Consideration Thou art Christ the Son of the Living God The same good Confession was made once before by Peter John 6.69 And now repeated to evidence his firm Establishment in this grand Article of Faith In which our Lord is describ'd two Ways both by his Office and his Essence 1. Christ is a Name of Office of the same Signification with the Messiah as the Holy Ghost himself Interprets it John 1.41 The anointed of the Lord he to whom the Prophets witness't he that should come into the World as John 11.27 He whose Work and Business was to be a Saviour not a Temporal but an Eternal one a Saviour from Sin and Wrath from the drudgery of the Devil and the Prison of Hell 2. The Son of God is a Name which respects his Essence and Being a Son not by Adoption and Grace as the Baptist and Elias and Jeremy and the other Prophets were but a Son by Nature a Son whose Generation is ineffable for he is infinitely Equal with the Father for he is true God as well as Son of God the Father hath that Title of the Living God in Opposition to false Gods Jer. 10.10 Acts 14.15 And the very same Title is likewise given to the Son Heb. 3.12 Jesus is true Jehovah and according to the true Import of that Word he hath Life in himself as the Father hath John 5.26 Well Christ's Commendation of this Confession is set down in the Text Jesus answered and said unto him c. Where we may take Notice of three Things 1. The Name which Christ calls this Apostle by Simon Bar-jonai or Simon Son of Jona as the Word signifies Peter was the Name that Christ gave to him ver 18. As God gave the Name of Israel to Jacob Gen. 32.28 But here Christ puts him in Mind of the meanness of his Extraction and of what he was originally as he does again after his fall no less than three Times over John 21.15 16 17 What change soever is made upon us by the Favour and Mercy of God 't is good to reflect sometimes upon our Primitive Vileness and Wretchedness to look to the Rock whence we are hewen and the hole of the Pit whence we are digged 2. The Happy State which Christ pronounc't him to be in Blessed art thou Christ had Authority to pronounce Persons blessed for he had Power to make them so Acts 3.26 God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him to bless you He can really and effectually do it what Palak said falsly of Balaam is true of Christ The Man whom he blesses is blessed Numb 22.6 If he blesses we shall be blessed for ever as David said to God 1 Chron. 17.27 Such is the Blessedness which Christ speaks of here both Perfect and Perpetual without Defect and without Decay 3. The Reason assign'd to back this comfortable Sentence which refers to the Way and Means of the discovery of that Truth which Peter had now confest and this is laid down both Negatively and Affirmatively 1. Negatively For Flesh and Blood hath not revealed it unto Thee Flesh and Blood are variously taken in Scripture 1. Sometimes for the humane Nature consisting of Soul and Body so Heb. 2.14 2. Sometimes for the natural Body accompanied with its present Infirmities in Opposition to a spiritual glorified Body So 1 Cor. 15.50 3. Sometimes for humane Instruction so Gal. 1.16 Paul says that he conferred not with Flesh and Blood which is the same Thing with not receiving the Gospel which he Preacht of Man ver 12. 4. Sometimes for humane Opposition so Eph. 6.12 We wrestle not with Flesh and Blood c. i. e. we have not only to do with persecuting Men but raging Devils 5. Sometimes for natural Reason our own Judgments and Understanding And this I take to be the principal Sense of the Phrase here q. d. Thou dost not owe this Revelation to thy self or to any discerning Faculty in thee above other Men. 2. Affirmatively But my Father which is in Heaven Four Things seem to be intimated by this 1. That there is a mysterious Order in all Divine Operations according to which God the Father is to be lookt upon as the Fountain The Father Works and the Son and Spirit Works conjunctly there is no Inequality or Subordination among the Persons and yet we are led by the Gospel to Eye the first Person as the spring of all When our Lord speaks of sending the Comforter 't is from the Father John 15.26 And when the Spirit of the Son is sent forth into our Hearts God is said to do it which is plainly meant of God the Father Gal. 4.6 2. That in all the Works of Grace towards lost Creatures God acts as the Father of Christ Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual Blessings in him Out of Christ we can expect only the Curse of God as a revenging Judge but we can expect nothing from him as a Father in a way of Love and Mercy 3. Acquaintance with the only begotten Son of God must flow from him that begat him No Man knoweth the Son but the Father as no Man knoweth the Father but the Son Mat. 11.27 Therefore they mutually manifest and declare each other which none else is capable of doing Who should lay open the Secrets of one Man to another but himself And who should reveal the glorious Persons in the Godhead but themselves See 1 Cor. 2.11 4. If therefore we look for Light we must look upwards As the Sun over our Heads is the visible Cause of natural Illumination so spiritual Illumination is from an Infinite Being above the Sun 'T is one of the gracious Issues which belong to our Father in Heaven The dark Places of the Earth unanimously say it is not in us Every good and perfect Gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of Lights James 1.17 The Words thus open'd come to this Point Obs There is a certain Blessedness annext to the Knowledge of those Truths which humane Reason does not discover but God himself Here 1. Shew That there are some Truths necessary to be believ'd which humane Reason neither does nor can discover 2. How such Truths are discovered by God 3. What kind of Knowledge is the Effect of this discovery 4. Wherein lyes the Blessedness annext to that Knowledge 5. Why it is so 6. Use 1. To shew That there are some Truths necessary to be believ'd which humane Reason cannot discover The peculiar Doctrines of the Gospel are as deep as the Commands of the Law are broad But I will confine my self to the instance mention'd in the Context the Godhead of Jesus Christ Every one is bound to believe this and every Man that calls himself a Christian professes the Belief of it without such a Profession his Christianity is void and without such a Belief his Profession is vain To take upon us the Christian Name and
seek Psalm 27.8 God does not only expect such an Answer but expects it immediately upon his Call When ever he blows with his Wind he looks that we should spread our Sails If we refuse his offer'd help we may deservedly want it when desir'd As Christ withdrew himself from the Spouse because she let him stand knocking so long at the Door of her Heart and she still deferr'd to open and tir'd out his loving Forbearance with vain and frivolous Excuses Song 5.2 c. But as we must not omit the present Performance of any Duty which he excites unto we must not check his Influences by being weary of the Duties which he assists us in If we do not improve extraordinary Aids by holding out the longer we provoke him to depart 11. Dallying with Satan's Temptations This was Sampson's Case he went on Mocking Dalilah three Times one after another till at last he told her all his Heart So Eve's parleying with the Serpent instead of giving a resolute Repulse was the introduction to all that Sin and Misery which hath since fill'd the World There can be no Conversation had with the Vnclean Spirit but that the Holy Spirit will be offended by it An intimate Friend would take it ill and would have Reason to keep at a more than usual distance from us if he saw us maintaining any familiar Correspondence with his avowed Enemy If we grow bold and presumptuous in playing with the Devils baits the Spirit of God will be more shy of having Fellowship with us If we do not vigorously oppose the first Suggestions and Assaults we can have little Hope of being assisted in the progress of Temptation and much less of comeing off with Victory at the End of it He that will tread upon the Edge of a known Snare which he should fly from is generally left to be caught and taken in it 12. Carelessness and Negligence in our daily Walk This may be and is too often the fault of those whose Hearts nevertheless in the main are upright with God The Fear of God is in them but 't is not constantly before them as it ought to be Though they be not habitual Customary Sinners yet for want of taking that heed to their Ways which they should do they may fall into scandalous and hainous Sins and what less can we suppose that this should issue in than a Departure of the Spirit of God from them And therefore when David came to himself after his foul Miscarriage and reflected upon what he had done he might well put up such a Prayer Psalm 51.11 Cast me not away from thy Presence take not thy Holy Spirit from me This was what he dreaded and deprecated as the just and natural Consequent of his Sin He that would not expose himself to such a Judgment as this is needs to be very watchful and Circumspect for if we do not ponder the Path of our Feet and look well to our goings we shall slip into the Mire before we are aware III. What are the Effects which follow upon these Departures 1. A manifest deadness both in Private Duties and Publick Ordinances 'T is said of the slain Witnesses that when the Spirit of Life from God enter'd into them They stood upon their Feet Rev. 11.11 When the Spirit withdraws we can by no means lift up our selves but only creep as it were and grovel on the ground 'T is so 1. In Private Duties the Ebbings and Flowings which we often find in the Exercise of Grace the various and unequal Motions of our Souls towards God when we are alone in our Retirements plainly prove that the Spirit of God is not always alike present and that according as he is more or less so we are either lively or drooping When the Spirit is in the Wheels we are able to run but if not we tire When we have him with us we go on swiftly when we are without him we draw very heavily When God pours out his Spirit upon us how fervently can we pour out our Souls to him When he is departed how strangely are we bound up The Influence of the Spirit sets us on Fire and in his Absence we can get no warmth 2. 