the Father's Contrivance and Motion to Christ to regard the Case of Sinners I look and there is no Intercessor I see there is none fit to go between fallen Man and me Son you shall take their Case in Hand And therefore he is said to give Christ John 3.16 God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son In the purpose of his Thoughts to send Christ Gal. 4.4 When the fulness of the Time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman I shall open it in the next Verse To sanctify him John 10.36 Say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the World c. to consecrate him for the great Work of Redemption as when a thing is set apart for Divine Uses and Purposes it is said to be sanctified so was Christ sanctified when he was set apart for the Work of Redemption Nay to seal him John 6.37 Him hath God the Father sealed a Metaphor taken from those who give Commissions under Hand and Seal Christ is a Mediator confirmed and allowed under the Broad Seal of Heaven So Heb. 10.5 A Body hast thou prepared for me And Vers. 7. Lo I come in the Volume of the Book it is written of me to do thy Will O God as if God had set down in a Book a Dâ—aught and Model of his Designs and then shewed it to Christ. 2. As the Supream Cause in whom Divine Power was eternally resident he assisteth Christ in the accomplishment of this Work and qualifieth him for his Office with Power and Mercy Christ in his own Person would shew us the Fountain from whence all Mercies do arise Psal. 45.7 He was anointed with the Oil of Gladness above his Fellows the Father is not only said to beget him but to anoint him His compassionate Spirit he received from the Holy Ghost Luke 4.18 The Spirit of the 〈…〉 on me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach the Gospel c. God gave him tenderness and bowels to poor broken-hearted Sinners So for Power and Strength John 5.19 The Son of Man can do nothing of himself as separate and distinct from the Eather not out of any weakness but because of the Unity of the Essence as God and on the foederal Agreement as Mediator 3. As Supream Judg he appointeth his Sufferings and the measure of the Satisfaction he was to make Acts 4.28 To do whatsoever thy Hand and thy Counsel determined before to be done Whatever Men did to him it was by his Hand and Counsel We must look to an higher Court from God's Providence to God's Decree If it had been done without his knowledg and consent nothing would have been done for our Salvation Him being delivered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the determinate Counsel of God ye have taken Acts 2.24 a word taken from Alms to Beggars We wanted a Price for our Redemption and God gave it out of his own Treasury Rom. 4 ult He was delivered for our Offences a Metaphor taken from a Judg who delivereth up the Malefactor into the Hands of the Executioner Christ was delivered by God as our Surety one that by his Decree was to be responsible to his Justice for Man's Sin The Father was to reward him for this by raising him from the dead and to give him leave to return to his own Glory therefore he asketh leave to return to Heaven Vers. 5. And now O Father glorify thou me with thine own self with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was After the Price and Ransom was paid the Father was to give Christ a Power to rise from the Dead and to go into Heaven There is Potestas and Potentia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ had Power in himself and leave from the Father till the Father should declare himself to be satisfied Christ was not to be dismissed from Punishment Our Surety was not to break Prison but honourably to be brought out by the Judg for this was the Assurance God would give the World Acts 17.31 He will judg the World in Righteousness by the Man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all Men in that he hath raised him from the Dead It is not only an Effect of the Divine Power but an Act of Divine Justice And being raised up he is to be crowned with Glory and Honour as having abundantly done his Work for the Salvation of Creatures Heb. 2.9 We see Jesus for the suffering of Death crowned with Glory and Honour The Father's Heart was so taken with it that he honoureth Christ for this Reason And again he giveth Power and Authority to save Sinners Acts 5.31 Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance to Israel and forgiveness of Sins He hath raised him up to be a Prince of Salvation Here is the end of all that Christ as Mediator might be in a Capacity to bring Souls to Heaven And in this Work there is a constant co-operation of the Divine Power 1 Cor. 1.30 Of God he is made to us Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption All the Emanations of Grace come originally from the Father in and through Christ to all his Members Vse 1. Comfort What would have become of us if the Father himself had not found out such a Remedy God had Power to punish Sins in our own Person he needed no Mediator To save Sinners is not proprietas divine naturae but opus liberi consilii it dependeth on God's Appointment and if Christ had been a Mediator only by the Vote of the Creature he might have been refused Exod. 32.33 Whosoever hath sinned against me him will I blet not of my Book These is much in the Father's Act. Now God hath given Christ a Faculty to this purpose when we go to God we may offer a Mediator authorized by himself thou hast sent thy blessed Son to be a Mediator for me 2 Epist. John 9. He that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ he hath the Father and the Son You may urge it upon your Fears and Suggestions of Satan God is not only the wronged Party but Supream Judg it is no matter what Satan saith or your own Hearts say if the Lord hath said he will accept Sinners in Christ. Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay 〈◊〉 thing to the charge of God's Elect It is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died Who can condemn Satan may say I can and Conscience I can God whose Act is Sovereign doth acquit God hath so great an interest in Christ that he can deny him nothing John 14.31 That the World may
the School of Christ He hath begotten us by the Word of Truth And the Ordinance of preaching the Word is consecrated to this purpose Ephes. 5.26 That he might sanctify them by the washing of Water through the Word There are other Occasional Helps but this is the Instituted Means God will work no other way in his ordinary and revealed course and will accept no other Obedience and Sanctification but by the Word Holiness or that Piety which is proper and genuine is wrought by a Divine Truth otherwise it is Superstition not Godliness Civility not Holiness of Conversation Tho Men have never so good an Inclination yet because they have not a Divine Revelation for their Warrant it is but a Bastard Religion Superstition or framing a strictness of our own accompanied with opposition against the Truth The Word and Spirit are in Conjunction Isa. 59.21 My Spirit that is upon thee and my Words which I have put in thy Mouth shall not depart out of thy Mouth c. These act in Conjunction and it is for the honour of the Scriptures that God hath annexed them 1 Thess. 5.19 20. Quench not the Spirit Despise not Prophesying Preaching of the Word and pouring out of the Spirit go together 4. Every part of the Truth worketh not but only the Gospel which is the Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Law sheweth us our Spots and the Gospel cleanseth and washeth them away The Work of the Law is Preparation but that which hath a special and direct influence upon Sanctification is the Gospel John 15.3 Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken to you and that was the Gospel Privilege This pulleth in the Heart to God that we may be partakers of his Grace Moses brought them to the Borders but Joshua brought them into the Land of Canaan The Apostle appealeth to the Experience of Believers Gal. 3.2 This only would I learn of you Received ye the Spirit by the VVorks of the Law or by the hearing of Faith Tho the Spirit may be received by the preaching of any part of Canonical Scripture yet most usually by the preaching of the Gospel The Lord would give us this sensible and authentick Proof of the Truth and Excellency of the Gospel that we receive the Spirit of Regeneration by it and not by the Law It is the Instrument by which God useth to confer the Spirit So 2 Pet. 1.4 To us are given exceeding great and precious Promises that by these we may be made partakers of the Divine Nature What part of the Word worketh the Heart to a conformity to God likeneth us in Holiness to God the great and precious Promises It is not by moral Strains nor by terrible Threatnings these have their use in their place but by the great and precious Promises as God was in the sâ—â—ll Voice 5. The Gospel worketh not unless it be accompanied with the Spirit There is a great deal of difference between seeing things in the Light of Reason and seeing things in the Light of the Spirit Truth represented in the Light of Reason begets but an humane Faith leaveth a weak impression and hath but a weak operation upon the Soul but things represented in the light of the Spirit â—â—â—keth quite otherwise there is not only a notional Irradiation but an experimental Feeling they see another manner of Beauty and Excellency in Christ a vanity in worldly Delights which they never saw before Running-water and Strong-water differ not in colour but in taste and virtue John 16.13 When he the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all 〈◊〉 1 John 2.27 The Anointing which ye have received of him abidet◠〈◊〉 you and ye need not that any Man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things Most Men content themselves with a superficial Belief they have but a hâ—â—ane knowledg of Divine Things and therefore their Souls are not carried out to Holiness Love Fear Trust Obedience they have a cold and naked apprehension liteâ—â—â— Knowledg is waâ—hy and weak it worketh not 1 Pet. 1.22 Seeing ye have purified your Souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit 