carried up unto his Fathers glory and sat downe at the right hand of God It cleerly did shew he was accepted and freed by God from that which was laid on him Therefore Christ saith that this shall be one of the great things which the spirit shall convince the world of viz. Of righteousnesse because I go to my Father Ioh. 16. That is that there is a compleat righteousnesse obtained and justification or else I had never been admitted into my Fathers presence and all this acted by the spirit And as a further evidence of this as soon as ever he was ascended he powrs down the spirit as a flood on his Apostles and the Saints with them and to demonstrate that he was not only accepted in his owne person and he personally justified in him and now grace and life must necessarily run out upon them In all these acts Christ was justified in the the spirit for the comfort of beleevers Acts 2. 1 2 3 4 5. Now how may your soules triumph and rejoyce in your justification in the thoughts of this that Christ yea God was justified for you and how ever you are in your selves yet you may be justified in the spirit beleevers have nothing to doe but to take out the personall assurance of this to their owne soules at that time when Christ was justified you were vertually so and yet but out of the particular discharge by the spirit to your hearts and your justification is compleat The great complaint of soules is in this that they are not justified in God's eyes But now we are not only acquitted by the spirit in our own hearts but God himselfe is justified in our Nature for us there is none to offend but God and none to be justified but sinners But now when God shall satisfie himselfe and justifie himselfe in our persons or in our stead what strong consolation have we God will not lay the payment on us but himselfe and he will justifie himselfe for us It was more for Christ to be justified then for any one of us for he had more laid on him then can be laid on us he standing not under the charge of one persons sins or many but of all the Elect and when he was justified a full discharge was given for all that he represented This is a mystery indeed God is offended and God takes that on himselfe in our Nature which lay on us and is justified for us When Christ was justified there was a publick record of it and now when we believe we goe but to that Court and take out the particular discharge to our own soules Christ receiv'd the first act on himselfe in our Name and it was as authentique as if it were formally done on our persons But when we believe it is done personally to us So that now beleevers you have nothing else to doe but apply that righteousnesse which issued forth from Christs justification and lay hold on it as your owne Goe to the Court and see your owne names in the Indenture and get out the coppy of it in your owne heart for there is a necessity if Christ be justified that we should be discharged therefore get holy and glorious triumphs in your heart over sin and Death in that Christ is not only dead but alive and that you are justified in him get out the speciall assurance of it by the spirit to the hearts 3 Vse If Christ were justified in the spirit Let it be your care to justifie Christ in your spirits God hath discharged him so doe you Q. How can we justify Christ you wil say S. VVhy when you believe what he hath done for you Christ hath done all things for you satisfyed wrath fulfilled the Law God hath acquitted him pronounced him just saith he is contented he can desire no more why now doe you justifie Christ in this by saying Amen in your owne Consciences to this Hath Christ dyed believe that your sins shall die Is he justified beleeve that so are you VVhen the surety hath paid the debt the principall as well as the creditor ought to give an acquittance Oh how are we to be blamed for our unbeliefe what aspersions doth it cast on Christ he hath done all things well but we say by unbeliefe he hath done nothing Unbeliefe professeth Christ is not dead or at least not risen the Law is still in force justice is not satisfied there is no justification procured Every doubt in a Saint casts a scandall on Christ God saw cause enough to justifie Christ even by his own spirit and to declare him in our names to be a righteous one and we in him but we see not cause to believe our owne justification or the remission of our sins what is it but to thinke that Christ is held under the paines of death hath not done any thing to purpose that the wrath of God is as open to destroy us as ever it was You keep Christ as it were in a prison and under condemnation when you believe not Oh soules will not you justifie Christ in all these glorious things he hath done for you Then you justifie Christ when you acknowledge him to be what he is made of God to you wisdome and righteousnesse sanctification and redemption I might goe torough all his Offices and Acts for us as then we justifie him in regard of his death when our hearts are satisfied with the offering up of himselfe and that satisfaction he hath made So in his resurrection when we believe we are freed from our sins our surety being risen for our justification so in regard of the whole worke of salvation we justifie Christ when we goe to him as a full and compleat Saviour having our conscience quieted by his righteousnesse and our hearts triumphing thorough his fulnesse Oh it is sad to see how Christ is crucified againe in our hearts thorough unbeliefe arraigned as a malefactor for this is certaine if there be not enough laid in for the satisfying and inriching of soules then Christ is not righteous and he is under condemnation