'T is the same in Publick Ordinances When God fills them with his own Presence there is a mighty Power a glorious Majesty a charming Beauty a satisfying Sweetness in them but when God withholds himself they are empty of all this When the Spirit of God moves upon the Waters of the Sanctuary they are a Stream that make glad the City of God but else even the Children of Sion have no Refreshment by them Hence it is that the very same Persons are so differently affected with and wrought upon by the same Administrations at several Seasons sometimes it may be we meet with that ravishing Pleasure and Joy in Worshipping Assemblies that we are ready to cry it is good to be here at other Times we feel no such Thing When we are in the Spirit on the Lord's-Day the Sabbath is our Delight the Word is savoury Meat the Supper is a Feast of Fat Things but without the Spirit these Days of Heaven are lost to us and the Wells of Salvation like dry Pits 2. A wretched indifferency towards the Service of God As this is an Effect of God's departing so it naturally follows upon the former for where Men are not quicken'd in God's way they will certainly need to be quicken'd to it When the vigorous Relish of the Soul is gone the Appetite will be gone proportionably Our desiring of the Word depends very much upon our Tasting of it 1 Pet. 2.2 3. The better Meals we make in God's House the more we hunger and the more we drink of the River of his Pleasure the greater is our Thirst Here lies our Misery therefore when through the Absence of the Spirit God's Service is become undelightful to us 't is also too much undesir'd by us Some desire to his Name is still remaining in every gracious Soul but 't is marvelously cooled and abated and the edge of it taken off there is not that vehement Desire which the Scripture speaks of 2 Cor. 7.11 There is not a desiring with Desire as Luke 22.15 There is not that Panting after God nor that earnest longing to come and appear before him which David professes Psalm 42.1 2. They can pass over Seasons of conversing with God or be hinder'd of them more easily than when the Spirit is present 3. The Revival of secret Corruptions whereby Satan gets great Advantages The Evil present with us is never so prevalent as when the Lord is departed from us Then those Lusts which seem'd to be pretty well mortified and subdued before start up again and recover their Strength and the Devil falling in with them does abundance of mischief Believers are hereupon sometimes overcome by Temptations which they Thought themselves most secure against and furthest off from a Compliance with they are led
as to serve him with Acceptance by their own Strength 1 Cor. 1.21 The Light of Nature may leave Men without excuse but yet it leaves them also without the effectual Remedy it discovers so much as will aggravate Men's Ruine but not so much as will procure their Relief There must be the Faith of Things above Reason for no other Faith will save Reason as now maim'd and corrupted is a fallen Star which instead of leading unto Christ will plunge the Souls that are under his Conduct into outer Darkness If a Man had all the Knowledge which 't is possible for Flesh and Blood to arrive to he would be as far from the Kingdom of God as the most illiterate Person in the World 'T is Light from Heaven which prevents our falling into the Fire of Hell If our Gospel be hid 't is hid to them that are lost 2 Cor. 4.3 The Understanding of all other Mysteries will avail us nothing if we be ignorant of this 2. The Godhead of Jesus Christ is an Article of peculiar importance to the Everlasting welfare of Souls 'T is a fundamental Truth and they that would subvert our Faith in this particular seem to say as those Edomites did in Jerusalem's desolating Day Rase it rase it to the Foundvtion thereof Psalm 137.7 'T is the Corner-stone in our Religion upon which the Building stands It was the very first Doctrine that we hear of from the Mouth of Paul after his Conversion Acts 9.20 Straightway he Preached Christ in the Synagogues that he is the Son of God The whole New Testament Church is oblig'd to have a special regard to this Confession of Peter in the Words before the Text for in the Words immediately following the Text our Lord says Vpon this Rock will I Build my Church ver 18. It is therefore a most important Article but this will further appear if we consider these Four Things 1. We can have no hope of Salvation but by Christ as the Son of the Living God If he were but a Man we might justly put the Question How shall this Man save us How can Israel be saved with an Everlasting Salvation but in the Lord in Jehovah Isa 45.17 How is it true that he would save them by the Lord their God Hos 1.7 If there be not Salvation in any other but Christ he therefore must be the Lord our God 2. We can have no access to God or Communion with him but by a Mediator who is God How should one Creature introduce another into the Presence of such a terrible Majesty who is at an infinite distance from all Creatures The Fellowship which we have with the Father is through the Son and therefore the Holy Ghost is pleas'd to link the greatest intimacy with God to a sincere Confession of the Deity of Christ 1 John 4.15 3. We can look for no Victory over the Devil if we do not look to Christ as God How is the Accuser of the Brethren cast down but by the coming of the Kingdom of our God and the Power of his Christ Rev. 12.10 He must be the Christ of God who hath Power enough to subdue and conquer such an Adversary 'T is the Lord that must rebuke him a created Angel cannot Jude 9. 4. The World it self will be too hard for us if we are not helpt to encounter it by Christ as God 1 John 5.5 Who is he that overcometh the World but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God 'T is in the Strength of this Faith that we must make successful Opposition we are Conquerors by Vertue of his Conquest John 16.33 And this Conquest supposes his Godhead for a meer Man is as uncapable of overcoming the World as of invading Heaven There is an Objection lying against all this in the very Chapter where the Text is ver 20. If the Knowledge and Belief of what Peter had now confess'd be so essential to Blessedness why should Christ charge his Disciples at the very close of this Discourse That they should tell no Man that Jesus was the Christ Was he unwilling that the necessary means of Salvation should be afforded to that Age Was he resolv'd to Conceal that from them the Concealment whereof must needs be Mortal Ans 1. That unbelieving Generation were willingly yea willfully Ignorant and therefore justly given up to be so Mat. 13.13 Therefore spake Jesus to them in Parables because they seeing see not and hearing they hear not c. They shut their Eyes stopt their Ears put away the Word from them and therefore why should it be offer'd or propos'd to them 2. The personal Doctrine and Miracles of Christ were sufficient to have convinc'd them of this Truth if they had given heed to them therefore why should the Apostles Preach the same thing He spake as never Man spake John 7.46 He did the Works which no Man ever did Chap. 15.14 So that in Effect he told them himself but they would not believe 3. There might be a prudential Reason in it Christ would not by such a Publication hasten his own Death Some think on the contrary he forbad their telling of this that it might not hinder his Death Because if they had known they would not have Crucified c. 1 Cor. 2.8 But this seems much the more probable Reason he would not draw upon him the Odium and Malice of the Jews before the Time so Luke 9.21 22. He straitly commanded them to t ll no Man that thing saying the Son of Man must suffer many Things c. q. d. This will provoke their Rage against me which I must and will undergo when my hour comes but till then I design to avoid it The Jews had a bloody Intention in urging him to tell them plainly If he was the Christ John 10.24 That they might accuse him of Treason and Blasphemy and therefore he would answer them as they desir'd but when his Time was come he owned this in express Terms to the High-Priest Mat. 26.63 64. I adjure thee by the Living God that thou tells us c. Jesus saith unto him Thou hast said 4. The great Proof of his Godhead was yet to come viz. his Resurrection so the Apostles were to defer their Declaration of this Truth till they could back it with this Argument Rom. 1.4 He was declared to be the Son of God with Power according to the Spirit of Holiness by the Resurrection from the Dead By the Spirit of Holiness here is to be understood his Divine Nature which is put in Opposition to the Flesh his humane Nature ver 3. And the like Opposition we meet with 1 Tim. 3.16 1 Pet. 3.18 Now this Deity of Christ was most powerfully demonstrated by his rising from the Dead for he rais'd and reviv'd himself which a Creature could not do he had Power to take his Life again after he had laid it down which no Creature ever had John 10.18 And it was not possible that