6. This must not only be represented in the Power and Demonstration of the Spirit but received and applied by Faith Sanctification is sometimes ascribed to the Gospel and sometimes to Faith which receiveth the Gospel Acts 15.9 Purifying their Hearts by Faith Our Hearts are purified by the Word of Truth 1 Pet. 1.22 Seeing that â—e have purified your Souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit Here they were purified by Faith The Word worketh not without an Act on our part as well as on God's The Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it Heb. 4.2 As a Plaster worketh not till it be applied to the Sore Nay the Apostle's Word implieth more the Word must not only be applied to the Soul but mingled with the Soul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As in a Medicine the Ingredients must be mixed together to do good So if we have the Word we must have the Spirit and we must have Faith mix it altogether and then it worketh Faith receiveth the Word as a divine and infallible Truth and that begets an Awe In short Faith working to Sanctification apprehends the Love of God the Blood of Christ the Promises Precepts of the Word and by all these it is ever purging and working out Corruption By apprehending the Love of God Gal. 5.6 In Christ Jesus neither Circumcisionâ— availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but Faith that worketh by Love Shall I love that which God hateth O do not this abominable Thing that I hate Jer. 44.4 Faith representeth God pleading thus Is this thy Kindness to thy Friend Do I thus requite God for all his Kindness to me in Christ There is an Exasperation against Lusts. It maketh use of the Blood of Christ. 1 John 1.7 The Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sins Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your Consciences from dead Works to serve the Living God That is an excellent Purger In outward Purging it is the Water and the Soap cleanseth but the Hand of the Laundress applieth it and rubbeth the Cloaths that are washed Faith apprehendeth the Blood of Christ to purge the Conscience it waiteth for the sanctifying Virtue of his Blood and the Grace purchased thereby So Faith maketh use of the Promises this giveth Faith encouragement to expect glorious Rewards Assistance is purchased and Acceptance is promised 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these Promises dearly Beloved let us cleanse our selves from all Filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God Then Faith constantly maketh use of the Precepts and Counsels of the Word by which Sin is discovered and taxed When the Word is received by Faith there goeth a
precious Ointment upon the Head that ran down upon the Beard even Aaron 's Beard that went down to the Skirts of his Garment So our Head is anointed with the Oil of Gladness for our sakes Christ received the Spirit without measure in our Nature as Holiness Pity and the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg Look as when an Ambassador is sent forth there is not only a designation of his Person but he is furnished for his Emploiment and Work So is Jesus Christ sent forth that is his Person not only designed and chosen in Grace and yet in Wisdom but also furnished with all manner of Endowments in our Nature Grace and Strength for his Work as our Head 3. This Sending implies Authority and noteth a Commission sealed to him so that he was an Authorized Mediator or an Ambassador with Letters Patents from Heaven This is the principal thing intended in this Sending the Call and Authority Christ had to do his Office Heb. 5.4 5. No Man taketh this honour to himself but he that was called of God as was Aaron So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an High Priest but he that said unto him Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee He was designed in the Council of the Trinity And as every Ambassador hath Letters of Credence under the Hand and Seal of him from whom he is sent that he may be acknowledged as his Deputy to act for him So Christ is sent as God's Deputy into the World to act and deal for him and the Apostles they are thus sent from Christ to act and deal for Christ. Here the Comparison chiefly holds As thou hast sent me into the World that is given me Authority to execute the Office of a Mediator So have I sent them I have given them Authority to preach in my Name and to deliver the Gospel to others This sending of Christ it maketh all that Christ doth in the Father's Name to be valid which is much for the comfort of our Faith Christ is not a Mediator by the right or meerly by the desire of the Creature or by his own Interposition but he is sent and authorized you may plead it with God he hath sent him to save Sinners You know Moses when he interposed on his own accord Exod. 32.32 Forgive their Sin and if not blot me I pray thee out of thy Book which thou hast written Tho it was an high Act of Zeal in Moses yet God refused it Vers. 33. And the Lord said to Moses Whosoever hath sinned against me him will make I blot out of my Book So if Christ had been set up as Mediator by the Right and Desire of the Creature only he might have been refused but he was authorised by God he did not glorify himself by invasion of the Mediatory Office but had a Patent from the Council of the Trinity indited by the Father accepted by himself sealed by the Holy Ghost evidenced to the World by his Personal Endowments and by his Miracles Thus you see what this Sending is it implies the Designation of the Father the Qualification of his Person for the Work and his Authority to execute it in his Name III. To what purpose was he sent into the World I Answer To perform the whole Duty of the Mediator but principally to redeem and instruct the World those two Offices of Prophet and Priest Christ performed upon Earth The Apostle toucheth upon them Heb. 3.1 Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession Jesus Christ. Mark the Apostle mentioneth but two Offices but they were the highest in both the Churches the High Priest was the highest Officer in the Jewish Church therefore he saith he was the High Priest of our Profession And an Apostle was the highest Officer in the Christian Church therefore he saith he was the Apostle of our Profession And he mentions but these two because these were the two Offices Christ chiefly performed upon Earth he came to preach the Gospel which we profess so he is the Apostle of our Profession and he came to ratify it with his Blood so he is the High Priest of our Profession In short he came to deal with God and with Men To deal with God and so is an High Priest to pacify God to offer such a Sacrifice as might satisfy God and he came to deal with Men and so be is an Apostle to open the everlasting Gospel to bring it out of the Bosom of God to our Hearts His Kingly Office was but little exercised upon Earth We have a glimpse of his Kingly Office or rather of his Divine Nature in turning the Mony-Changers out of the Temple but it was little exercised upon Earth Why because this was the time of Christ's Humiliation Now the Kingly Office suits more with the Exaltation of Christ when he comes the second time then he comes to exercise his Kingly Office to reign and scatter his Enemies and shew his Kingly Power but now he came to teach and to suffer That is the Reason why his Kingly Office is made the Consequent of his Resurrection Acts 5.31 Him hath God exalted with his right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give Repentance to Israel and Forgiveness of Sins Was not Christ King of the Church and King before his Resurrection I Answer As God so he was a King from all Eternity and in the days of his Flesh he was our Mediator therefore certainly King Priest and Prophet but in the World he did not come to possess his Kingdom but only to preach it and divulge it Therefore he saith to Pilate John 18.36 My Kingdom is not of this World if my Kingdom were of this World then would my Servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews but now is my Kingdom not from hence Christ came to bear witness that he was King but did not come to possess his Kingdom and act as a King As soon as ever he was consecrated to be a Mediator he was King Priest and Prophet of the Church Look as David was King before God as soon as he was Anointed long before he possessed the Throne and was crowned at Hebron 1 Sam. 16.13 for he was King when he wandred up and down and was hunted like a Flea or like a Partridg upon the Mountains So Christ in the time of his Humiliation was a King but did not exercise his Kingdom Chiefly then he was sent into the World the first time to redeem and instruct the World To redeem the World 1 John 4.10 God loved us and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our Sins This was Christ's first Errand to make Satisfaction for Sins afterwards he will come to destroy his Enemies at his second coming And to instruct the World that is of special consideration in this place As thou hast sent me into the World so have I sent them into the World Christ sent Disciples as a Prophet and in