How should we rejoyce to witnesse to Christ faithfulnesse and righteousnesse When we goe boldly to God by Christ then we acknowledge Christ to be a Mediator when we find the sence of our justification in our owne hearts then we acquit Christ and declare he was justified from our sins SERMON VII 1 TIM 3.16 Seene of Angels c. GReat mysteries have great admirers according as things are in themselves so they are adored Godlinesse is the greatest mystery that ever was it being made up of various workings of the glory of God and it hath the greatest and most glorious Creatures for to study it even the Angels themselves This is one of the particulars whereby the Holy Ghost sets forth the greatnesse of this mystery that it was seen of Angels The two former expressions set forth this mystery in its nature and essence under a twofold consideration of God
is nothing else but men speaking Gods mind in their own language 2. But that which doth indeed make it so great a mystery is that Christ is preached to the Gentiles the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used promiscuously sometimes for to expresse sinners in generall sometimes properly for all the world in distinction from the Jews of the Jew first and also of the Gentile these two names comprehending the whole world I shall open them both whereby you may see what a great mystery it is that Christ should be preached to the Gentiles that is 1. To sinners that the great discovery of this Christ who is so glorious should be preached and proclaimed to Gentiles the worst of creatures in regard of sin So the name Gentile is put to express all kind of sinners therefore the Apostle when he would expresse the condition of the Gentiles he cals them sinners of the Gentiles because the Gentiles walk'd in nothing but sin knew not God Gal. 1.15 So when the Apostle would aggravate the fornication of the Corinthians 1 Cor. 5.12 he saith there was such fornication among them as was not named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 among the Gentiles that is among the worst and most notorious sinners such as the Gentiles were Yet this Christ and all the mystery in him is to be preached unto sinners not to Angels but Gentiles That God should ever have a thought of goodwil to such is above al our apprehensions God being so infinitely displeased with them but that he should make sinners the subjects of the utmost discovery of all this glory terminate and center as it were his heart in them and let them know that which Angels admire and long to know this makes up a mystery of it selfe for God to make a throne and set himselfe up in the fulnesse of glory to preach and proclaime his own riches to some pure and unspotted soules whose hearts might presently fall down before it this were something sutable but that sinners who are the children of wrath should be this designe all this mystery is to be preached to them as a mystery to be acted only towards them Oh how much glory is in this God is here preaching life and reconciliation redemption glorification and laying out himselfe in waies of wisdome righteousnesse to the worst of sinners nay which is more God in this mystery is preached as the peace the life the righteousnesse the propitiation for poore sinners what is this but the mystery of free grace acted in infinite wisdome and love to such soules The Apostle when he doth but thinke of it he cannot hold this is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ came to save sinners of whom I am the chiefe saith he 1 Tim. 1. But secondly as to sinners in generall so to the Gentiles the whole world besides the Jews this is the proper meaning of it respecting the calling in of the Gentiles by preaching and rejecting the Jews This the Apostle alwaies makes a great mysterie the Apostle tels the Colossians Col. 1.27 that Gods great intent was to make known the riches of the glory of the mystery among the Gentiles It was a mystery that this should not be preached to the Angels but to sinners but herein is a farther mysterie that it should be preached to the Gentiles not the Jews The Jewes were owned by God as his own people he pick'd them out from the whole world put the visible stampe of his glory on them seemed not to care for the whole world but they let them sinke or swim they had the Oracles of God among them the Covenant Promises Prophesies Gods Presence But the poore Gentiles out-casts for some thousands of yeares left of God in blindnesse and darknesse to serve Devils and their own lusts not a smile of God on them yet for the Jews to be cast off have scarce a glimpse of this mysterie but those Gentiles to be called to the riches of the mysterie and have preached among them the Jews had the first offer and refuse of the Gospell but they soone discharged it and now for God to leave his darling people and let them have but the out-sides of the Gospell the shadows of it in Types and Ceremonies and the offer of the substance of it but in grosse as it were and for God to preach this Christ among the Gentiles those whom the Jews abominated as sinners strangers from the Commonwealth of Israel and without God in the world that these should be brought under the dispensation of the rich and precious mysterie of the Gospell may well be put in to greaten the mysterie of Godlinesse The Apostle in Eph. 3. when he would magnifie his Office in the Ministery puts in these that he was sent to preach to the Gentiles as the highest favour glory that could be for he saith in ver 2. that he had it by revelation and he cals it a mysterie and a mysterie of Christ and a mysterie which in other ages was not made known unto