Oils that break the Head and sweeten'd Draughts that cast in to a dead sleep Sinners that Prophecy such smooth Things to themselves Prophesie pernicious Deceits The Visions of their own Hearts will end in outer Darkness They boast that God is well pleas'd in them though they take no delight in serving of him and they rejoyce in this boasting but their Foundation is in the Sand they are not true Men but counterfeits 2. All have not a full and uninterrupted Assurance of the Love of God who do never the less yield the most unfeigned Obedience God does not always put gladness into those Hearts where he puts his fear nor always make his Face to shine where he hath restor'd his Image Though every one that doth right is born of God 1 John 2.29 Yet every such Person does not certainly know that his Father's Heart is towards him Some may live under his Frowns that yet live under his Authority they may be too great Strangers to rejoycing in God and yet will not renounce their Subjection to God though they want the Light of his Countenance yet his Law is a Lamp to their Feet This is the Case of those upright Souls That walk trembling after the Lord Hos 11.10 They are ready sometimes to suspect that God will have nothing to do with them and yet they are resolv'd to cleave to him they walk so as to please him though they have not like Enoch the Testimony of their pleasingness to him God seems to be angry and covers himself with a Cloud and they are tempted to put the Question whether God's tender Mercies be not quite shut up but notwithstanding all this they remember to do the Part of Children they will perform the Duties of such a Relation whether he own them or not The Generation of the Righteous make up but a very few in Comparison of that numerous World which lye in Wickedness but we should make them a great deal fewer then they are if we shut out those that are sometimes at least destitute of Divine Comfort The Practice of universal Obedience is very Rare but a strong and unshaken Assurance of Faith is much more Rare 3. The Natural Man that looks upon God as an implacable hater of him can never heartily obey him The serving of enemies is threatned by God as a punishment Deut. 28.48 And 't is that which Nature hath a great reluctancy against and will not be brought to submit to but by force Conscience of Guilt and fear of Wrath do not promote our walking with God but obstruct it Adam ran away from God as soon as he had sinned and would never have return'd to perform any act of Allegiance to him any more if God had not reveal'd himself in Christ and entred into a Covenant of Peace through a Mediator When a Sinner sees that God is against him and concludes as 't is said in the case of the Leviathan Job 41.9 that the hope of him is in vain he will have no respect to any Command of God A Man in a desparate Condition that thinks there is no Remedy will break all Rules and Measures he will be tied to nothing because he is under such dismal Apprehensions that nothing can help him A Spirit of slavish fear which all awakened Sinners are naturally possess'd with till God shew them his Salvation tends rather to plunge Men headlong into Hell than to make them choose the way to Heaven it is far more likely to harden them in their Rebellion than to reduce them to their Obedience if there were nothing but the terrour of the Lord to be known Conversion-Work would be impossible 4. The warmer our sense is of Gods love to us the livelier is our obedience to him There is some proportion between the vigour of our service and our hopeful prospect of his favour Upon this account there is not only a difference as to degrees of Holiness among Saints themselves because though they have all obtain'd like precious faith they have not all obtain'd equal measures of faith 2 Pet. 1.1 compar'd with Rom. 12.3 but there is also a difference in the same Saints at several seasons according as they have more or less of the comfortable apprehensions of the love of God which is indeed a variable thing I mean not the love of God it self but our apprehension of it they are more or less fervent in Spirit serving the Lord. Though Duty be not intermitted nor ever should be for want of comfort yet in the enjoyment of comfort Duty is perform'd in a more active and chearful manner Every Child of God hath his dark and gloomy as well as his bright and pleasant days and this change as to his spiritual joy will produce some alteration in the exercise of Grace The less sensible Manifestations of God there are to the soul the more sensible deadness there is in holy Duties Our Wings are clipt and we cannot mount up as at other times but when we receive the sight of a reconciled God in Jesus Christ this wonderfully enlarges the heart and we can not only walk in Gods Truths but run in the way of his Commandments 5. Though a sence of the love of God do quicken to obedience yet there is a necessity of obedience laid upon us by vertue of the Law for the Law is not made void through this faith but establisht Rom. 3.31 The Law reveals what we ought to do and a discerned Interest in the Love of God gives us the highest encouragement to the doing of it We are not the less but the more obliged by this means to walk according to rule and that Rule is the Declared Will of God Though we are helpt to obey upon Gospel Principles yet we are bound to obey on the account of the Precept No Man more sway'd and influenc'd by Grace than Paul was yet he professes that he was not without Law to God but under the Law to Christ 1 Cor. 9.21 We owe a Debt of service to God though Christ hath discharg'd the Debt of Sin He hath fulfill'd the Law for us in order to our Justification and yet we are to fulfil it our selves for the evidencing of our Sanctification The Law is still in force for our direction in Duty though Christ hath so far abolisht it as to free Believers from the penalty it retains its commanding power though it hath lost its condemning power in which respect 't is said that the Law is not made for a righteous man but for the lawless and disohedient for the ungodly and for sinners 1 Tim. 1.3 The threatned Curse takes hold of Men out of Christ the Injunctions to be regarded by those in Christ 6. A sence of the love of God is the chief motive to Obedience though it be not the only one There are other Considerations which have their Place and Use and ought to work upon us but this more than any they may and should contribute to the same
positive Discovery of Corruption in the actual Commission of Sin is not Apostacy A Man may halt and slip yea he may stumble and fall and yet not go back He that resolvedly holds on his way may notwithstanding oftentimes through Ignorance or Infirmity turn aside out of it before he finishes his Course A Believer may be led into Captivity to the Law of Sin and yet never properly is brought under the Reigning Power of Sin Rom. 6.14 compar'd with 7.23 To be violently seized by another as an Enemy is a very distinct thing from submitting to another's Dominion as a Lord. A Subject may continue Loyal to his Rightful Prince though the Arms of a wrongful Usurper may for a Time prevail against him A voluntary Transferring of my Allegiance is much more than to be taken Prisoner by force Rebellion is an aggravating Addition to Sin Job 34.37 Now Apostatizing in Scripture is very frequently exprest by Rebelling Josh 22.29 God forbid that we should Rebel against the Lord and turn this Day from following the Lord c. Dan. 9.5 We have done wickedly and rebelled by departing from thy Precepts c. Every Offence against a Law is not an Act of Treason or Renunciation of the Soveraign Authority All Sin is a Transgression but this Sin of backsliding is the great Transgression 3. Apostacy from God includes not only a Deviation in the Life but an Alienation of the Heart Not only a sinful wandering but a loving to wander Jer. 14.10 Thus have they loved to wander they have not refrained their Feet So long as the Heart is right with God it cannot be said that the Man goes back from him An unwilling Departure is not so much the Act of the regenerate Person as of the Sin that dwelleth in him Rom. 7.17 No outward Performance good or bad does denominate so much as the inward frame and working of the Spirit A great many miscarriages will be graciously overlookt in the visible Walk and Conversation when there is a cleaving to God with full Purpose of Soul The Errors of a Man's way are far more pardonable than erring in Heart The Generation whom God was so much griev'd with were a People that did err in their Hearts Psalm 95.10 Though there be no manifest or gross backsliding in the Life yet if there be a revolting and a rebellious Heart there is the poysonous Root of all Abomination Here is Apostacy in the sight of God though not in the sight of Men as the Israelites in their Hearts turned back again into Egypt when they were marching in the Wilderness Acts 3.39 According as the Mind is estrang'd from God or keeps close to him a Man is clear or guilty in this Case Our Heart is not turned back was the Church's Vindication Psalm 44.18 4. Apostacy from God is really an undoing of all the good which we have done 'T is a wicked Repentance quite contrary to the Grace of Repentance as that is a Repentance from dead Works so is this a Repentance from Works of a better sort Psalm 36.3 He hath left off to be wise and to do good 'T is a Perversion to Evil after a seeming Conversion from it The first Apostacy wherein all are involved supposes the Creation of Man in a State of Uprightness Every one is gone back Psalm 53.3 Therefore Adams Original Course was a walk with God So here the Apostacy whereof we speak is a miserable change for the worse after a plausible change at least for the better There can be no going back but where a Man hath once run well No looking back but where a Man hath first set his Hand to the Plaugh Luke 9. ult 