this sense he is the Apostle of our Profession an Ambassador sent from Heaven God's Representative in this sense he is called the Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 The solemnest Messenger that ever God sent into the World Isa. 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good Tidings unto the Meek c. Christ was anointed principally for this Work to preach the Gospel he came from Heaven to shew us the Way of Life Heb. 1.1 2. God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in Time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last Days spoken unto us by his Son He hath spoken to us by Apostles Pastors and Teachers Why doth he make mention only of Christ Because in the Roll of Gospel-Preachers Christ is the First Christ's Name is first enrolled he was first in Commission and he sent forth Apostles and the Apostles others The Mystery of Redemption was never clearly known till Christ came to preach it then all the deep Counsel of God for Man's Salvation came out which was hidden before Christ brought out of God's Bosom the Doctrine of the Gospel APPLICATION We learn hence many Things As 1. The distinction of the Persons in the Trinity Christ is a distinct subsistence from the Father for he that sendeth and he that is sent are distinct Mark it implies a Distinction but not an Inferiority against the Arrians Persons equal by mutual consent may send one another as the Elders of Antioch sent out Paul and Barnabas but it doth not follow that they were inferior to the Elders of Antioch So here it implies Distinction but not Inferiority 2. The Knowledg of Christ's Person he was sent into the World therefore is God-Man He was one that was sent therefore had a being before he was Incarnate and was sent into the World therefore there was an Assumption of the Humane Nature 3. It sheweth us the Love of God he would not intrust an Angel nor Arch-Angel with our Salvation but sent his Son 1 John 4.10 Herein is Love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our Sins There is nothing too near nor too dear for us It will take the more wih us if we consider the infinite complacency and contentment God had in Christ yet he sent his Son Man's Love is defensive he loves his Children out of design of Immortality because he lives in them God had no reason to do so he had many reasons to the contrary yet he sent his Son to die for us when we were Enemies And his Son is sent What to do Not only to treat with us not only to borrow a Tongue to speak to us but to take a Body to die for us to be substituted in our room and stead 4. It informs us of the great condescention of Christ that he submitted to be sent Psal. 40.7 8. Then said I Lo I come in the Volume of the Book it is written of me I delight to do thy Will O my God yea thy Law is within my Heart He was ready when God would send him like a Servant ready to be dispatched upon his Errand That Christ would be sent that he would take our Nature not while it was innocent but when it was guilty liable to the Wrath of God when all Mankind were proclaimed Traytors and Out-Laws and whoever partaked of our Nature was to partake of our Sorrow yet then was Christ sent he came in the similitude of sinful Flesh Rom. 8.3 Christ did not partake of the infection of our Nature he was not a Sinner by being born of our Stock the Infection was stopped by the Holy Ghost but he took our Nature when it was sinful tainted with Sin and in this Message and Errand he laid aside his Majesty and by an unspeakable dispensation he abstains from the full use and exercise of the Godhead not from Godhead it self Therefore he prays John 17.5 And now O Father glorify thou me with thine own self with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was He begs for his Glory again which he had laid aside for a while It cannot be meant of the Divine Nature for to that nothing can be given it cannot be meant of Humane Nature because that is not capable of the Glory which Christ had before the World was the meaning is he desires to be restored to the full use of the Godhead from which he had abstained by an unspeakable Dispensation a long time and by the interposition of his Humane Nature the Glory of the Godhead was as it were eclipsed as a Candle in a Dark Lanthorn and therefore he desires that the Vail might be taken away and he might return again to the full use of the Godhead having done his Work It is irksome to us to go back a few degrees in Pomp and Pleasure even upon just and convenient Reasons but how did Christ condescend and stoop when he was thus sent into the World by God for our sakes 5. Here is some ground of Comfort to them that believe you may offer to God a Mediator of his own chusing one that was authorized by himself When you plead with God you may say Lord thou hast sent thy Son Or when you plead with your own Hearts you may urge thâ—m with this God sent him to be helpful to my Soul These things may be observed from the first thing the Mission of Christ. SERMON XXXI JOHN XVII 18 As thou hast sent me into the World even so have I also sent them into the World Secondly I Come to the Mission of the Apostles So have I sent them into the World as thou hast sent me The words intimate a comparison between God's sending of Christ into the World and Christ's sending the Apostles into the World But how doth the Comparison hold good Christ was sent to Redeem they to Preach the Apostles were no Redeemers Christ was sent not only as a Prophet but as a Priest as we have seen before And again for the manner Christ was sent by being Incarnate God-Man in one Person he must be Man if sent but they were Men and therefore there is a difference Christ was sent as the Supream Officer of the Church as God with Original Authority they as Ministers and Servants Christ could teach immediatly outwardly by his Word inwardly by his Spirit they only outwardly How then could it be said As thou hast sent me into the World so have I sent them into the World I Answer There is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some Likeness but not an Equality As the Union of the Apostles is compared with the Unity of the Trinity so the Mission of the Apostles with the Mission of Christ. The Similitude holdeth in several Things they were Authorized Ministers and Officers of the Church as Christ was Christ was authorized by
himself to justify and sanctify us and we never look after the Benefit we make him to be a Christ in vain II. We come now to the End Effect and Fruit of it that they might be sanctified through the Truth First The Benefit or Blessing intended That they also might be sanctified Where 1. Observe it is Bonum morale not that they might be Rich Happy Great Glorious in the World but that they might be Sanctified When Christ was on the Cross he neither wanted Wisdom to chuse nor Love to intend nor Merit to purchase the highest Benefits and those which were most necessary for us but that which he had in his Eye was our Sanctification Ephes. 5.26 He loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctify and cleanse it And Heb. 13.12 Jesus that he might sanctify the People suffered without the Gate All his Aim was to recover us to God and dedicate us to God for he came to repair the Ruins of the Fall and save that which was lost Luke 17.10 The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost And we were first lost to God before we were lost to our selves as appeareth Luke 15. by the Parable of the lost Sheep which was lost to the Owner and the lost Groat which was lost to the Possessor and the lost Son which was lost to the Father Our Misery is included but the principal thing intended was that God hath lost the Honour of the Creation 2. It is Bonum congruum I sanctify my self that they may be sanctified The Scripture delighteth in these Congruities Heb. 5.8 9. He learned Obedience by the things that he suffered And being made perfect he became the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him As there is a suitableness between the Seal and the Impression so between Christ and his People in all things Christ must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he must have the preheminence We have the Blessings of the Covenant not only from him but through him Christ was elected Isa. 42.1 Behold my Servant whom I have chosen my Elect in whom my Soul delighteth so are we Christ was justified 1 Tim. 3.16 God manifested in the Flesh justified in the Spirit so are we Christ was sanctified and we in conformity to him are sanctified also as in the Text Christ rose again ascended and was glorified so do we He as the Elder-Brother and first Heir and we in our Order 3. It is bonum specificativum It sheweth the Parties or that sort of Men to whom Christ intended the Benefit Heb. 10.14 For by one Offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified them and no other the Godly themselves while unconverted and lying in their Sins have not the actual Benefit of Christ's Redemption But in what manner are we sanctified Christ consecrated and sanctified himself as a Sin-Offering but we are sanctified and consecrated as a Thank-Offering Christ to do the Work of a Redeemer or Mediator we to do the Work of the Redeemed We are set apart for the Lord to glorify him in all Holy Conversation and Godliness Secondly The means of applying and conveying this Benefit through the Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it may be rendred through the Truth in the Truth or for the Truth all which Readings admit of a commodious Explication 1. In the Truth or truly in opposition to legal Purifications which were but a shadow of true Holiness Heb. 9.13 14. For if the Blood of Bulls and Goats and the Ashes of an Heifer sprinkling the Vnclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the Flesh How much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your Conscience from dead Works to serve the Living God Or in opposition to counterfeit Sanctification Ephes. 4.24 And that ye put on the New Man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness Some only are sanctified externally as they are in visible Covenant with God Heb. 10.29 And hath counted the Blood of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing they live among his peculiar People Others are really renewed and changed by his Spirit and turned from a sinful Life to God making Conscience of every commanded Duty and aiming at his Glory in all things 2. For the Truth that they may be consecrated set apart and fitted for that Function of preaching the Gospel This is agreeable to the Context which limits this part of the Prayer to the Apostles 3. Through the Truth as we render it and fitly considering the 17 th Verse Sanctify them through the Truth thy Word is Truth through the Word by which the virtue of Christ's Death is applied to us There are certain Means and Helps by which Christ bringeth about this Effect Ephes. 