the Sons of men and he saith it is now only made known by the spirit what is that which all this is spoken of That the Gentiles should be fellow-heires and of the same bodie partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospell v. 6. That ever such a blind miserable forlorn people among whom the devils ruled from the beginning of the world that they should have the promise of Christ made to them and be fellow-heires with the Jews this is a mysterie that the Apostle boasts of that he is sent to preach it and therefore he goes on as one that could not containe ver 8. To me who am lesse than the least of all Saints is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ Among the Gentiles there he laies the strength of the priviledge as if he had said that I should be sent to open the mysterie of heaven to such a stupid and blind people to preach the riches of Christ to these poore Gentiles this is a dispensation and a grace indeed So in another place Forasmuch as I am the Apostle of the Gentiles I magnifie my Office Rom. 11.13 This must needs be a great mysterie that the Apostle thought it so high an honour and such a peculiar grace given him that he should but preach unto Gentiles And in another place the Apostle speaking of the manner of his call to this worke he saith Gal. 2.8 that the spirit of God was mighty in him towards the Gentiles it was a mighty and great worke and the Apostle was mightily and with exceeding actings of powers moved to it This was a new designe never expected to be acted that God should in the latter end of the world cause the Sun to come into that part of the Zodiack it never was after it had run its course three thousand yeares to make a noone-day in the remote and darke places of
but his inside blessed 2. Externally he was notwithstanding all the visible actings of him in the world and the misapprehensions of wicked men yet the spirit did still justify him and cleer him and declare him to be righteous Two things were laid on Christ which he had need to be justified from 1. The false aspersions which the world laid on him they lookt on him as a deceiver a friend of Publicans and Sinners one which blasphemed when he said he was the sonne of God one which had a Devill and wrought all his miracles by the Devill 2. The state he stood in under our sins have had the guilt and the punishment of them laid on him whereby he stood as a visible malefactor and under the visible sentence of condemnation For Christ was really charg'd with the satisfaction of our sins and was liable to all that the Law could say to us for them Now he had need to be justified from this by having an acquittance and absolution by the spirit of God Now in both these wayes may Christ be said to be justified 1. He was justified in the spirit from all those wicked imputations his enemies laid on him none were accounted of so vile as Jesus Christ all the reproaches that could be invented were laid on him they called him a Devill commonly Now see how he was justified in the spirit that is first how cleer he was within in his spirit no guile was found in his mouth 2. By his Godhead what bright sparklings of God was in the face of Jesus Christ to the conviction of his enemies many times when they came to catch him they were catch'd by the beauty of his glory and faine to confesse he was a righteous one and that never any spake or acted like him in all that ever he did in the acts of his humiliation he was justified in it God clearing it up that he was the true Messias and Saviour of the world when he was borne wise men came by the spirit to see him and worship him when he was baptized the spirit came downe visibly on him and proclaim'd from Heaven that he was the beloved Son of God with him he was infinitely well pleased Nay come to the uttermost degree of his humiliation when he hung on the Crosse between two thieves by his spirit he converted one of them and made them acknowledge he was the righteous man and they only the sinners In a word what ever he did or spoke the spirit did act it in him and justified him in it I speak not of myselfe but God testifyes of me Iohn 6. He was begotten in the wombe by the spirit led up and downe in the spirit offer'd up by the eternall spirit raised from the dead by the spirit That place in the Romans 1.3 cleers up this He was declared to be the Sonne of God with power by the spirit of holinesse in his Resurrection It is a place which answers this He was of the seed of David as concerning the flesh but declared to be the Sonne of God in the spirit when he did rise againe as much as to say he was God manifest in flesh that is in weakness and yet he was justified by the spirit of holinesse to be the sonne of God Christ would often call himselfe the son of God and for that he was called a blasphemer and for that they sought to put him to death as if they had said we will try that thou canst not dye if thou be the Son of God And so when he was put to death they were confirmed that he was a deceiver But now when he rose againe of himselfe then he was declared with power to be the son of God that is justifyed by the spirit of holinesse or the holy spirit that spirit did declare that he was full of holinesse But this was the least part of Christ's justification 2. Christ stood under the charge of all the sins of the Elect as a common person and so was by God himselfe condemned he bore our sins on the Tree in his owne body that is was really charged with the guilt and the punishment of it and though he was not guilty of any sinne yet was punished as the greatest malefactor standing as our surety Christ may seem to be condemned