'T is ending in the Flesh after we have begun in the Spirit when our Faces have been towards Sion and our doings framed to turn to God this is a revoking and disanulling of all and driving towards Hell 'T is a Declaration of War where we have pretended Friendship 't is a saying in Effect the Time past sufficeth us to have wrought the Will of God and therefore now we will Work our own In short 't is no less than our pulling down all that we have built up and a listing of our selves in the Service of Sin and Satan whom we have fought against II. Of what Concernment and Importance it is to Believers to be secur'd against such Apostacy This will appear from two Things their Danger of Apostacy and their Danger by it 1. How much they are in Danger of it viz. If left alone and abandon'd to themselves There are Three Considerations which will sufficiently shew the greatness of this hazard 1. Grace in us is very weak The Apostle does not say be strong in the Grace which is in thy self but in the Grace which is in Christ 2 Tim. 2.1 That fulness of Grace of which Christ is the subject can never be lessen'd but those measures of Grace which are communicated unto us and lodg'd in us might and would be lost if we were separated from him Borrowed Abilities will fail if not continually recruited and supplied All created inhaerent Holiness of it self is a perishable Thing 't is indeed made of God an abiding incorruptible Seed in Believers now but 't is not so in its own Nature If it were how could the Angels in Heaven or Adam in Paradice have ever fallen Grace is a good Treasure in the Heart but it wants Almightiness to guard it as there is no Worldling who thinks that his Bags or Coffers can defend themselves Gracious Habits are the true Riches but they lye open for Thieves to rob us of them except God keep our House after he hath furnisht it Poverty will come upon us like an armed Man 2. Corruption in us is very Active We are very apt and ready to be drawn away by our own Lust James 1.14 There is Folly enough remaining in the wisest and best of Men to pervert and mislead them He was no ordinary Saint who complain'd of his being so foolish and ignorant that he was as a Beast before God Psalm 73.22 There is still too much Brute in him that hath attain'd to be more than a Man None of us are so washed from our silthiness while we are in this World but that the Reliques of a swinish Principle in our Natures would make us return to wallow in the Mire if God did not keep us back If we consider how just Lot linger'd in going out of sinful Sodom we cannot but think that he would have lookt behind him as well as his Wife except those Inclinations had been restrain'd Though our Hearts be Circumcis'd to Love God predominantly there are vile Affections stirring in us still not very easie to be supprest The Law in our Members is not like a dead Letter but a lively Principle which Wars against the Laws of our Minds 3. The Temptations which come against us are very numerous Every Place every Condition every Employment every Relation is full
own Conceits God will disable those from doing any thing praise-worthy that give not him the Praise 4. The setting up of Duties in the room of Christ This we are exceeding apt to do Disciples need to Learn that Lesson of being Converted and becoming as little Children Mat. 18.3 It was very truly said by Mr. Rutherford that Deadness to good and gracious Works and lively Activity in the Performance of them seldom meet together high Degrees of inherent Holiness and a full devolving of the Soul upon Christ's imputed Righteousness rarely Kiss each other 'T is well where they do but 't is a Provocation to God to abandon us where they do not If we would run in the way of God's Commandments we must remember that it is not of him that runneth if we would be assisted in the Duties of Obedience we must bear it upon our Hearts that we can never be entitled to Heaven by them We forfeit the Spirit of Faith if we imagine that Faith it self the noblest of all Graces does enrich us any otherwise than as a Vessel which holds the Treasure Sicut olla paecuniis referta hominem locupletat Calv. 5. Spiritual Sloth is another Cause in the disuse of Gifts not exercising of Grace and neglect of Duty This is the contrary extream to that Self-Confidence mention'd before as that was a Conceit that we could do all Things in our own Strength this is to sit still and do nothing We must stir up the Gift which is in us if we would preserve it God uses to help the Industrious but he abhors the Sluggard Seneca a sober Heathen calls Idleness the Grave of a Living Man Dr. Arrowsmith an Holy Divine stiles it the Hell of a Living Christian We hazard the taking away of our Talents when we do not employ them To let our Graces lye asleep is not the way to nourish but to starve them Many have almost lost the Spirit of Prayer by the restraining of Prayer Arise and be doing and the Lord will be with thee 1 Chron. 22.16 If we leave God to do all God will leave us to our selves if we fold our Hands together we cannot expect that his should be stretcht out for our Assistance 6. Sleightness and Formality A sincere Believer who is so in the Main and Acts as such for the most Part may yet sometimes imitate the Hypocrite too much i.e. his Heart may be too little engag'd in approaching unto God We too often pour out Words in Prayer without suitable Affections too often attend on God's Word without bending our Minds to it or taking heed how we hear Now by our resting so much in the outward Forms of Religion we lose the Spirit of Power by going in a Road of Duty and performing this or that Act of Worship because we are accustomed to do it we put our selves out of the Way of Divine Influences When we do not serve God with our Spirits we may well expect to be depriv'd of his Spirit when we do not seriously and earnestly pursue Communion with God in Duties how can we expect to enjoy any We put off God with a little bodily Exercise God puts off us with a visible Church-Priviledge we lift up our Hands in the Sanctuary without our Souls he lets us see nothing of his Power and Glory there 7. Worldliness and Carnality The minding of Earthly Things clips the Wings wherewith we should mount up towards Heaven So far as we are joyned to such Idols we may look to be separated from God we open our Bosoms to them and he hides his Face from us Hence it is that that Condition of Life which does most please and gratifie the Flesh does most expose to the withdrawings of the Spirit because when our Portion of good Things in this Life is very large we are very prone to rejoyce inordinately in it and when the World smiles much upon us we commonly grow fond of the World Therefore a low or afflicted State hath been oftner bless't with sweet incomes from Heaven than the height of Prosperity 2 Cor. 1.5 As the Sufferings of Christ abound in us so our Consolation also aboundeth by Christ some have enjoy'd so much of God in Prisons as that Martyr in Bonner's Coal-hole that they have been unwilling to receive their Liberty But 't is very usual that according to what Men gain in Temporals they lose in Spirituals 8. Base and sinful Compliances for the avoiding of outward inconveniencie This is as great an Offence to the Spirit of Christ as Peter once was to Christ himself in a like Case The affording of a Man's Presence at false Worship may justly provoke God to deny his wonted Communications to us when we are joyning in the true If a Man partake of the Table of Devils what Divine Fellowship can he look for at the Table of the Lord The woful declinings of many Persons who have been meerly led by Fear to Build up what they formerly destroy'd have been too plain a Testimony to this Truth Sulpitius the Historian who liv'd with St. Martin tells us that after he had joyn'd in Communion with Ithacius the persecuting Bishop through the Threatenings of the Emperor Maximus there was a remarkable Suspension of those Influences and Graces for which he was eminent before Dr. B. Answer to Letter of the Ass Gen. p. 29. The best Way to retain the Spirit is to retain our Integrity whatever we hazard by it 9. Vnbelieving Dejection wilfully indulg'd There is a saying of the Hebrew Doctors mentioned by Drusius Spiritus Sanctus non residet super hominem moestum the Holy Spirit does not delight to dwell with one of a Sorrowful Spirit and 't is in great measure true The Spirit of God is not a Spirit of heaviness 't is no Pleasure to him to see any of his Saints go mourning and bowed down when their Hearts should rather be lifted up in the ways of God Nehemiah was sore afraid when the King took Notice of the sadness of his Countenance Chap. 2.2 And Mordecai would not enter the Court-gates with his Sackcloath on Esth 4.2 An Holy Joyful Frame and Garments of Praise are always comely for Upright ones and most acceptable unto God As David's Musick drove away the Evil Spirit that troubled Saul so Christian Alacrity not vain and foolish Levity is a means of having the good Spirit to abide with us Hardening our selves in Sorrow is giving Way to Unbelief the Sin of which he especially reproves SERMON X. April 7. 1696. JUDGES XVI xx last Clause And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him 10. REjecting the Present Motions of the Spirit which ought to be instantly embrac'd and followed All the Spirits Motions are seasonable and therefore not to be put off for Delay is a kind of denial and savours of such ungrateful Contempt as must needs be very displeasing to him When thou saidst Seek ye my Face my Heart said unto thee thy Face will I