5.26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of Water through the Word The Word offereth this Grace the Sacraments seal and confirm it to us So John 15.3 Ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken to you The Word of Command presseth it Psal. 119.9 Wherewithal shall a young Man cleanse his Way by taking heed thereto according to thy Word The Word of Promise encourageth us 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these Promises dearly Beloved let us cleanse our selves from all the filthiness of Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in the fear of God And the Doctrine of Christ's Blood holds out the virtue whereby it may be done 1 John 1.7 The Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin And it exciteth Faith by which the Heart is purified Acts 15.9 Purifying their Hearts by Faith Vse 1. Information It informeth us of divers important Truths 1. That in our selves we are polluted and unclean or else what needed there so much ado to get us sanctified This is needful to be considered by us Job 15.14 What is Man that he should be clean and he that is born of a Woman that he should be Righteous That is Man by Nature is neither clean nor righteous destitute of Purity by Nature and uprightness of Conversation They are ill acquainted with Man who think otherwise for if we consider his earliness in sinning his easiness in sinning his constancy in sinning and the universality of Sinners we may soon see what his Nature is and the Fountain being so corrupt the Streams or Emanations from it are defiled also 2. That nothing can cleanse us but the Blood of Christ. Can Man cleanse himself Job 14.4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one Can that which is corrupt cleanse it self or that which is enmity to Holiness promote it Or can the Word do it without Christ Good Instructions may shew a Man his Duty but cannot change the bent of his Heart Christ needed not only to be sent as a Prophet Ver. 18. but must sanctify himself as a Priest and Sacrifice before this Benefit could be procured for
in their place but by their Faith and the Godly are elsewhere called of the Hâ—â—shold of Faith Where ever our Implantation into Christ or Participation of the Privileges of his Death or our Spiritual Communion in the Church is spoken of the Condition is Faith It is a Grace that sendeth us out of our selves to look for all in another It is the Mother of Obedience as all Disobedience is by Unbelief so all Obedience is by Faith First he said Ye shall not die and then Ye shall be as Gods First he seeketh to weaken their Faith in the Word they could not be proud and ambitious till they did disbelieve Therefore above all Things let us labour after Faith Our Hearts are taken up with the World the Honours and Pleasures of it these cannot make us happy but Christian Privileges will all which are conveyed to us by Faith But let us come to the second Point Doct. 2. That in the reckoning and sense of the Gospel they are Believers that are wrought upon to believe in Christ through the Word Here is the Object Christ the Ground Warrant and Instrumental Cause and that is the Word The Warrant must be distinguished from the Object the Warrant is the Word and the proper object of Faith is Christ as considered in his Mediatory Office Sometimes the Act of Faith is terminated on the Person of Christ and sometimes on the Promise to shew there is no closing with Christ without the Promise and no closing with the Promise without Christ. As in a Contract there is not only a receiving of the Leaâ—e or Conveyance but a receiving of Lands by virtue of such a Deed and Conveyance So there is a receiving of the Word and a receiving of Christ through the Word the one maketh way for the other the Promise for our Affiance in Christ. Faith that assents to the Promise doth also accept of Christ there is an Act terminated on his Person Faith is not assensus axiomati a naked Assent to the Propositions of the Word but a Consent to take Christ that we may rely upon him and obey him as an Alsufficient Saviour But now let us speak of these distinctly First Of the Object that is to believe in Christ. There is believing of Christ and believing in Christ. He doth not say those that believe me but those that believe in me through their Word Believing Christ implieth a Credulity and Assent to the Word and believing in Christ Confidence and Reliance Once more Believing in Christ is a Notion distinct from Believing in God Joh. 14.1 Ye believe in God believe also in me Since the Incarnation and since Christ came to exercise the Office of a Mediator there is a distinct Faith required in him because there are distinct grounds of Confidence because in him we see God in our Nature we have a claim by Justice as well as Mercy we have a Mediator who partaketh of God's Nature and Ours and so is fit to go between God and us Briefly to open this believing in Christ it may be opened by the Implicit or Explicit Acts of it 1. There is something Implicite in this Confidence and Reliance upon Christ and that is a lively sense of our own Misery and the Wrath of God due for Sin All God's Acts take date from the Nothingness and Necessity of the Creature and from thence also do begin our own Addresses to God God's Acts begin thence that he may be All in All from the Creation to the Resurrection God keepeth this Course and then the Dispensation ceaseth for then there is no more want but fulness Creation is out of Nothing Providence interposeth when we are as good as Nothing at the Resurrection we are nothing but Dust God worketh on the few Relicts of Death and Time So in all Moral Matters as well as Natural it is one of his Names He comforteth those that are cast down When he came to convert Adam he first terrified him They heard the Voice of God in the Garden and were afraid Gen. 3.10 He delivered Israel out of Egypt when their Souls were full of Anguish We are first exercised with the Ministry of the Condemnation before Light and Immortality are brought to Life in the Gospel and still God keeps his old Course Men are first burdened and sensible of their Load before he giveth them ease and refreshment in Christ. At the first Gospel-Sermon preached after the pouring forth of the Spirit Acts 2.37 They were pricked in their Hearts Christ's Commission was to preach the Gospel to the poor and broken-hearted and bruised Luke 4.18 The Spirit of the Lord was upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the Poor he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted to preach Deliverance to the Captives the recovering of Sight to the Blind to set at liberty them that are bruised This is the Road-way to Christ. And all our Addresses to God begin too thence Man is careless Mat. 22.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they made light of it and proud Rom. 10.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they have not submitted themselves to the Righteousness of God The Israelites were not weary of Egypt till they were filled with Anguish Adonijah when he found himself guilty of Death he laid hold on the Horns of the Altar The Prodigal never thought of returning till he began to be in want and to be soundly pinched Therefore till there be a due sense and conviction of Conscience it is not Faith but carnal Security In short we can never be truly desirous of Grace we cannot prize it we do not run for refuge Heb. 6.18 We are not earnest for a Deliverance till there be some such Work There are two Things keep the Conscience quiet without Christ Peace and Self Carnal-security and Self-sufficiency 1. It is hard to wean Men from the Pleasures of Sense and to make them serious in the Matters of their Peace before Christ and they be brought together they and themselves must be brought together This God seeketh to do by outward Afflictions that he may take them in their Month as the Ram was caught in the Briars In Afflictions Men bethink themselves 1 Kings 8.47 If they shall bethink themselves in the Land whither they are carried Captives c. It makes them to return upon themselves how it is between God and them If Affliction worketh not he joineth the Word it is a Glass wherein we see our natural Face James 1.21 God sheweth them what loathsome Creatures they are how liable to Wrath. Or if not by the Power of his Spirit upon their Consciences their Reins may chasten them they cannot wake in the Night or be solitary in the Day but their Hearts are upon them so great a Matter is it to bring Men to be serious 2. Self When the Prodigal began to be in want he joined himself to a Man of that Country Luke 15.15 We have slight Promises and Resolutions and
of Arms. I remember in Ecclesiastical History when Valens the Emperor railed against all the Defenders of the Godhead of Christ they did not meddle with Polinus out of Reverence to him for he was a very holy strict Man none durst lay Hands upon him 3. Many times they profess and join to the Church and so we have benefit by their Gifts and Abilities Authority and Power for God doth his Church a great deal of good by carnal Men. Conviction may bring them as far as Profession and the temporary Faith of a Magistrate tho carnal may be a Protection to Christianity as an Hedg of Thorns may be a good Fence about a Garden of Roses If they are Men of Parts they may help to defend the Christian Doctrine as a living Tree may be supported by a dead Post and the Gifts of carnal Men are for the use of the Body as the Gibeonites joined to Israel and were made hewers of Wood and drawers of Water or as the Carpenters who helped to build Noah's Ark perished in the Flood or as Negroes that dig in the Mines of Knowledg God may imploy them to bring up that which may be of great use and profit to the World they may help to build an Ark for others tho they themselves perish in the Water We would not refuse Gold from a dirty Hand neither are we to slight the benefit of carnal Men's parts for the common Profession of Christianity that they are under tho they are Slaves to their Lusts yet it is a real benefit and help to the Saints 4. They serve for a Warning to the Saints When this Conviction is strong upon them and grows to an height by the Stings of Conscience and Horrors of them that die in despair God warneth his People tho we would bear off the