even by God himselfe and he must come off cleer or else lye under the punishment of it for ever for once the charge was laid on Christ the law looks to him Now Christ that was thus visibly condemned he is justified in the spirit not only that he was appointed to satisfie but that he had satisfied and took away these sins and it was reason that if God did charge him with the debt of our sins that after he had paid it he should be acquitted and declared just and the Justifyer of these for whom we undertook Now this is the great meaning of this phrase that whereas Christ was manifest as God in our flesh and so stood under the guilt of our sins he was justified in his spirit and cleered by God that he had fully satisfied him That whereas God was manifested in flesh that is as the Apostle saith Rom. 8. To condeme sin in the flesh that same God-man was also justified in the spirit that is freely and fully acquitted by his God-head from all these sins and so taken up into glory And Christ himselfe in a Prophesie when he was to dye and be judged as a condemned man he comforts himselfe with the thoughts of this He is neer that justifies me who shall condemne Esa 50.8 9. So likewise the Apostle speaking of Christs Resurrection he was put to death in the flesh but quickned in or by the spirit 1 Pet. 3.18 a place fully paralell unto this Paul saith he was justified in the spirit and Peter that he was quickned in the spirit both meane one and the same thing viz. that new life which Christ had from the dead when he left all our sins behind him and rose againe and by spirit is meant his God-head or divine nature whereby he was both raised from the grave and the guilt of sin together he was quickned and justified as a Malefactor by an absolution receives a new life after the sentence of death and this worke of justifying Christ is especially laid on Christs resurrection who when he dyed was as a condemned man but when he rose againe appeares as a righteous man which had finished his worke For justification implies and supposeth a former guilt laid to ones charge of which he is acquitted There was reason that if Christ bore our sins and stood as one condemned having done away sin should likewise be justified from the guilt of what was laid on him and be pronounced righteous Christ was under the greatest attainder that ever man was he stood publikely charged with the guilt of a world of sins and if he had not been justified by the spirit he had still laine under the
blame of all and been liable to the execution of all this in his own soule therefore though he was manifest in flesh as one condemned in that flesh yet the power of his Godhead raised him up from under the power of death and declared him as a righteous person one that was accepted for and that had compleatly satisfied for poore sinners And as at first conversion we passe from death to life that is from an estate of death and condemnation to an estate of life and justification So did Christ at his Resurrection from an estate of death and guilt which was laid on him to an estate of life and glory and justification from sin for had there been any sin unsatisfied for he could not have been justified Use 1. Is to informe us of the greatnesse of this mystery that God should be justified in spirit That God should manifest himselfe is a wonder and especially in flesh But that we should be justified that implies a guilt some default and doubtlesse this is one of the wonderfullest discoveries of his love to soules How can God be said to be justified who can imagine any evill in the Almighty who finds folly in the Angels they are not able to justifie themselves in his sight but the mysterie is in this that God himselfe which was in our flesh which is none other then Christ he is also justified for us God in our flesh takes upon him the charge of our debts and by his owne spirit justifies himselfe Oh how are poor soules raised at these expressions All the works of our salvation are done by God himselfe he taking that on him and acting over that in the person of his Sonne which must be particularly done in them Two things was to be done to save us Satisfaction and Justification payment of debt and discharge of bonds VVhy now God comes in our Nature and is both punished and justified as if he had done the offence not we God is justified instead of us and dyes when it was our condition let our hearts not be commonly affected with this mystery 2. Vse This mystery raiseth againe from the dead the hopes and joyes of poor soules and in the midst of all their sins and apprehension of wrath gives the strongest ground for Faith in their justification VVhy was God or God in Christ justified he had no need of such an act in himselfe no guile was ever found in his mouth he was a Lambe without spot but all this is to denote what God was for us that he might be to us All the acts that were to be done on us and to us were first done to God in our Nature acted on Jesus Christ and he was but an image of what is to be personally done to us yea whatever consideration he passed under it was as in our stead and we are to reckon our selves as sharers with him yea as really partakers with him as if we had acted it in our own persons When he dyed he stood under an act of attainder for sin he acted nor was capable of none but only stood there for us and our very sins on the Crosse were crucified with Christ and satisfied for by him as if we had paid the utmost farthing with our owne hands so when he was justified by the spirit we were justified He was justified as a common person in the room of all the Elect as he died as a common person