is manifest because immediately after this he enter'd upon his publick Ministry here was a Pledge first given of the Authority which he was invested with that he might be accordingly acknowledg'd and regarded in the Exercise of his Office which till now he had not begun 2. The extraordinary Works that were done by Christ these were the Seals of his Commission and prov'd him to come from Heaven for the Doctrine of an Impostor would never have been so signally asserted But now all these Works were done in the Power of the Holy Ghost whom he is said to be anointed with and partly for that End Acts 10.38 Particularly he cast out Devils by the Spirit of God Mat. 12.28 And for that Reason he charges the Jews with Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost the unpardonable Sin who ascrib'd this mighty Act of his to Beelzebub the Prince of Devils ver 31 32. If Christ himself only had been concern'd in this Work this could have been Blasphemy against him only but seeing the Spirit of God concurr'd with him in it they were guilty of Blaspheming that Spirit also 3. The Resurrection of Christ which was a considerable Testimony to his Eternal Deity is ascrib'd to the Spirit likewise This Work is indeed in Scripture ascrib'd to all the Three Persons to the Father Rom. 6.4 To Christ himself John 10.17 18. And the Holy Ghost is interested in it too Rom. 8.11 If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the Dead dwell in you he that rais'd up Christ from the Dead shall also quicken your mortal Bodies by his Spirit c. The Connexion of the Words and the Relation which one Thing in them bears to another shews this to be the meaning that God will revive and raise the Dead Bodies of Believers by the same Spirit by whom he rais'd his Son that Spirit who reunited the Humane Soul and Body of Jesus Christ will reunite ours also So 1 Pet. 3.16 Quicken'd in the Spirit the same Spirit by which he Preach'd to the Disobedient in the Days of Noah ver 19 20. with Gen. 6.3 3. How did the Spirit witness to Christ after his Departure into Heaven I mean in the Times of the Apostles and in those first Ages of the Gospel Answ I. By the Revelation of the Mysteries of the Gospel to the Apostles which they were to Preach to others This we have an Account of from Christ himself John 16.12 13 14 15. I have yet many Things to say unto you but you cannot bear-them now howbeit when the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth c. He shall Glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and shew it unto you which is repeated in the next Words The Disciples then were weak in the Faith prepossest with carnal Notions about the Kingdom of Christ and at that Time also overwhelm'd with Sorrow upon the Notice of his intended Departure and by this means they were uncapable at the present of Learning all that they needed to be taught now Jesus Christ who consider'd their weakness and dealt with them according to it refers them to be more fully instructed by the promised Spirit who though he did not discover any new Truths which they never heard yet he brought old Truths to their Remembrance with new Illumination he help'd their remaining Ignorance and Infrimity in giving them a clearer Understanding of all the Things of Chirist of all those Doctrines concerning Christ which were hid and veil'd from them before 2. By endowing them with a miraculous Power of doing those Things which were above the utmost activity of Nature for the Confirmation of the Christian Doctrine Thus he is said to give Testimony to the Word of his Grace in granting Signs and Wonders to be done by their Hands Acts 14.3 God bearing them Witness with Signs and Wonders and divers Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Ghost Heb. 2.4 A great many of those supernatural Effects were produced by his means in the Course of their Ministry and some of them such as even exceeded what were wrought by our Lord himself So he had told them that it should be John 14.12 He that believeth on me the Works which I do shall he do also and greater Works than these shall he do because I go to my Faither I would not go about to restrain this Text to the Apostles because Christ puts it in larger Terms He that believeth c. but undoubtedly it was verified in them They were enabled to Work the same Miracles which he did and in some Respects such as out-did them Chap. 9. The Healing of those that were laid upon Beds and Couches in the Streets with the Shadow of Peter passing by ver 15. of this Chapter and Chap. 19.11 12. We read of special Miracles wrought by the Hands of Paul so that from his Body were brought unto the Sick Handkerchiefs or Aprons and the Diseases departed from them c. The Reason of these greater Works done by the Apostles was Christ's going to the Father which made Way for an eminent pouring forth of the Spirit and this tended not so much to the Reputation of their particular Persons for they could not Work them when they would as to the Glory of Christ whose Interest was hereby advanced in the World 3. By the remarkable and numerous Conversions of great Multitudes to Christ among whom they preach'd As soon as ever the Holy Ghost was come upon them there were Three Thousand Souls added to them That gladly receiv'd their Word and were Baptized Chap. 2.41 Soon after these were made up Five Thousand Chap. 4.4 All this was done in the compass of very few Days and the first Harvest was the Fruit of one Sermon At Samaria when Philip went and Preach'd Christ to them 't is said that the People with one accord gave heed to the Things which he spake Chap. 8.5 6. Which is the more extraordinary because they had all given heed to Simon the Sorcerer before from the least to the greatest ver 10. What a strang and marvellous turn was here in an whole City upon the Preaching of the Gospel In many other Places the Word of God grew mightily and prevail'd Chap. 19.20 It got ground against all the Opposition both of Jews and Gentiles The Preachers of it were made to Triumph in Christ and baffies all contrary attempts from open Enemies and false Brethren and overcame the Devil by the Word of their Testimony And the way of doing all this is explain'd to us 1 Cor. 2.4 My Speech and my Preaching was in Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power The Spirit of God accompanied their Word and made it thus successful 4. By the supernatural Gifts which were bestowed upon other Believers also as well as the Apostles The Truth of this might be made out by several Instances if it were needful Acts 10.44 While Peter spake the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word viz. Cornelius
Communicatious of Light and Grace as long as we are in the World that our Faith may grow and that what is lacking in it may be perfected According as the Spirit enriches us in the Progress of our Sanctification the Testimony of Christ is confirmed in us 1 Cor. 1.6 He grounds and settles us and makes us unmoveable from the Hope of the Gospel he fortifies and establishes us against various contrary Temptations whereby the Devil is frequently endeavouring to loosen our hold of Christ and beat us off from him We are poor wavering unsteady Creatures when we are left to our selves rejoycing one Moment and drooping the next confidently assured of that at one Time which we are ready to call in Question at another The best Believers in the World will most humbly own this the strongest Faith would certainly fail if the Cause of Christ in the Soul were not often pleaded over again by the Spirit as an Antidote for the Motions to Infidelity IV. Vse There are several Things which from hence we may be informed of and exhorted to 1. There are several Things which we may be informed of As 1. Jesus Christ never will nor can be left without a Witness because the Eternal Spirit is his Witness who will never with-dram his Testimony This Spirit of Christ is given to all that obey him and he testifies of Christ to them and by them to others but if we could suppose this whole Generation of the righteous to be extinct which yet shall never be as long as the Earth remains if all these Humane Witnesses were slain and not one left to stand up on the behalf of Christ in the World yet while the Holy Ghost survives as a faithful Witness in Heaven 't is impossible that Christ should be destitute Let the Rage and Malice of the World against Christ go as far as it can in stopping the Mouths or shedding the Blood of all that receive or bear the Record which God hath given of his Son the Spirit cannot be prevented from doing constant Honour to Jesus Christ 2. The Word of Christ hath a better Foundation than any Tesitimony from Man or from any Church or Party of Men whatever As Christ said He had a greater Witnrss than that of John John 5-36 Concerning thy Testimonies I have knowu of Old says David that thou hast founded them for ever Psalm 119.152 But if mortal Witnesses were their only Supporters they would be as liable to fade and perish to be subverted and destroyed as other Inferiour Things To build the Credit of the Gospel upon Humane Tradition is like putting the Ark of the Testimony into a wooden Cart which will be apt to shake and reel if not to tumble The Church of God is the Pillar and Ground of the Truth 1 Tim. 3.15 To hold it forth indeed not to hold it up not such a Pillar as Houses stand upon but as Writings hang upon for Publick Notice 3. The unrighteous Judgment of Satan and the World against Christ is and will be perfectly reversed Now is the Judgment of this World says Christ John 12.31 So Chap. 16.11 When the Sprit is come he will Reprove or Convince the World of Judgment because the Prince of this World is judged I take these Two Texts to refer to one and the same Thing for the Prince of this World and the World it self pass the same Judgment on Jesus Christ and the Judgment of both is very unjust the World