Stroke yet God knows how soon this Fire may be kindled in our own Breasts when Men see what Convictions will do being stifled and not complied with and Men live not according to their Light it is a warning to others As a Slave is many times beaten to warn a Son of his Father's Displeasure and Naturalists tell us a Lion will tremble to see a Dog beaten before him so do the Children of God tremble at the Convictions of wicked Men. Oh the Horrors of their Conscience declare what God hath wrought upon them tho few take little notice of it Thirdly In respect to the World it self this Conviction serveth both to lessen and encrease their Judgment The Terms seem to be opposite 1. Sometimes to lessen their Judgment Certainly the degrees of eternal Punishment are not equal there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 23.14 a greater Judgment there is a hotter and a cooler Hell there are few Stripes and many Stripes In the World to come it is more tolerable for some than for others Mat. 12.41 The Condition of the Ninevites was made more tolerable by the Conviction wrought by Jonah's Preaching because there was a temporal Repentance they humbled themselves for a while tho they were frighted to this Religiousness Aristides Cato and other moral Heathens their Condition will be more tolerable than those Men that live in a way of brutish and filthy Excess So there are many convinced that have helped the Church and been friendly to Religion when others have oppressed and opposed the Ways of God they have been a Hiding-Place a Shelter a Countenance a Protection to the People of God these shall not lose their Reward they have many Blessings in this World tho they continue Carnal and live and die in their Sins I suppose the more they comply with these Convictions their Condemnation shall be lessened tho not taken away This Advantage they have ut mitiùs ardeant they shall have a cooler Hell 2. Sometimes to increase their Judgment Those that maliciously oppose this Conviction they hasten their own Condemnation and heighten it Then it will be a Sin to them with a Witness when they knew their Master's Will and did it not James 4.17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do Good and doth it not to him it is Sin They carry this Conviction to Hell with them and it is a part of their Torment this is the Worm that never dies Oh what a Terror will it be for them to think I had a better Estate discovered to me I knew somewhat of the Ways of God and now I am shut out for ever and ever There is a Worm that never dies as well as a Fire that shall never be quenched Mark 9.44 There may be a Conviction so much as to enable a Man to speak to others yet he may be a worker of Iniquity and cast out of Christ's Presence How will this encrease their Torment their Knowledg serveth but to damn them the more The Characters are indelible and are not extinguished by Death To all other Torments there is added the gnawing of Conscience Look as in the Elect there is such a Spark kindled as shall never be extinguished their Knowledg they get here is not abolished but perfected and the Joys of the Spirit begin their Heaven a witnessing excusing Conscience to the Elect is the beginning of Heaven So in Hell Conscience will be always raging and expostolating with you Oh Fool that I was to neglect so great Salvation which others enjoy If I had lived civilly at least it had been better with me than now it is As they know more of God than others do so their Judgment will accordingly be greater And you know not how soon God may kindle this Fire in your Bosoms who for the present steep on carelesly in your Sins Vse 1. This may serve to perswade us that the Conviction of the World is a great Blessing and conduceth much to the advancement of Christ's Kingdom without any visible force with meer Spiritual Weapons in despight of all opposition which can be made thereunto The corrupt and ill-principled World cannot stand out against the Evidence of the Truth when it is soundly preached and in the Demonstration of the Spirit We have too slight an Opinion of the Weapons of our Spiritual Warfare 2 Cor. 10.4 The Weapons of our Warfare are not carnal but mighty through God for the pulling down of strong Holds Surely they are more mighty to pull down strong Holds than we are aware of The Spirit of the Lord tho he will not convert yet can so put to silence and bridle the Opposition that carnal Men make that it shall be ineffectual It concerneth God in Honour to go thus far on with the World for the promoting of his Kingdom and that they may not go on with an high Hand to oppose and crush it And this doth also evince the Truth of the Christian Religion such Convictions accompanying the preaching of it And God doth not wholly discontinue this Dispensation now There are ordinary Operations of the Spirit where the Gospel is preached which do convince the World The careless Professor
passed upon us by the law and acquitted and discharged from the guilt of sin and being justified by faith are made heirs according to the hope of eternal life Tit. 3.7 That I will not speak of now because before in the first Verse I now proceed to open unto you the last Thing at first propounded which was 3. The manner of getting our liberty There are three words in the Text Law Spirit and Christ Jesus Let us begin with the last Christ procureth this liberty for us by the merit of his death and intercession The Law or Gospel offereth this liberty to us and the Spirit first applieth it and sealeth it to the Conscience 1. Christ procureth and purchaseth this liberty for us both from the damning power of the Law and the slavery of corruption We were Captives shut up under Sin and Death and he paid our ransom and so obtained for us remission of sins and the sanctification of the spirit remission of Sins Eph. 1.7 In whom we have redemption by his blood the remission of sins That 's one part of our recovery highly necessary for guilty Creatures how else can we stand before the Tribunal of God or look him in the face with any confidence but his redemption did not only reach this but the sanctification of the spirit also Therefore 't is said 1 Pet. 1.18 Ye are not redeemed with corruptible things but by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Thus Christ doth what belongeth to him and none can share with him in this honour 't is his merit that is at the bottom of the Covenant and procured for us both the favour and image of God that we might love him and be beloved by him 2. There is a Law or New Covenant which offereth this grace to us The law of nature concludeth men under Sin and pronounceth Death upon them Christ hath set up a new remedial Law of Grace by which we are called to submit to Christ and thankfully to accept of his merciful preparations even the great benefits of pardon and life The Gospel or New Covenant doth its part First There is Grace published or offered to us Luke 4.18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me for he hath anointed me to preach deliverance to the captives 'T is not enough that our ransom be paid but the offer must be made or else how shall it be laid hold upon by faith and received with thankfulness and with a due sense of the benefit Now the Gospel sheweth liberty may be had upon sweet and commodious and easie terms 2. The terms are stated in the Covenant That we give up our selves to the Lord by Christ and be governed and ruled by the conduct of his Word and Spirit Gal. 3.2 Received ye the spirit by the works of the law or the hearing of faith And 2 Tim. 2.25 26. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if peradventure God will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will The Covenant is not left to our humours and fancies to model and bring it down to our liking no nor are only the benefits offered but terms stated Isa. 56.4 That chuse the things that please me and take hold of my covenant When he hath stated his terms 't is too late for man to interpose his Vote or to imagine to bring down Christianity to a lower rate for we must not new model it but take hold of it as God hath left it Be in Christ and walk after his Spirit 3. This liberty is assured and established by the Covenant the Conscience of sin and the fears of condemnation are not easily done away and we are so wedded to our lusts that the power of reigning sin is not easily broken therefore we had need of a sure firm Covenant to ratifie these Priviledges to us because our fears are justified by a former Law made by God himself therefore God would not deal with us by naked Promise but put his Grace into a Covenant-form that we may have as good to shew for our Salvation as we had for our Condemnation yea and more And God hath added his Oath That the consolation of the heirs of promise might be more strong Heb. 6.18 And it being a latter grant former transactions cannot disannul it so that the Covenant doth its part also to free beâ—ievers from the power of Sin and the fears of Condemnation 4. The Spirit applieth this grace both as to the effects and the sense as to the effects he applieth it in effectual calling as this quickning spirit doth regenerate us and convert us to God and break the power and tyranny of Sin the wages whereof is Death the Gospel is the means but the blessing is from the Spirit John 8.32 Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free that is ye shall know it savingly so as to feel the power and efficacy of it To be set free to know love serve and delight in God is that liberty that we have by the free Spirit Psal. 51.12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit 2. The spirit sealeth it as to the sense when we come to discern our freedom by the effects of it in our own souls Eph. 1.13 After ye believed ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise And in the fruit of Christs purchase Gal. 4.4 5 6. But when the fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the law to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts crying Abba Father The Spirits seal is Gods impress upon our Souls left there not to make us known to God for he knoweth who are his from all eternity but for the increase of our joy and comfort not by guess but some kind of certainty 1 John 4.13 Hereby we know that we dwell in God and God dwelleth in us by his spirit that he hath given us by the Spirit dwelling and working in us we know our interest this is not so absolutely necessary as the former to our safety but very comfortable There is a Spirit that attendeth the Law reviving fears in men and a sense of Gods Wrath and there is a Spirit attending the Gospel inclining us to come to God as a Father Rom. 8.15 The one is called the spirit of bondage the other the spirit of Adoption Now because the law is so natural to us we the more need this liberty Vse 1. Since there is a Liberty by Christ and that wrought in us by the Spirit but dispensed by the Gospel let us seek it in this way Therefore consider 1. Your need since every man is under the power of Sin naturally and so under a sentence