for their sins In these two expressions you have all the mystery of Redemption and the reconciliation of sinners to God 1. God was manifest in flesh to bear our sins and to be abased and humbled for them whereby he might satisfie himselfe and then in the token of acquittance and absolution of us from all these sins he is justified in spirit and all the objections of unbeliefe are answered in this Saith the soule how shall my sins be satisfied for why God is manifest in flesh for that end to lay downe an infinite price to his justice But how shall I know that my sins are taken away and that I am justified from them why that God was justified in spirit that is the spirit which speaks nothing but truth and who knowes all things did publickly declare that there was a compleat righteousnesse obtained for sinners and did pronounce it to Christ as in the name of all the Elect. It is worthy further search into this what Christs being justified in the spirit amounts unto for the comfort of poor soules in regard of their justification that so we may all see what full and plenteous redemption there is in Jesus Christ and what matter of holy triumph we have in regard of our own justification First that Jesus Christ should be justified and that for us or in our name as the Atturney takes up the bond in Court for his Client it is as good in Law as if the party himselfe were there to recieve the verdict and see the act inrolled And observe it was more for Christ to be justified a harder thing then for us for he had the sins of the whole world of the Elect upon him and yet Christ beleeved his justification in that former place Esa 50. he is neer that justifies me Well mayest thou beleeve the particular justification of thy person seeing Christ was justified for thee before hand he was that great surety that stood bound to pay thy debts and he was publiquely acquitted for thee And this is certaine that Christ being justified at that moment all the Elect were virtually and really justified in him that act of God which pass'd on him was drawne up in the name of all you and when you beleeve this Indenture is showne unto your hearts But secondly in that he was justified in the spirit our comfort is raised higher for it was not an ordinary acquittance which was given Christ in our name but what was drawne up by the spirit of truth who can speak nothing but truth God himselfe justified himselfe in our Nature by his owne spirit such an infallible witnesse cannot be questioned And though by spirit be meant his God-head in generall yet it is specially meant of that person which is the spirit Therefore the Apostle Iohn Iohn 1.5 6 7 8 9 10. reduceth all to this that it was the spirit that beares witnesse to this that life is in Iesus Christ Christ came by water and blood saith he but Christ is the spirit that beares witnesse to this There were two things which did justifie Christ and both done by the spirit his resurrection and ascension into Heaven in that he rose againe it was cleer that he was justified for else he could not have risen if he had not satisfied the bands of Death would have held him fast in the Grave but that he can raise from the dead he was declared to be the sonne of God with power but still by the holy spirit Rom. 1.3 And in that he by the spirit was
as manifested in flesh and justified in spirit But this sets it out in regard of the outward effect it had on the highest Creatures it was the object of their admiration not that this is part of the mystery it selfe but an expression which the Apostle puts in in the midst of all to raise our thoughts of it because Angels did look into it and adore it that we may therefore open this we will consider 1. What this mystery was which Angels saw 2. What is meant by this sight or how they may be said to see it 3. How it doth magnifie this mystery For the first the mystery which is here held out as the object of Angels sight is none other than Jesus Christ acting as a Mediatour for poore sinners concerning whom all these expressions are Christ being a visible God in the world God manifest in flesh a full justification for his Elect all the working of this mystery was in the person of the Lord Jesus and he is the sum and substance of all the Apostle brings not any thing as a part of this mystery which was done meerely in God which lay in his own heart and were immanent acts of his nature such as Election Predestination and the like but only of the way or contrivance of this as it was acted in the person of Jesus Christ who was God in our flesh all these things are included and imployed in this discovery it is Jesus Christ who is the mystery that was presented to the eyes of the Angels as the most glorious object for their sight God as in our nature dying and satisfying and being justified for poore sinners this mystery was seen of Angels that is 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seene it is not meant of a bare sight but of a sight which astonished the understanding and takes up the heart else it had been a poore expression to raise the glory of this mystery that Angels saw it but it was so great and wonderfull that they tooke the greatest delight to behold it it was that which they were ravished in beholding as at some new and strange object as we use to say of some wonderfull apparition it was seen by such and such that is they were happy to behold it exceedingly taken with it therefore the Apostle Peter when he would express the glory of this mystery saith the Angels do desire to looke into them 1 Pet. 1.