and its Prince make up as it were but one Person the Head and the Body and they exactly Agree and Joyn in the same Sentence to condemn our Lord Jesus But here is a Witness that nuls this Sentence and plainly proves the Iniquity and Falshood of it and indeed none of the Devil's Devices can stand when God himself comes forth to withstand and oppose them 4. It must needs be a lying Spirit that speaks a Word against Christ or that derogates any Thing from him 1 Cor. 12.3 I give you to nderstand that no Man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed Whatever is spoken by any to the dishonour of our Lord Jesus cannot proceed from the Spirit of God This is most certain because the Spirit of God cannot contradict himself he cannot testifie for him and against him too The Holy Ghost is Christ's Witness the unclean Spirit is his Adversary and too many Tongues are duided by this unclean and wicked Spirit that pretend to Prophesie in Christ's Name and whereas a true Witness delivereth Souls Prov. 14.25 These do lay snares for their Ruine and Destruction 5. They that have the Spirit of God cannot err in what is essential to the Faith of Christ and necessary to Salvation They are undoubtedly taught to hold the Substance of Divine Testimony though they may be mistaken in lesser Particulars This is hinted by what our Lord says Mat. 24.24 There shall arise false Christ's and false Prophets and shall shew great Signs and Wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. That Parenthesis is the most material Part of the Proposition there is no possibility of any of God's chosen and called ones miscarrying by a fundamental Delusion they have a Resident Witness for Christ in their own Bosoms who secures them from it 6. Vnbelief is a special Sin against the Holy Ghost all unbelief is so though all unbelief and perhaps no meer unbelief is not the Sin against the Holy Ghost It is the Spirit that beareth Witness because the Spirit is Truth 1 John 5.6 But he that believeth not makes him a Lyar ver 10. Hypocrisie is a lying to the Lord as Ananias and Sapphira lyed to the Holy Ghost but infidelity is a belying of him Jer. 5.12 'T is a painting of the Spirit of God like the Sons of Men who are Lyars upon Record Rom. 3.4 Yea like the Devil who is the Father of Lyes John 8.44 This black aggravated Evil is included in the not receiving of the Spirit 's witness 2. There are some Things which we may hence be exhorted to 1. Set your Seal to the Truth of the Spirits Testimony unto Christ by Believing in him and reject it not against your selves Embrace him with all your Hearts upon the high and honourable Commendation which the Holy Ghost gives of him How readily do we repose a Confidence in Creatures when we have receiv'd a worthy Character of them from Persons of known Integrity And shall we be influenc'd more by the Witness of Man than by the Witness of God God forbid How much greater Encouragements have we to Divine than humane Faith There are infallible Grounds for Divine Faith to rest upon which for humane cannot be 2. Grieve not the Spirit of God by Sin that he may not deliver you up nor leave you alone to be led away by Error The Holy Ghost is often provok'd by Men's loose Conversations to give them over to some unsound Opinions Practical
Godliness is an excellent Means for the maintaining of Doctrinal Orthodoxy If any Man will do his Will he shall know of the Doctrine John 7.17 Follow the Spirits Guidance in the Course of your Lives if you would not forfeit it as to the regulating of your Judgments Be govern'd by him as a Spirit of Holiness if you would be instructed by him as a Spirit of Truth 3. Whatever the Spirit in and according to the Scripture testifies against give it no Entertainment That cannot be the Doctrine of Christ which he doth not attest 'T is another Gospel and therefore not to be receiv'd though an Angel from Heaven were the Publisher of it We have a sure Word of Prophesie whereunto we do well to take heed 2 Pet. 1.19 That must be no Article of our Faith which we have not first tried or which upon the Trial is not approv'd by this Rule of Faith According as the Testimony of the Spirit in the Word is we are to Judge of every Cause which comes before us 4. Regard the Witness of the Spirit with respect to Christ in you as well as Christ without you He is a capable Witness as to both for he searcheth all Things he knows the State and Disposition of our Souls towards God as well as the out-goings of the Heart of God to us He that can reveal Christ in us is undoubtedly the sittest to discover us to our selves Therefore what our Conscience bears us Witness in the Holy Ghost as Rom. 9.1 Is to be comfortably acquiesced in as a faithful unerring Report If Conscience it self be as a thousand Witnesses how much more when the Holy Ghost concurs with it 5. Beg the help of the Spirit in Order to the giving of your Testimony to Christ as you ought to do in your several Places 1 Cor. 12.3 No Man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost Obj. What think you then of those that call Christ Lord Lord and do not the Things which he says Ans 'T is true the meer repeating of such words is easie and may be done without the Spirit but if we say it from a right Principle in a right Manner and to a right End it must be by the Holy Ghost And therefore this saying is like that confessing 1 John 4.15 Not a bare Verbal Confession with the Mouth but joyn'd with believing in the Heart 6. Manifest your having of the Spirit by your ready resolute and eonstant witness-bearing on the behalf of Christ. Be not asham'd of the Testimouy of our Lord 2 Tim. 1.8 'T is the greatest Honour to us when we are call'd to any such Service to our great Redeemer A Work which is done by the Spirit of God himself must unquestionably be a Matter of Glory and Reputation to such as we Nor is it only upon solemn extraordinary special Occasions but in the whole Course of our Lives in all that we think speak and do we should testifie to our Lord Jesus In short you who have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in you can do no less among a World of Men that ungratefully despise him than by your whole behaviour proclaim your deserved esteem of him SERMON XIII September 8. 1696. MARK X. xxvi xxvii And they were astonished out of measure saying among themselves Who then can be saved And Jesus looking upon them saith With Men it is impossible but not with God For with God all Things are possible To understand the occasion of the Words we must look back as far us ver 17. of this Chapter where we find a young Ruler as two of the other Evangelists describe him Mat. 19.20 Luke 18.18 addressing himself with some Earnestness and Reverence to Christ for his Judgment and Advice in a very important Case What shall I do that I may inherit Eternal life Christ framing his Answer according to the Principles then generally embrac'd of living by doing refers him to the commandments He that put the Question having too good an Opinion of himself confidently affirms his keeping of them all Christ in his Reply to convince him that he was not so perfect as he pretended himself to be offers him a Test which he could not comply with viz. Selling what he had and giving to the Poor and taking up the Cross and following him This was no unreasonable Proof of his Obedience for a resolved Preference of Heaven to all that this World affords and actual parting with all for it when we are called thereunto is every one's necessary Duty But this Ruler was sad at that saying and went away grieved Carnal Men may be sorry that they cannot bring down God to their own Terms when they refuse to come up to his they would reconcile Things in Heaven and Things in Earth and enjoy their Portion in both Worlds Hereupon our Lord applies the rest of his Discourse to his Disciples as being most concer'd for their Satisfaction and Improvement to them therefore he says How hardly shall they that have Riches enter into the Kingdom of God ver 23. These Words astonisht the Disciples and yet Christ with little Variation repeats them ver 24. And enforces them by a Proverbial Comparison which was yet more startling ver 25. It is easier for a Camel to go through the Eye of a Needle than for a Rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of God Whether that which we render here a Camel should be rather Translated a Cable-rope because the Original Word sigifies both is not much material but certainly a Man with great Possessions loaded with thick Clay might be fitly enough represented by a camel carrying Burdens more for others than himself and the Entrance into Life being strait and narrow may very well be said to resemble the Passage through the Eye of a Needle But this brings us to the Text it self wherein we have two Parts the Amazement of the Disciples at Christ's Doctrine and his own Explication of it 1. The Amazemenet of the Disciples at this Doctrine of Christ ver 26. And they were astonished out of measure saying among themselves who then can be saved The Word here which we render by Astonishment is not the same with that ver 24. But more significant as if the Mind were not only struck but struck out as it were with Horror and Confusion Besides 't is added here out of measure or abundantly and exceedingly for this Doctrine appear'd very rigorous and severe to them as if it shut out all Persons almost from a possibility of Salvation Becaufe 1. Though all Men are not Rich nor perhaps the most yet there are few but what desire to be so and the Love of Riches which is indeed the Disease prevails where there is not the Possession It was very common among the Jews in the Prophet's Time From the least to the greatest every one is given to Covetousness Jer. 6.13 Chap. 8.10 And 't is not less natural to other People 2. The Rich seem