as 't is said of Christ Luke 24.45 That he first opened the Scriptures and then opened their understandings Otherwise our light is only literal and speculative not operative and efficacious 5. The parts and branches of this leading are two First His restraining motions for the mortifying of sin and His inviting motions for the perfecting of Holiness He teacheth us as he leadeth us into all truth what we are to reject what to believe in Religion Again what is to be left undone in the practise of our lives and he backeth both with what we ought to hope and fear after death in the other world 1. His leading consisteth in his restraining motions For the mortifying of sin or the avoiding of sin when we are running into the snare he mindeth us of our danger as when any evil habit or spiritual disease is growing upon our spirits or when we are about to do something unseemly and offensive to God The spirit in effect saith Oh do not this abominable thing which I hate but cast out pride worldliness and sensuality do not give way to such and such lusts The Holy Ghost is in a singular manner familiar with Gods people taking up a place of abode in their hearts and furnishing them with sweet and necessary counsel and advice from time to time therefore he is said to strive with us when he opposeth himself to our corrupt inclinations Gen. 6.3 My spirit shall not always strive with man He striveth by inward motions and checks of conscience by which he seeketh to humble us for sin and to reclaim us from sin if we struggle against these we lose our advantage Neh. 9.29 30. Thou gavest them also thy good spirit to instruct them Thou testifiest against them by the spirit to bring them back to thy law In these and many places we read of the spirits guidance If ye through the spirit mortisie the deeds of the body We must avoid those things he disswadeth us from 2. There are his inviting and quickning motions to bring us on in a way of holiness and to perfect the work of Grace in us and fit us more for Gods use and service he doth not only close us at first with Christ but is the agent and worker of the life of Christ within us to do his work and maintain his interest and sanctiâ—ie us throughout As we have experience of his restraining motions that we may be more and more conformed to Gods Blessed Will and seek our delight and happiness in Communion with his Blessed Self Psal. 27.8 The Lord said seek ye my face and my heart said thy face Lord will I seek God speaketh to us by the injection of holy thoughts and the secret inspirations of his Grace and we speak to God by the inclinations and resolutions of our own souls This Dialogue is carried on in soul language there needs no audible words between God and the soul so in other places how often doth he solicite us by his holy motions and inspirations the spirit inclineth and presseth us to that which is good 2. As the office of the spirit is to guide and lead so it is our duty to submit to his direction to be led by him That maketh the evidence in the passive sense if we suffer our selves to be led and guided by him in all things for otherwise the spirit worketh on many but they will not hear they either neglect or resist his motions there is a double voice within us the flesh and the spirit and mens spiritual estate is determined by submission and compliance with either Rom. 8.1 That walk not after the flesh but after the spirit The flesh is near and dear to us and very imperious and importunate to be pleased now some men live in a perfect obedience to the flesh according to the fancies and appetites of corrupt nature denieth it nothing which it craveth at their hands but there is another voice within us saying This is the way walk in it Thus you must do if you mean to be happy Now let us not hear and pass by as if you heard not no you must suffer your selves to be lead and governed by this voice or this blessed spirit in all you must improve his assistance wait for his approaches obey his sanctifying motions direct all the actions of your lives according to his guidance and counsel that is your evidence 1. I shall urge it in conformity to Christ. There is a perfect likeness between Christians and Christ all the Priviledges which Christ had are conveyed to us by the spirit If Jesus be the natural Son of the Father the Christian is his Adopted Son Joh. 20.17 If Jesus be the heir of all things a Christian is a co-heir with Christ Rom. 8.17 If Jesus be innocent the Christian is justified if Jesus be born of the spirit or framed by the Holy Ghost the Christian is regenerated born also of Water and the Holy Ghost John 3.5 If Jesus be evidenced to be the Son of God by the coming down of the Holy Ghost upon him the spirit beareth witness with our spirits that we are the Sons of God Jesus was led by the spirit continually so we if he retire into the desart if he come back again into Galilee he is still led by the spirit Matth. 4. Jesus was led up of the spirit into the wilderness the Holy Ghost aiding him in that conflict when 't was ended Luke 4.14 Jesus returned in the power of the spirit into Galilee that is to preach or to execute his Prophetical Office if he cast out Devils Matth. 12.14 I cast out devils by the spirit of God Thus 't was with Christ certainly therefore whatever design we conceive whatever resolution we take whatever enterprize we would bring to pass we are always bound to depend upon the Holy Ghost the spirit must still lead us and move us in all our operations 2. The great mischief which will ensue if we obey not his sanctifying motions and inspirations you will resist the spirit and vex him Isa. 63.10 They rebelled and vexed his holy spirit And therefore he turned to be their enemy The other expression Eph. 4.30 Grieve not the holy spirit He is grieved when the flesh is obeyed before him the spirit sustaineth a double relation our Sanctifier and our Comforter let us not resist our sanctifier nor grieve our comforter surely we should not be ungrateful to this Holy Spirit if we be Holy he Sanctifieth us if free 't is he sets us at liberty if wise he inlightneth us if gatitude cannot prevail yet our interest should He is our Comforter and we blot our evidence darken his seal and so deprive our selves of that joy and peace which we might have in our souls if he were obeyed there is one great mischief above this which God sets up as a dreadful warning for our caution despighting the spirit of grace Heb. 10.29 To resist the spirit is dangerous To resist the
2.10 and in whose cause we are ingaged and who giveth us the holy Spirit to move us to good and to restrain us from evil 2. What confidence we have or may have in Christ. The Saints overcome by his love and if you will adhere to him in the greatest hazards will he fail you Surely he is kind to his people and hath given not only such assurance of it in his promises but such experience of it in the course of his dispensations that we are still incouraged to wait upon him He is willing to help his people for he loveth them he is able and sufficient for infinite power is at the beck of his love And you have tryed him and he never forsook you will he fail at last Was all this to trepan men into a deceitful hope 3. How little we should suspect his love when to appearance all things go against us There are two dispensations Christ useth either disappointing the temptation or strengthning his people under it For the first we have cause to bless him and many times more cause than we are well aware of Plures sunt gratia privativae quam positiva say Divines in general in our case that of the prophet is verified I led Ephraim but he knew it not In preventing our temptations we know not what the love of Christ hath done for us but for the second in what he will try us Take heed of misconstruing any act of Christs love towards us You think there is some want of love when he permitteth you to furious and boistrous temptations no then he meaneth to give you some supereminent Grace of the Spirit 1 Pet. 4.14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ happy are ye for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you on their part he is evil spoken of but on your part he is glorified He loveth you still but will not manifest his love this way or that way which the flesh pleaseth 4. It sheweth us how much we should love Christ and adhere to him in the greatest difficulties Love doth attract and draw love Ordinary love should be mutual and reciprocal 2 Kings 10.15 Is thine heart right as mine is with thee That is dost thou affect me as I do thee Paul pleadeth it 2 Cor. 6.11 12 13. O ye Corinthians our mouth is open to you our heart is inlarged Ye are not straitned in us but ye are straitned in your own bowels now for a recompence in the same be ye also inlarged This sheweth the justice of it that we should retaliate be as kind and affectionate as Christ is to us But alas usually Christ may complain 2 Cor. 12.15 The more abundantly I love you the less I am beloved Shall we lessen our respects to him 2. USE Is to perswade us to give all diligence to this that we be assured that Christ loveth us This is known partly by an external partly by an internal demonstration 