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their whole spirits were taken up with this it was to them as the blessedest sight that they could ever behold so that the meaning of this that he was seen of Angels is this that Jesus Christ who was to act out the peace and comfort of the Saints was discovered to the Angels and they lookt on him as so great a mystery that they could not look off but stand and admire it So when Jesus Christ was borne there was a heavenly host of Angels praising and admiring God for this discovery Luke 2.13 14. leaping for joy but to bring the news of him to the world you have no such expressions of the joy of all the world besides as they tooke but in the seeing and manifesting this great mystery But 3. Well may this be brought in to advance the greatnesse of this mystery in our eyes that it was seen of the Angels Angels who are creatures of the highest order who are of the finest make of the noblest spirits who behold the face of God himselfe and are taken up with the immediate enjoyments of his fulnesse for them to look into this mystery as if nothing else were worthy of knowledge besides as if the face of God himself were not so sweet nor so taking and satisfactory excuse the expression but they must see this mystery as the top of their knowledge and that which went beyond all their other enjoyments and which is more this being a designe not so principally concerning them they being in it as a far off and in generall but being a mystery of the salvation of sinners yet that Angels should prefer this to all their sights and sit down viewing this Christ before all their own proper happinesse how doth it swell up the glory of this designe Thus you have the meaning of the words in the generall opened I shall draw up the scope of it more particularly in this Doctrine Doct. That Jesus Christ in the mystery of the Gospell is the object of Angelicall vision and admiration The things of the Gospell are not common or shallow things but that which the blessed Angels have their divine spirits taken up in the adoring of Sight in Scripture is put to expresse the inward motions of the affections Joh. 1.14 We saw his glory as of the only begotten Son of God c. that is we were taken with him as with God himselfe So Paul useth the same expression Gal. 1. He was seene of me also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speaking of that glorious sight which he had of him which converted him and for ever tooke his heart with love to him So here seen of Angels that is Angels beheld the glory of this mystery and were taken up with it as the greatest joy of their hearts For opening this Seeing the Apostle puts so much upon it as to put it in one great expression to open the greatnesse of the mystery of Godlinesse that it was seen of Angels I shall propound these things to handle 1. What sight the Angels have of the mystey of the Gospell 2. How they come to the knowledge of it 3. That this is a mystery that Angels should come to see this Christ 4. VVhat is in this mystery that should so affect them For the first Angels being creatures of a spirituall Nature are vast in knowledge they having no bodyes to cloud their apprehensions but are purae intelligentiae see things nakedly as they lye in themselves yet their knowledge is imperfect being creatures they know not all things which God knows though they know all that is made Now for their sight of Christ in the mystery of the Gospell doubtlesse they see much into it for they are said to bring the first newes of it to wait on Christ in this mystery to comfort him in his sufferings to administer cordials to him in these fainting fits of his passion they sate in the Grave to informe the women and his Disciples concerning his Resurrection when he ascends up to Heaven they come to the men of Iudea and Ierusalem and aske them Why gaze yee here Christ is taken up into Heaven and they spake further of his second comming He shall come againe as you have seen him goe up So that Angels now know much of the mystery of Jesus Christ They which have followed Christ from step to step from the birth to the grave from the grave to Heaven must needs be acquainted much with these things and not only a bare Historicall knowledge but a knowledge of the mystery of
suffer no contrary objections to believing as the riches and righteousnesse of God are laid out before you and demonstrated to your very senses so give faithfull witnesse to all by beleeving the more you beleeve the more you get the sweetnesse of call this fulnesse and you act in the mystery your selfe for not only Christ but your Faith on him is part of the great mystery of godlinesse SERMON X. 1 TIM 3.16 Received up into Glory WEE are now come to the last step of this long ascent at the top of which you have the full sight of all divine workings God seems to begin low takes flesh upon him and is condemned but then riseth higher and is justified in the spirit and admired by Angels preached in power to the Gentiles yea and beleeved on in the world and now received up into Glory This notes the highest advancement of our Nature in the Person of Jesus Christ The great subject of this mystery is Jesus Christ he is the centre in which all these lines end the great and common representative of all the Elect and he is set forth here as under diverse formes and conditions he past through and the severall wayes of his manifestation to the creature as condemned and justified as admired and preached and beleeved on in the world and now at last as received up into glory And it is no more then to set forth the 3 great acts which Christ did as Mediatour for us in transacting our salvation he was manifest in flesh to dye for our sins he rose againe