speaks Heb. 5.7 makes use of those very words so repeated Mark 14.36 Abba Father take away this cup from me So on the Cross My God my God c. So when Elijah was caught up Elisha saw it and cry'd My Father my Father c. 2 Kings 2.12 And the foolish virgins that came when the Door was shut cry'd Lord Lord c. Matth. 25.11 All which Passages speak a passionate and extraordinary con cernment of Soul There are several things which may be learned from hence which I shall but mention tho' seasonable enough in an Age so much corrupted by the revival and industrious Propagation of old Errors As 1. That there are Three Sacred Persons in the Blessed Godhead the Father Son and Spirit all of them held forth to us at one view in the compass of this single Verse yea in that single Clause God hath sent forth the Spirit of his son 2. The Spirit is not a Quality or Operation but a Person that hath a true and real subsistence of himself else this Phrase of being sent forth could not agree to him 3. This Spirit proceeds both from Father and Son for he is sent by the Father and he is the Spirit of the Son There is an Order among the Divine Persons though no priority of Being and according to that Order there is an ineffable mysterious communication from the First and Second Person to the Third But the chief thing is this Obs The great Gospel Privilege of a Believer's Sonship is not only discern'd but improv'd by the help of the Spirit of Christ. Here I. Shew that a Believer's Sonship is a great Privilege II. That it is a Gospel Privilege III. How this is discern'd by the help of the Spirit IV. How improved by his help V. Use I. To shew That a Believer's Sonship is a great Privilege This will appear in six things 1. 'T is a Privilege of God's everlasting Kindness which is more durable and therefore more valuable than Life it self The Favour of God is never wholly withdrawn from those that are once his Children by Adoption Goodness shall furely follow them all their Days and continue towards them to Eternity Earthly Parents may abandon and be alienated from their own natural Off-spring but God will not yea cannot forget them A Son abides in the House always John 8.35 he shall not be disinherited nor turned out of doors nor the entail of Covenant Blessings be cut off from him He is brought into a Relation which shall not be destroyed and dignified with a Name which shall never be blotted out If God is pleased to Adopt us 't is certain that he hath loved us from the beginning and will to the end 2. 't is inseparably attended with regenerating Grace Both these Privileges of Adoption and Regeneration do constantly go hand in hand There is a real and a relative change togehter As the Fathers of our Flesh communicate not only their Names but Natures to us so here is a new Birth as well as a new Title When God calls us into this honourable State he begets us of his own Will and at the same time that we contract such an Alliance to him we are also born of him John 1.13 It would be a far less Privilege to be a Child of God if there were not a Divine renewing in the Spirit of our minds connected with it To remain upon the dead stock of the old Adam still is a miserable Curse which would mar the Blessing but thanks be to God it is not so 3. The Sons of God are under the Exercise of sparing mercy There is a sweetness in the Compellation of Father which agrees to the tenderness of God in dealing with his Children Mal. 3.17 I will spare them as a Man spareth his own Son that serveth him He does not mark their Iniquities nor revenge them as he might He does not reckon with them for every Offence nor rebuke them for any in hot displeasure He does not strike them with an Arm like God but chastens them with the Rod of Men. His free Compassion overcomes his deserved Severity he would be just in doing what out of indulgent pity he leaves undone How many wandrings of theirs does he pass over what abatements does he make when sin is visited upon them and how gently doth he lift them up after he hath cast them down 4. They are Objects of a peculiar Providence both in respect of Care by preserving them from Ill and in respect of Bounty by supplying them with Good 1. In respect of Care by preserving them from Evil. His Children have a place of Refuge Prov. 14.26 such an one as others have not They whom God takes as his own are received into his Almighty Protection which the rest of the World can have little ground to hope for To such the Promne belongs and to such only He shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wings shalt thou trust Psal 91.4 what a Charge did David give to all his Officers concerning his Son though at that time in Rebellion Beware that none touch the young man Absalom 2 Sam. 18.12 God is more solicitous for the safety of all his and therefore he is said to carry them in his Bosom where nothing truly hurtful can befal them Isa 40.11 2. In respect of Bounty by supplying them with Good even all that is necessary and convenient for them Whoever want his Children shall not he knows what they need and when they need it and always deviseth means for their seasonable Relief He calls Heaven and Earth to take notice of this Isa 1.2 I have nourish'd and brought up Children There is a Table prepar'd for the King's Sons at which his Mephibosheths eat 2 Sam. 9.11 God hath eminently undertaken for their certain and undoubted maintenance there is an Emphasis upon it Verily thou shalt be fed Psal 37.3 rather than not have a Seed to serve him he 'll raise Children out of Stones rather than they starve those Stones shall become Bread 5. They are made joint Heirs with Christ which is extraordinary indeed and yet follows upon our being Children Rom. 8.17 No Children of God but what is entituled to a glorious Inheritance and which makes it much more marvellous they are made to inherit with our Lord Jesus himself God calls them into the Fellowship of his Son 1 cor 1.9 to partake of the same Glory which is given to him to possess the same Kingdom which is appointed to him to sit upon his Throne and reign in Company with the Lamb for ever and ever As if it were not enough for us to reap the Benefits of the Sufferings of Christ we shall share in his Advancement the depth of his Humiliation was purely for our sakes the height of his Exaltation will likewise turn to our account 6. They have the best and most useful Service from all Creatures in the invisible and visible World both those that are above
them and those that are below them 1. Creatures that are above them do Service to them Angels disdain not to be their Guardians while they are here as they are to be their more intimate and perpetual Associates hereafter Are they not all without exception the highest Orders of them sent forth as ministring Spirits on the behalf of the Heirs of Salvation Heb. 1. ult Who but they can look to be thus attended Angels of Light do gladly minister to the Children of Light they are deputed by our Heavenly Father to keep us in all our ways and at last to convey us home 2. Creatures below them are directed and over-ruled to serve them also Every one in God's great House on Earth shall though perhaps without your knowledge and against your will promote the Interest of those that are design'd to dwell in Heaven As all things are put under the feet of Christ our elder Brother Ephes 1.22 so we by him recover as much of our lost Dominion as we have real occasion for The whole Creation is more subject to the Heirs of God than to the common Men. 2. To shew that this Sonship of Believers is a Gospel Privilege It is so in a two-fold sense by way of opposition to the Law of Works and by way of composition with the times of the Old Testament Consider it either way it is truely and strictly Evangelical 1. In Opposition to the Law of Works No Soul was ever invested thereby with this blessed Privilege of Adoption This is plain because 1. The Law worketh Wrath and nothing else Rom. 4.15 It speaks no Favour to any Son or Daughter of Adam it breaths out Threatnings but is utterly silent as to Promises The Language of the Law is Judgment without Mercy extremity of Vengeance without any mixture of Kindness Therefore 't is said that as many as are under the Works of the Law who are in the first Covenant and adhere to it and rest upon it are under the Curse who are in the first Covenant and adhere to it and rest upon it are under the Curse Gal. 3.10 Adoption through Grace is perfectly concluded by the Law it will never make Men Children of God but pronounces them Children of Wrath. 