1. The external demonstration is in Redemption surely there is no doubt of that that Christ came to shew the loveliness and goodness of God to the forlorn world This only needeth consideration and improvement He that loved us at so costly a rate will he desert us if we chuse his ways and resolve to adhere to him 2. The internal demonstration is in conversion or our receiving the atonement entring into peace with God and adopted as children of the family Sure if you get this one evidence you shall be brought to glory When he hath pardoned thy follies and the frailties of thy youth and called thee when he passed by others and left them in their sins what will he not do for thee SERMON XLVII ROM VIII 38 39. For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. THESE Words render a reason why believers are more than conquerors in their forest tryals and do further carry on the Apostles Triumph to a fit conclusion of such an excellent Discourse In the Text observe 1. The assailants Death Life Angels 2. The attempt and design to separate us from the love of God 3. The fruitlesness of it no creature shall be able to do this 4. His confidence for I am perswaded First The aggressors and assailants are set forth either by a particular distribution or wrapt up in a general expression 1. The particular distribution is made by four pairs or couples 1. Neither death nor life that is neither the fears of death nor the hopes of life this pair is mentioned because death is the king of terrors Job 18.14 And among all desirable good things life is the chiefest and that which maketh a man capable of enjoying all other good things exprest Job 2.4 Skin for skin yea all that a man hath will be give for his life Now all assaults from this first pair are in vain as they tend to separate us from the love of God in Christ. Will you hope to do it by threats of death A believer will tell you that Christ threatneth eternal death and this temporal one be it natural or violent is but a passage into life eternal will you entice him by the baits of life They have learned to prefer everlasting life before it Heb. 11.35 Not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection 2. Pair nor Angels nor Principalites and Powers that is the powers of the visible and invisible world so these two powers are elsewhere coupled Eph. 1.21 Far above all principalities and powers and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also that which is to come So that by principalities and powers worldly powers are intended Angels is a common word that implieth good and evil spirits if you apply it to the good Angels then 't is spoken only by way of supposition if it were possible they could concur in such a design such a supposition there is Gal. 1.8 Tho an angel from heaven preach any other doctrine to you let him be accursed 'T is a supposition of an impossible case but such as conduceth much to heighten the sense of the truth represented As for evil angels they make it their work and business to steal away souls from Christ and if they could would wrest them out of Christs own arms Well then The good Angels seek not to separate us from Christ the good will not and the bad cannot Were it possible for a good Angel to disswade me from my Lord Jesus Christ I would hold him accursed Evil Angels assault us but we are preserved by a stronger than they By the other branch principalities and powers he understandeth the Potentates of the world by what title soever distinguished No powers can overtop the Divine and Soveraign Lord of the Redeemed
But why not of the Angels in Heaven Who are sent forth for the good of the Elect and observe our behaviour and who stop us in our sins as the Angel did Balaam who said it is an errour See Numb 22.34 So 1 Tim. 5.21 I charge thee before the Elect Angels Surely the Angels observe our actions they are sent abroad in the World as the spies and intelligencers of Heaven So they attend upon congregations 1 Cor. 11.10 For this cause ought a Woman to have power on her head because of the Angels In assemblies for worship more Company meeteth then is visible Devils and Angels meet there Devils to divert your minds assoon as you begin to be Serious to Snatch the good word out of your hearts Angels observe you therefore there should be no undecency 3. Devils may accuse men in that day The Devil is called The accuser of the Brethren The Fathers bring him in pleading thus against the Sinner Domine sit meus per culpam qui tuus esse noluit per gratiam I never dyed for him could promise him no heavenly Kingdom but a little sensitive pleasure Ostende tuos tales numerarios O Christe c. 4. Sometimes the Word of God is made to be our accuser John 5.45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father there is one that accuseth you even Moses in whom ye trust That is Moses his Law would accuse and Condemn them Christ needeth not to bring his complaint and inditement against them And it teacheth us this truth That where men remain in their Impenitency and unbelief both Law and Gospel Gods justice and mercy our own consciences the Spirit resisted by them in his moral swasions Messengers means pains taken on them will all contribute to make up an accusation against a sinner before the Tribunal of Christ. So John 12.48 He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words hath one that Judgeth him the word that I have spoken shall Judge him at the last day The word of the Gospel delivered by Christ that will Judge them Though there were no other witnesses yet the grace of God in the word will shew their Condemnation to be just because of their contempt and neglect Believers or unbelievers may know their doom aforehand by the word So Matth. 12.41 42. The men of Niniveh shall rise in Judgment against this Generation and condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonas and behold a greater than Jonas is here So the Queen of the South shall rise up in the Judgment with this Generation and shall condemn it for she came from the uttermost parts of the Earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon and behold a greater then Solomon is here The means that we have injoyed shall be produced and aggravate the Judgment against the neglecters and despisers of the Lords grace There was a greater manifestation of God in Christ than Solomon A greater confirmation in Christs resurrection and Infusion of the Spirit than in Jonahs being delivered out of the Whales belly 5. The ministers of the Gospel Their diligence and faithful inculcation of the doctrine of life maketh up a part of the Evidence which is produced to convince sinners Mat. 24.14 And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the World for a witness unto all Nations First to them and then against them compared with Mark 13.9 The preaching of the Word will be a witness that men had warning enough but that they unthankfully neglected their opportunity and did cast away their own mercies So Mark 6.11 Shake off the dust of your feet for a testimony against them That signified what a crying sin and what a punishment did attend them that contemned the Messages of Salvation sent them by God 'T is not only a Testimony before God for the present but compare Mat. 10.14 15. Shake off the dust of your feet And it shall be more tollerable for Sodom and Gomorra in the day of Judgment This sheweth you are free of their blood and if there be no other witnesses this dust shall witness it 6. Conscience its self shall witness against them and God will discover our selves to our selves that we shall see the Judgment is just As long as men have any Tenderness conscience speaketh now but by custom in sinning men stop the mouth of it But when it speaketh not it writeth many times for the present it is silent and seemeth to take no notice of the sins we commit but they are all registred and they appear legible The sad story of our lives is all engraven upon the heart and when God awakneth the Conscience 't is all sin God will open our eyes not by an holy illumination but by a forced Conviction Rev. 20.12 The Books were opened and one of these Books is conscience and though it be in the sinners keeping yet it cannot be so blurred and defaced but our story will be legible enough and forgotten sins will stare us in the face Numb 32.23 And be sure your sins shall find you out We forget them now think we shall never hear of them more But God can make all occur to memory as fresh as if newly committed and in an Instant represent the story of an ill spent life and shew us all the thoughts words and actions that ever we have been guilty of The Paper goeth white into the Printing-house but within one instant 't is Marked within and without and cometh forth stamped with words and lines and sentences Which were no way legible there before 7. It will be made Evident by the confession of Offenders themselves As their Consciences will convince them so their own tongues will accuse them then As men now in the ravings of despair will vomit up their own shame as Judas Mat. 27.4 I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood And Jer. 17.9 At his latter end he shall be a fool Crying out Oh fool Oh mad man So much more then God can easily and without other Evidence convince men by themselves and make them accuse themselves he can Judge them out of their own mouths Luke 19.12 Produce evidence against them out of their own thoughts and pronounce sentence against them out of their own Consciences Rom. 2.15 Make mens tongues to fall upon them Psal. 64.8 He can indeed make use of us and all that is in us for his own Glory as having power to do with us what he will and 't is much for his honour when he maketh us witnesses against our selves 8. Wicked men shall accuse one another In the arraignment of Adam and Eve which I take for a notable presignification of the general Judgment they transfer it upon one another the man upon the Woman Gen. 3.12 The woman whom thou gavest to be with me And The Woman upon the Serpent The Serpent beguiled me ver 13. So those that draw one another into sin or are drawn by them will impeach one another 9.