for our justification he ascended up into Heaven to sit at Gods right hand for us This is put in opposition unto his lowest extremity of humiliation for us He that descended also ascended farre above the Heavens So that now we must view this mystery as in another world and follow it up to Heaven where it is acted in glory The greatest part is yet behind it seems now to be gone out of sight as the sun when it is gone from our Horison begins a new day in another part of the world So God having acted that part of the mystery which was for this world takes him up into Glory there to act the rest in a new and blessed way By glory is meant Heaven where Gods sets forth his glory most For the cleerer opening of this I shall propound these things 1. Who or what it is that is taken up into glory 2. What it doth import comprehend 3. The mystery which is in it For the first It is no other but Jesus Christ who was God manifest in flesh who after he had suffered entred into his glory having done his worke as the Apostle saith he entred into his rest Heb. 4. He came out of the lap of his Fathers love into a wide and miserable world to lead a contemptible and mean life in the form of a servant and having finished his course is againe taken up into that glory and high dignity from whence he came This was the prayer of Christ that when he had ended his worke in the world that God would restore him to that glory he had with him from the beginning of the world John 17. He left his place for a while seemed to be turned out of it as one not worthy of it untill he should purchase it by his owne blood He was let fall out of glory into a forme of misery and lost his station for a while and againe is restor'd to it with an addition of highest honour That this is meant properly of the person of Christ is cleer for the same is receiv'd up to glory who was God manifest in flesh and justified in spirit who died and rose againe that none of the Saints did neither can any other be said to be seen of Angels nor preached to poor sinners nor is any the object of Faith but Jesus Christ but yet this must be granted that mystically and representatively the Saints likewise are received up into glory with him as I shall shew anon and if you will that Jesus Christ that in the names of all the Elect was condemned and made a sacrifice for sin and justified in the Spirit in their stead that Christ is also received up into glory as in their stead But secondly what doth this hold forth that Christ is received up into glory You must look on this as containing a glorious designe and a great part in the salvation of soules 1. It implies a compleat finishing of that worke he had to do for us here that there was no more to be done in this world for us that the satisfactory worke to justice was finished and he and his sacrifice accepted before God Heb. 10. having by one offering perfected those which are sanctified he entred into the holiest place viz. heaven and there sate down at the right hand of God having no more to do justice being satisfied justification for sinners procured this was evident when he rose againe For if he had not paid the debt he had never come out of prison but much more evident seeing he is received up into heaven taken into the Fathers bosome many break prison and walke up and down securely as if all were paid but they dare not come in the face of the Court and behold the Judge or come nigh any of their Creditors this is the greatest ground of security that can be possible that sin is done away and that redemption is purchased because that Christ is received up into glory God would never have let Christ come so nigh him if he had any of the smell of his grave-cloaths on him had left any one sin unsatisfied for 2. It imports not only a bare satisfaction of justice but clearly demonstrateth how infinitely God is pleased with Jesus Christ and what he hath done that his heart is contented and he hath over and over pleased him many a broken debt may be paid by a third penny and composition and the Creditor pronounce satisfaction in Law But Christ did not agree so with God by way of composition but Christ paid the utmost farthing that justice could command and in such a way that God is infinitely taken with him and his Oblation and so delighted in him as that he thinkes him not fit to stay any longer in this world but takes him up to glory cannot be without him in heaven gives him a name above every name that he may aske what he will he hath the command of all Gods treasuries of all his riches When Christ went up and down the world and was but about the work he could not hold but must send the Spirit to proclaime to all the world This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased as if he had said Whatever he shall do I will accept But now how much more when he hath so faithfully acted out his will and is received up into his glory and is received up into his glory is God