2. The Law convinces of Sin and Guilt but gives no Righteousness therefore Sonship cannot come by the Law For Adoption presupposes Justification and is consequent upon it The Children of God are all Righteous with a Righteousness that perfectly answers the Legal Demands viz. the Righteousness of Christ For in him shall all the Seed of Israel be justified Isa 45.25 But now all the natural Seed of Adam before they are adopted to God are Condemned for want of such a Righteousness The Law Sentence goes forth against them and takes hold of them as Guilty Sinners that have broken the Commandment can never keep it 2. in comparison with the Times of the Old Testament 'T is true the Believers in those times were the Sons and Daughters of God and they challeng'd their Privilege Isa 63.16 Doubtless thou art our Father but yet it was in so defective a degree that they seem'd more like to Servants than Sons and were trained up under suitable Discipline Hence the Apostle says ver 7. following the Text Wherefore thou art no more a Servant but a Son implying that thou hast been in a kind of servile but art now Translated in these New Testament Times into a more filial State Our Privilege of Sonship under the Gospel excels in Two Regards 1. As to clearness of Manifestation and Discovery The Children of Princes and great Persons many times know little of the Honour and Hopes which they are born to till they arrive at some competent maturity So the Ancient Believers understood a great deal less of Divine Benefits by Jesus Christ than we do now They like Moses had a Veil upon their Faces we behold with open Face if compared with them They were not strangers to the Covenant of Promise but their acquaintance with the things promised fell very short of ours All that is freely given us of God is now made more known and plac'd in a better Light 2. As to Fulness and Amplitude of Enjoyment The Merit and Influence of Christ's Death in all Points extended backwards as far as the First Ages of the World wherein any Believers lived but the Fruits of it then did not so abound as since his coming The Spirit was shed abroad and pour'd out then but not so richly and liberally as now He was given then more sparingly now in a larger measure And consequently their Fruition of this blessed Sonship was not equal to ours though they had such a Privilege they could not use it with so much advantage They were like Heirs in Childhood that have only some smaller allowance during that time we are like those upon the edge of Manhood who have more of their Estate in their own Hands III. How is this Gospel-Privilege discern'd by the help of the Spirit How do we come to know that we have it through the sending of him into ours Hearts Answ In six Propositions 1. The Spirit of God in his dealing with Souls does not ordinarily begin as a Spirit of Adoption but rather as a Spirit of Bondage This seems to be hinted Rom. 8.15 You have not received the Spirit of Bondage again to fear but you have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father This was written to actual Believers those that were called to be Saints and their not receiving of the Spirit of Bondage again after they had received the Spirit of Adoption supposes they had so received him before The Spirit of Bondage and Adoption are one and the same Spirit distinguish'd only by various Operations noting two different Effects of the same Cause Now usually the former of these does precede and introduce the latter while the Spirit is making use of the Law to bring us to Christ we see our selves in a miserable undone Condition when he hath fully brought us to Christ by the Ministry of the Gospel the Scene is alter'd and we perceive our selves to be the Seed which the Lord hath Blessed Strong Cordials are not so fit to be immediately pour'd into foul Stomachs There is a shaking which goes before the Establishment a making of Trouble before the speaking of Peace a Storm raised in the Soul before a comfortable Calm As Manasseh was taken first among the Thorns and bound in Fetters and carried to Babylon and then knew the Lord 2 Chron. 33.11 13. And as Joseph was sold for a Servant into Egypt and laid in Irons there which made way for his Enlargement and Preferment Psalm 105.17 18. c. so does our Exercise under a Spirit of Bondage tend to Liberty by the Spirit of Adoption if we are the Called according to God's purpose 2. The time of our continuance under a Spirit of Bondage before we receive the Spirit of Adoption with the
the World before he hath answer'd the End and dispatch'd the Business for which he was born into it A comfortable Death does not suit with a slothful and careless an useless and unprofitable Life He that hath neglected his Duty to himself or to others in his place may very well b backward and unwilling to die Job begs that it would please God to destroy him and crys Let him not spare for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One chap. 6.9 10. 5. Clear and State your Accounts every day set them in Order for their Confusion will cause your Distraction when you come to die Seriously examine and reflect upon your daily Walk and Course and do not leave those Miscarriages to be budled up in a general Repentance when they are forgotten which when they are fresh you may and ought to be particularly humbled for The more diligent and exact we are in this case the less Advantage will Satan have against us A Man can but scarcely die well as the Apostle speaks of being scarcely saved 1 Pet. 4.18 who hath any thing else to do when his hour comes 6. Beware of grieving the Spirit and clouding your own Comforts Though full Assurance be not absolutely necessary to the yielding of this Obedience in Death yet our Obedience must needs be very defective where some degrees of Assurance or good hope through Grace are not gotten and maintain'd 'T is very hard to resign without some Evidence that God will receive us very hard to let go our Temporal Life when we can lay no hold upon Eternal therefore the Advice is needful Jude 21. Keep your selves in the Love of God do nothing that may tend to prejudice or weaken your sense of it 7. Live upon the Death of Christ as the only Foundation of your warrantable Trust Though you do walk before God in Truth you will find the need of something else to depend on for your Title to Glory Some think that there is a Gospel Mystery in Moses's dying short of Canaan and Joshua's leading the People into it viz. to intimate to us That the Works of the Law will bring none to Heaven but Christ by his Blood hath open'd our way to it He that builds his Hope of Salvation upon any thing which he hath done must either perish or pull down all again 8. Look up to Heaven for Divine Instruction in this great Point It was Moses's Prayer to God so teach us to number our days that we may apply our Hearts c. Psalm 90.12 The numbering of our Days aright is no Vulgar Arithmetick nor can we learn it without a more than ordinary Tutor No Man ever died like Moses here according to the Word of the Lord but what was taught of God to do it He that gives out the Command must guide our Spirits to obey it If we can do nothing for God of our selves least of all can we die to him without him SERMON XXIII October 1. 1697. HEBREWS VII xxv Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them THE Glorious Office of the Priesthood of Jesus Christ is the Subject of great part of this Epistle and the Apostle's main Scope and Design is to shew the superlative Excellency thereof beyond the Legal Priesthood which he does at large in various respects In the two immediate foregoing Verses he compares Christ with the Priests under the Law in reference to their Mortality Verse 23. They truly were many Priests many one after another because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death they were dying Men and how well soever they discharged the Duty of their Places yet in a few Years they left it to those that survived them and knew it no more themselves the Ministers of the Old Testament had their appointed time when their Breath went forth and returned not again as you find that the Ministers of the New Testament have now in their Generation But ver 24. this man or this Christ the Anointed of the Lord whom the Apostle here speaks of for the word Man is not in the Original but supplied by our Translators because he continueth ever hath an unchangable Priesthood his Office does not pass from him to another he hath no Successors in it whom the Exercise of it is committed to but he still manages it in his own Person and will perpetually do it Hereupon that comfortable and encouraging Inference and Conclusion is drawn up in the words of the Text Wherefore he is able c. Whcih words if they were to be cast into our usual Forms of Argument would run thus He who ever lives to make Intercession is able to save to the uttermost But Jesus Christ ever lives c. Therefore he is able c. There are many important Truths lying in this Text but all may be brought within the compass of this one Observ Christ's eternal Life and Intercession in Heaven in an infallible Proof of his Infinite saving Power Here I. I shall enquire into the Thing which the Apostle undertakes to prove The infinite-saving-Power of Jesus Christ II. Into the Evidence which he proves it by The Eternal Life and Intercession of Christ in Heaven With the distinct Uses which may be made of both these I. As to the thing which the Apostle here sets himself to prove viz. The infinite-saving Power of our Lord Jesus The Text it self will lead us to the opening of two Things under this Head The nature of this Power and the extent of it How he is able to save and how far even to the uttermost First With reference to the nature of this Power How is Christ able to save This may may be stated in the following Propositions 1. There is a Power which belongs to Christ as he is God In this as in all other Divine Perfections the Second Person is equal with the First Rev. 1.8 I am the Almighty The very same unlimited boundless Power appertains both to the Father and the Son Therefore when Christ had asserted That none should pluck his sheep out of his hand John 10.28 he confirms it by this That his Father is greater than all and none is able to pluck them out of the Father's hand ver 29. Now if any should go about to deny the Consequence the next words will clear it I and my Father are one ver 30. If my Father is greater than all so am I if he be able to secure and preserve the Sheep so am I for he and I are one we are one in Essence and Nature and so all the same glorious Perfections which are inherent in him are in me likewise But this though it be a great Article of Faith and a great support to Believers does not seem to be that which the Apostle hath so much an Eye to in this place for he is now speaking of his Ability to save