and minding us of our duty is the proper means to cure slightness and to remove their Impotency which lieth in their obstinacy and wilfulness There is no such means as to besiege them with constant persuasion and the renewed offers of a better estate by Christ for the Impotency is rather Moral than Natural we do not use to reason men our of their natural Impotency to bid a lume man walk or a Blind man see or a Dead man live but to make men willing of the good they have neglected or rejected we must perswade them to a beter choice In short to inform the Judgment to awaken the Conscience to perswade the will this is the work and Office of the Word by its precepts promises and rewards 't is true the bare means will not do it without Gods concurrence the influence and power of his Spirit but 't is an incouragement to use the means because they are fitted to the end and God would not appoint us means which should be altogether vain 5. That it is not enough that the Word be written but preached by those who are deputed thereunto For several reasons 1. Partly Because Scripture may possibly lie by as a neglected thing The Lord complaineth Hos. 8.12 I have written to them the great things of my Law but they were counted as a strange thing Men flighted the Word written as of little Importance or concernment to them are little conversant in it therefore some are appointed that shall be sure to call upon us and put us in mind of our eternal condition that may bring the Word nigh to us lay it at our doors bring a special Message of God to our Souls Acts 13.26 To you is the Word of Salvation sent he speaketh to all the World by his Word to you in particular by the special Messages his Servants bring you 'T is sent to you there is much of God in it the Word written hath its use to prevent delusions and mistakes and the Word preached hath also its use to excite and stir up every man to look after the remedy offered as he will answer it to God another day 2. Partly Because the Word written may not be so clearly understood therefore God hath left gifts in the Church authorized some to interpret As the Eunuch was reading and God sent him an Interpreter Philip said unto him Vnderstandest thou what thou readest And he said how can I except some Body guide me Acts 8.30 31. The Scripture is clear in its self but there is a covering of natural blindness upon our Eyes which the Guides of the Church are appointed and qualified to remove Job 33.23 If there be a Messenger with him an Interpreter one of a thousand to shew a man his uprightness There are Messengers from God authorized to speak in his name to relieve poor Souls that they may soundly explain forcibly express and closely apply the truths of the Word that what is briefly expressed there by earnest and copious Exhortations may be inculcated upon them and the arrow may be drawn to the head and they may more effectually deal with sinners and convince them of their duty and rowse them up to seek after the favour of God in Christ Look as Darts that are cast forth out of Engines by Art and fitted with Feathers are more apt to fly faster and pierce deeper than those that are thrown casually and fall by their own weight so though the Word of God is still the Word of God and hath its proper Power and force whether read or preached yet when 't is well and properly enforced with distinctness of Language vehemency and vigour of Spirit and with prudent application 't is more conducible to its end 3. Because God would observe a congruity and decency As death entred by the Ear so doth life and peace Rom. 10.14 15. How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a Preacher and how shall they preach except they be sent By the same sense by which we received our venom and poison God will send in our blessings work faith and repentance in us by the Ministry of reconciliation Besides as vision and seeing is exercised in Heaven so hearing in the Church 't is a more imperfect way of apprehension but such as is competeâ—t to the present state Job 42.5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the Ear but now mine Eye seeth thee speaking of his extraordinary vision of God which is a glimpse of Heaven Now we have a report of God and his grace Satisfying ocular inspection is reserved for Heaven but now we must be contented with the one without the other 6. That to preach the word to us God hath appointed men of the same mould with our selves and intrusted them with the ministry of reconciliation As the Fowler catcheth many birds by one decoy a bird of the same Feather so God dealeth with us by men of the same nature and affections and subject to the Law of the same duties who are concerned in the Message they bring to us as much as we are men that know the heart of man by experience our prejudices and temptations for the heart of man answereth to heart as the face in the Waters Prov. 27.19 And so know all the Wards of the Lock and what Key will fit them Now the love and wisdom of God appeareth herein 1. Because God will try the World by his ordinary Messengers Col. 1.21 It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe We now live by faith and not by sight and therefore he will not discover his own Majesty and send us Nuncios and Messengers out of the other World or deal with us in an extraordinary way to lead us to faith and repentance but send mean Creatures like our selves in his name who by the manifestation of the truth shall commend themselves to every mans conscience to see if they will submit to this ordinary stated course We would have Visions Oracles Miracles Apparitions one come from the dead but Christ referreth us to ordinary means if they work not extraordinary means will do us no good Luke 16.30 31. And he said Nay Father Abraham but if one went from the dead they will repent and he said unto him If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead When God used extraordinary ways man was man still Psa. 78.22 23 24. Because they believed not in God and trusted not in his Salvation though he had commanded the clouds from above and opened the doors of Heaven and had rained down Manna upon them to eat and had given them the corn of Heaven They had their Meat and Drink from Heaven and yet they were rebels against God and unbelievers Their victuals came out of the Clouds their Water out
of the Rock so that miracles will not convert nor beget saving faith in them with whom ordinary means do not prevail An Oracle Samuel thought Eli called him when it was the Lord 2 Pet. 1.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We have a more sure word of prophesy Or one from the dead Christianity is the Testimony of one that came from the dead Jesus Christ. There can be no better Doctrine no more powerful perswasion nor stronger confirmation or greater cooperation God tryeth us now but we would have all things subjected to the view of sense 2. He magnifieth his own power and useth a weaker instrument that we might not look to the next hand and gaze upon them as if they by their own power and holiness did make the dead live or the deaf hear or convert the sinner to God 2 Cor 4.7 We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us That the efficacy of the Gospel may be known to be from God alone and not of men He can blow down the Walls of Jericho by a Rams-horn By weak men bring mighty things to pass Treasure in an Earthen Vessel is supposed to allude to Gideons stratagem of a Lamp in a pitcher Judges 7.16 What was that to fight against the numerous Host of Median They brake their pitchers and cryed The Sword of the Lord and Gideon So we have this light in an earthen vessel the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God 2 Cor. 10.14 God chose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 1.28 Foolish things to confound the wise and weak things to confound the mighty and things which are not to bring to nought things that are Gods Ordinances are simple in appearance but full of power 3. God dealeth more familiarly with us in this way Conveying his mind to us by our Brethren who are flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone such with whom we have ordinary and visible Commerce We read Exod. 20.18 19. that the people when they heard the thundrings they stood afar off and said unto Moses Speak thou unto us and we will hear but let not God speak to us lest we die It is a great mercy to man that seeing he cannot endure that God should in glorious Majesty speak to him that he will depute men in his stead Deut. 18.15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee of thy Brethren like unto me unto him shall ye hearken according to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb saying let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God neither let me see this great fire any more that I die not That is Christ principally and all those sent in his name and come in his stead Nay we are not able to bear the Glorious Ministry of the Angels they would affright us rather then draw to God As Elâ—hu saith to Job Chap. 33.6 7. I that am formed out of the clay am come to thee in Gods stead my terrour shall not make thee afraid so may the Ministers of the Gospel say we that are of the same mould and making we are embassadours in Gods stead come to pray you to be reconciled to God You need not be afraid of us nor shy of us 4. There is more certainty this way because by those whose fidelity in other things is approved to us who cannot deceive us but they must deceive their own Souls they know the desert of sin and the danger by reason of it Those who have had experience of the grace they preach as Paul was an instance of the Gospel as well as a preacher of it 1 Tim. 1.17 And he saith he did comfort others with the comforts wherewith he himself was comforted of God 2 Cor. 1.4 spake from a sense and tast commended his Apostleship from his own knowledge who come not with a report of a report who confirm their Doctrines by their practice for they are to be examples to the flock and sometimes by their blood and sufferings if need be 't is their duty at least would these deceive us There are more rational inducing grounds of probability in this way than any extraordinary course that can be taken VSE 1. Let us respect Gods institution the more We see the reason of it and the love and wisdom which God hath shewed in it And especially regard the way of reconciliation Peace and Life are tendred in his name to self condemning and penitent sinners through the Mediation of Jesus Christ. This circumstance of the means teacheth us several things 1. That 't is not enough to look to the purchase price and ransom that was given for our peace but also the application of it For the Apostle doth not only insist upon the giving of Christ but also on the word of reconciliation by which it is offered to us In the 18 th verse this Text and the 20 th verse God may be in Christ reconciling the World to himself and yet we perish for ever unless we be reconciled to God And therefore the means of application must be regarded as well as the means of impetration and as we bless God for Christ so also for the Ministry and Ordinances 2. It sheweth that God hath not only a good will to us but this good will is carryed on with great care and solicitude that it may not miscarry at last Here is wisdom mixed with love As God was careful in laying a Foundation of it by Christ so you see with what wisdom the means are appointed that this peace may be dispensed to us in the most taking way Now God hath travelled so much in this matter shall the Gosple be cast away upon you He hath set up an ordinance on purpose to treat with sinners 3. That those things which God â—ath joined must not be separated nor any part dispersed Christ Spirit Ministry Christ purchaseth all the Spirit applyeth all the Ministry offereth all bâ— the Word If we go to God for grace if it were not for Christ he would not look towards us he sendeth us therefore to Christ who is the golden pipe through which all the fatherly goodness of God passeth out unto us If we go to Christ he accomplisheth all by his Spirit 't is the Spirit that by his powerful illumination must inlighten our minds and open our hearts and effectually renew and change the Soul Tit. 3.5 6. If we look to the Spirit he sendeth us to the Ordinances there we shall hear of him in the Word written and preached Despise that course and all stoppeth Therefore you must be meditating on his Word which is the seed of life be swift to hear Make more Conscience to attend seriously to the dispensation of it This last is most likely to be despised men will pretend a love to Christ and the Spirit a reverence to the Word written but despise the