high consideration that Saints may not only have from Christ but expect to be what he is looke whatever God acted on the person of Christ that he did as in our behalfe and meanes to act the same on us was Christ crucified so are we as he rose againe so are we raised together with him and if he be taken up into glory so are we Oh how should faith stand and gaze on Jesus Christ now he is in glory not an ordinary and meane act of faith will come up into this mystery such a faith only as sets the soule in heaven and puts it in a condition of glorious triumph becomes this expression heaven is not only opened but possessed by Jesus Christ for us Faith goes to Christ as dying and rising againe and so beleeves its remission of sins and justification but yet faith is low while it doth not go within the vaile and see glory Saints should not rejoyce in present acts but live on future glory as it was with the Jews at that time when the high Priest went into the holy of holies whcih was very seldome yet then they ought to have higher joy in beleeving because they saw the utmost of their happinesse represented then when meerly they saw the bullock killed for sin So now that Christ is gone into glory the holy place not made with hands we should not only have a faith of justification but of glorification you may anticipate the condition of heaven it selfe and your actuall possession of that by beleeving when faith lookes down and sees Christ on the Crosse and his bloud running out to satisfie wrath it cannot choose but thinke that righteousnesse is procured especially when we see him rise againe but now when we looke up higher and see Christ taken into glory what can we have lesse than a glorious faith Use 2. And now seeing I am falne on this I cannot choose but bewaile our stupidity and reprove our folly how miserable do beleevers live Where is the spirit of glory that should be on them When Stephen saw Jesus at the right hand of God though but for a moment his face did shine like glory Acts 8. How many are there that never came up yet to act faith in Christ as a glorified Christ We are yet still in the lower forme can take in no more of Christ than what was done on the Crosse what some naturall and common resemblances of him can hold forth we seldome follow Christ into heaven to see what he is doing there for us many professe to live immediately on God and to be in glory already but we cannot see their faces shine their outward man scarce as glorious as common professors It were well if we could see Christ in his glory such a sight would be transforming of soules indeed we should live not only as men borne for glory but as in glory as these that have not only one foot in the grave but one foot in heaven heaven is not only let down to you in the frame and picture of it but you are taken into it in the person of the Lord Jesus you may not only dreame of heaven but enjoy it and you thar live below glory live below Christ who is received up into glory Vse 3. This cannot but heighten the joyes and enlarge the comforts of the Saints when they do but consider that Christ is received up into glory In beleeving this what can they find lesse than joy unspeakable and full of glory For First Now Jesus Christ is accepted of the Father for them and hath declared gloriously that his heart is at rest in the workes of his hands and that he is well pleased with you for in this condition he could never else have received Christ into heaven if there were any frownes left in Gods face you might be sure Christ should have them first he comming so nigh him and if any flawes were in your pardon or any exception against his satisfaction he had heard of it and would have been turned out of heaven untill he had made full payment thou needest not doubt acceptance at the throne of grace and to find a blessed welcome to God when Jesus Christ is accepted for thee and thou commest in such a relation Secondly Now he is in a capacity of acting out all his love and the Fathers desire in the most glorious way to thee Christ is gone into heaven to do something more for thee still he had some glorious piece to frame for the Saints and therefore left this world and went to his Father that he might act it in glory and now he is invested with all the riches of heaven he hath all the keys of heaven and hell he hath all power to command he hath received all the promise to himselfe and all that he hath to do is to empty himselfe againe on you he hath not only got his fathers heart for you but got all his riches to bestow on you he cares not as it were for his own advancement but only as it is the advantage to glorifie you and now he can do what he will when he came to heaven the Father bid him sit down at his right hand and take what he would he would have no more to do with the world but he should bestow what he had among his Saints this should be the reward of his death all judgement is committed to the Son the Father judges no man Joh. 10. he hath given away all his prerogatives unto Jesus Christ Thirdly As Christ is received up into glory to act for you and to bring you to glory so he sits in heaven to represent you he is there as a publike person and God sees you all in him he doth but occupy your place and imploy your stock before you come to yeares all you must be gathered into his fulnesse and received up into the same glory he cannot be contented with that glory he hath untill you be with him then he still praies the Father so earnestly that you may be with him where he is Joh. 17. that they may see that is enjoy my glory if Christ intended to resigne up his place and all his glory when once his Saints were come about him he is but as Feoffee in trust with your estate and how will Christ improve it for you who hath such an opportunity And which is more what kind of glory must that needs be which is the honour and the happinesse of Jesus Christ which is his highest advancement as Mediatour Therefore every Saint should expect every sight of Christ as glorious to wait on the Lord Jesus for glorious manifestations of himselfe and in the next place expect to see himselfe in glory do not only remember that you have a head in glory who can supply your wants but remember that you are there with him and that his Crown is as it were a burthen on his own head untill it be set on yours live according to